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What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion but the same truth that Allah has revealed through all his Prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness and the vast majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.
What does ‘Islam’ mean?

The Arabic word ‘Islam’ simply means ’submission’ and derives from a word meaning ‘peace’. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of Allah. ‘Allah’ is the Arabic name for ‘The God’.
Who are the Muslims?

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe – from the southern Philippines to Nigeria – are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world, substantial parts of Asia and Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America and Europe.
What do Muslims believe?

Muslims believe in one unique incomparable God; in the Angels created by him; In the Prophets through whom his revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in Allah’s complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist and Jesus, peace be upon them. However, God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed in the form of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel.
How does someone become a Muslim?

Simply by reciting the Shahadah or testimony of faith:

(as it is pronounced in Arabic)
ashadu an la illaha ill’Allah wa ashadu anna Muhammadan rasool’Allah

(Translated: I bear witness and testify that here is no deity apart from Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah) By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all Allah’s messengers and the scriptures they brought.
Who is Muhammad (s.a.w)?

Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was born in Makkah in the year 570 CE. Since his father died before his birth and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of the Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was of a deeply religious nature and had long detested the idolatry and decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the ‘ Mountain of Light’ near Makkah. 

How did Muhammad (s.a.w) become a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah?

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) received his first revelation from Allah through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur’an. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel and to preach the truth which Allah had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution which grew so fierce that in the year 622 CE, Allah gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra, ‘migration’, in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar and the establishment of the Islamic State. After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far east as China.
What is the Qur’an?

The Qur’an is the written form of the exact words revealed by Allah through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was memorised by Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and then dictated to his Companions and written down by his scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Surahs, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Qur’an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) fourteen centuries ago.

Are there any other Sacred Sources?

Yes, the Sunnah, the established and confirmed practice and example of the Prophet, is the second authority for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or approved. Belief in the Sunnah is part of the Islamic faith.
What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

They are the framework of a Muslim’s life; faith (Shahadah), prayer (Salat), concern for the needy ( Zakah); fasting (Sawm/month of Ramadhan) and the pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj) for those who are able.

Faith

There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His messenger. This declaration of faith is known as the Shahadah, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce.

Prayer

Salat is the name for prayer in Islam. Obligatory prayers are performed five times a day and are a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and no priests, so the prayer is led by a learned person who knows the Qur’an, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur’an and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one’s own language.

Concern for the needy

One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to Allah and that wealth is therefore held by human beings as a trust. The word Zakat means both ‘purification’ and ‘growth’. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a portion for those in need and like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

Fasting

Every year during the month of Ramadhan, all Muslims fast from the beginning of sunrise until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly or on journey and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed.

Children begin to fast (and to observe prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier. Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one’s spiritual life.

Pilgrimage

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah – the Hajj – is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another.

Although Makkah is filled with visitors all year round, the annual Hajj itself begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadhan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Male pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before Allah.
What do Muslims think about Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him)?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of Allah’s Prophets to mankind. A Muslim never refers to him simply as ‘Jesus’, but always adds the phrase ‘upon him be peace’. The Qur’an confirms his virgin birth and Mary is considered the purest woman in all creation.

What about Muslim women?

Islam gave Muslim women rights 1400 years ago, Islam established a women s equality in her humanity with men. A whole chapter of the Quran has been dedicated to women it is called surah Nisa (women). Women have the freedom of choice and expression, a Muslim women can choose her own husband and keep her name after marriage, A Muslim women may work if she wishes to. Most women of today do not have the rights that  Muslim women were given 1400 years ago.
Why is the family so important to Muslims?

The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered by a stable family unit is greatly valued and seen as essential for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the existence of extended families; children are treasured and rarely leave home until the time they marry.
How do Muslims view Death?

Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include: The Day of Judgement, resurrection, Heaven and Hell.

When a Muslim dies, he or she is wrapped in a clean white cloth and buried with a simple prayer preferably the same day. Muslims consider this one of the final services they can do for their relatives and an opportunity to remember their own existence here on earth. The Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even after death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught and prayers on his behalf by a righteous child.
What does Islam say about War?

Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defence, in defence of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict laws of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock.

As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause War, therefore is the last resort and is subject to rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term ‘Jihad’ literally means ’struggle’ and Muslims believe that there are two kinds of Jihad. The other ‘Jihad’ is the inner struggle everyone wages against egoistical desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace.

Cleanliness
As the saying goes Cleanliness is next to godliness we also have similar views on the matter,  We say that Purity,Cleanliness is half of faith (imaan) this is something that out Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught us and was recorded in saheeh Muslim which is a book of hadith, hadith means sayings and actions of the Prophet (pbuh) .

Istinjaa- Istinjaa means to clean the private parts after passing urine or stools with water,we must do this with our left hand.

Wudhu-Wudhu is the ritual ablution which is to  be done before praying certain things nullify the ablution and if these are done the ablution needs to be performed again.

Ghusl- Ghusl is a full bath and for certain things we have to do the obligatory full bathing to which there is a certain ritual like the wudhu, When a women has finished her period, after the blood from having a child has stopped or when a man or women has had sexual intercourse.

Qualities of a Muslim

Muslims believe in Allah only and a Muslim must only depend on Allah’s mercy alone,A Muslim strongly believes that Allah provides everything to us and that Allah gives us all the good things we need in our lives, A good Muslim always asks Allah to be merciful on him and to make his life blessed, If a Muslim faces hardship in his life he should  turn to Allah for help,We as Muslims should be patient and be able to bear the hardships and difficulties of life,Muslims are kind to parents relatives and friends and are also kind to animals and we must take proper care of them,Muslims believe in the Holy Prophets of Allah and a true Muslim follows the Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) . As Muslims we regard Allah as the only ruler of the universe,when Muslims greet one another they greet with the phrase `Asalaam Alaikum` (peace be upon you ) and the replier says `Walaikum Salaam` (And peace be upon you)

Sharia

Muslims or Islamic law,this law is based on the Quran and the religion of Islam. The primary sources for the law is from the Quran and the Sunnah , the term Sharia literally means “the path to a watering hole“ the guardian newspaper describes sharia as a religious code for living, in the same way that the Bible offers a moral system for Christians. It is used to refer both to the Islamic system of law and the totality of the Islamic way of life.

Freewill

Muslims have been given freewill, the choice to choose between right and wrong, even though our destiny has already been written we still have the choice, Allah already knows the choices we are going to make in life, this world is a test for us all, the purpose of mankind is to worship Allah and show obedience for  him so that he may reward us in the next life

Marriage

Allah said; And in his signs:he created a mate for you so you may be comfortable, and he placed between you love and mercy. There is no doubt, there are signs in this for a nation that thinks. (Surah Ar-roum)
Marriage in Islam is a sacred contract which is called nikah, the presence of 2 witnesses is needed, also a dowry must be paid to the bride this could be anything she asks for.
A Muslim husband and wife have many rights and they are very important, The Prophet (pbuh) said The best among you is the one who is best towards his wife ( at-tirmidhi)

Divorce

In Islam Divorce is permissible  if the case is very severe, if the two can not sort out their differences, if  family life is suffering etc.
As much effort should be made to leave this as a last option. It should be noted that a women can ask for a divorce as well as a man.

Misconceptions about Islam

• Muslim women are not forced to cover themselves they see this as a liberation and do so as Allah has commanded them to do.
• Muslims do believe in Jesus (peace be upon him) we call his Isa and believe in all his teachings and that he was a Prophet.
• Muslims do not worship Muhammad (pbuh) we worship Allah and believe that Allah sent Muhammad as a messenger to guide us.
• All Muslims are not from Saudi Arabic Muslims come from all over the world.
• Muslims worship the one and only God Allah, this does bot mean because we call him Allah that it is a different God it is a the same God but we use the Arabic word Allah.
• In Islam it is a sin a big sin to commit suicide or the killing of innocent people
• there for the so called Muslim terrorists who do suicide bombings in the name of Islam are wrong and there is no basis for this in Islam we do not condone it.
• The word Jihad literally mean Struggle, the inner struggle of the soul which everyone wages against egotistic desires for the sake of attaining inner peace.
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My name is Aasiyah Adam i am a Chinese revert and  iam 27 years old have 1child married and  i reverted to islam about 4years ago Alhamduillah. Heres my story how i came into islam:

 My husband always throughout the years being with him he told me about Islam i never wanted to know tell you the truth, then after coulpe years i said “right i wanna know about islam but not from you but i wanna meet muslim sisters” i wanted know from other people about the religion not from just listening to my husband and being brainwash if you wanna call it that lols.  I looked up couple masjid around my area, many times i tried to contact them never got through, Alhamduillah after couple weeks the brother gave me a sister number, i tried contacting the sister couldnt get throught either but after 2more weeks the sister contacted me and mashAllah she was a Chinese revert awell, i was so happy we arranged to meet. My 1st meeting with the sister i was shocked inside me kept saying “what she wearing why is she so covered”  back then i dressed so westernise subahnAllah. We had nice chat about islam she told me about a study circle she runs with another sister mashAllah every Sunday and if i wanted to join, i said yes and every Sunday i kept going then listening to the Islamic talks and the ways the sisters was with each other i was so happy to be around them. I noticed me changing awell the more i learnt and slowly wanted to dress modest, shortly i took my shahadah Alhamduillah, praying was very hard for me and adopting to the hijab but i got there in the end mashAllah.

 My mother wasn’t so bad it was my dad he took it very bad saying he would disown me and if he saw me on the streets wearing the hijab he wouldn’t talk to me subahnAllah, but with me stopping alot of haram and being patience being good daughter to him he came around to the idea of me being muslim n weaing the hijab marshAllah. Me and my father have very good relationship now he would take me get halal meat,cook Chinese food for me using halal meat n if i needed him take my daughter to masjid he would be there to take her mashAllah.

Being muslim make me rethink my career role awell and what does life mean to me i quit my job in a Chinese takaway,i wanted do stuff that was meaningful  i started helping at the masjid as a youth worker for musilm girls, doing radio ramadhan, toddler group voluntary i worked with interpal charity organisation couple times doing charity events awell for gaza, i had so much free time i wanted give back and help the muslim community mashaAllah. I also worked partime at Islamic relief charity shop it was so much fun there met so many nice sisters.

I love going to islam talks and Islamic events my fav speakers are these shekhs  fiez, bilal phililps,muntaza  khan, salim al-Amary, hussan yee, dr zakr naik, abu sbussalam, ahmed dedat, yasir  qadhi, yusuf estes, suhaib webb, Muhammad alshareef, etc etc so many May Allah swt reward them all their work they spreading to the ummah amen. Theres 2reciters i love marshAllah shekh abu ash shatri and shekh sudias Alhamduillah.

I have so many revert friends and born Muslim i would never go back to the way i was i know the truth now mashAllah.

How islam found me by aisha/laura

 I was raised in a non religious household both parents believing that every religion was just another way of control, but i was always intrigued with religion and why people believed what they believed.

In the last year of school i became perticulary intruiged by islam and the teachings of the religion after reading the bible and thinking theres something not quite right there, mainly to do with how jesus was the son of god. I can remember thinking to myself how can a god have a son, and this son is a normal man. The islamic view seemed at the time to be more believable than the christian view.

After i finished my last year at school i got a bit out of control, going out every weekend, the drinking and the smoking etc.. the mornings after the nights before thinking there has to be more to life than this rubbish!

After a year or so i started a new job and calmed down a lot and eventually went to the local library and borrowed the book ‘islam.. beliefs and teachings’ which im sure many have read! and along with that an english translation of the quran.

It took me quite a while to finish it (with the help of a dictionary, as written in old english) i understood a lot of it but it was still hard to figure out most parts, which is where my now husband comes in and helps me to understand.. we had been friends since high school.

He was raised muslim and understood a lot more than i could, he would also tell me stories of the prophets pbut which at first i just wanted to tell him to shut up because he just went on and on and on…… but alhamdulillah im thankful for that, if it werent for him drilling it in.. who knows where i would be today maybe still living in ignorance!!

For a couple of years i would read any information on islam and other religions i could get my hands on. Im sure a lot of people understand what i mean when i say ’something clicked’ i just knew islam was the path i wanted to take!

i finally took my shahada on 18th august 2004 mashallah, its the best thing i ever did and 5 years down the line im married to the man who helped to make the decision.

I still learn something new most days its such a huge religion with so much to learn and understand.

Nowadays i like to socialise with my islamic sisters who bring my imaan up everytime im down and help me in the way real sisters should, alhamdulillah for them and may allah swt bless them and give them a place in jannah ameen

How i came to Islam 

I came to islam because i was dating a yemini guy when i was sixteen
i invited him for christmass one year and he totally told me he wasent christian or cathoilic which is what i was
ne ways i asked him if he’d become christian or catholic and he said hell no but told me that if i could prove his religion wrong he’d become catholic or christian
so i did my research and found out muslims read a psalm similar to the bible called the quran
and in school there was a literature assignment due in my languages arts class and the only way to get acceted in my university was to read a novel so i chooose my research topic to be islam

after alfatiha i read surah al-baqara i just broke down and started crying i knew the bible from front to back
why has no one ever told me or anyone else about this faith

 i became angry and put more effort into completing the quran and gave hell of a speech about what life is really about
 not i went to a catholic school
 so it didnt fly right with the teachers never less the community  everyone was convinced i was posessed
“controlled by the shayton”
 but even though my boyfriend/fiance wasent really interested in me being muslim cuz he liked how i was in modeling more then the        religious stuff
 we kinda seperated and moved along though i still have him iin my life today just never married him cuz of his lack of religiousness
 thats a huggggeee turn off a man who doesnt pray or onl fast’s during ramadan
 my ex was like that
 and alot of men i met

 but anywho yeps thats pretty much how i became muslim
Annonymous

The History of Islam

The world Islam means “submission to God”. The Holy Quran describes Islam as an Arabic word Deen (way of life). The followers of Islam are called Muslims. The literal meaning of Muslim is “one who surrenders” or “submits” to the will of God. In order to understand Islam, the basic portrayal of belief in Quran must be considered. According to Quran, those who submit to one God are Muslims. Aisha Y. Musa writes in his article, Jews in the Quran: An Introduction  that, “Islam is the religion of all the prophets from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses, Jesus and Mohammad. (10:71-72, 84; 2:128-133; 5:110-112).” Quran also declares that all the prophets who came before Mohammad and their followers were all Muslims. 
 
The origin of Islam dates back to the creation of the world. All the prophets who came to this world preached the same message of believing in one God and to accept them as His messenger. The prophets were also blessed with a manifestation of divine will or truth. Likewise, Prophet Mohammad was also a messenger of God. He revealed the truth and the way of life through the Holy Quran. 
 
Before the birth of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the Arab society was sunk into darkness. Although the Arabs believed in the unity of God, but they also claimed that God has entrusted His duties to various gods, goddesses and idols. For this purpose, they had more than 360 idols. They considered angels as the daughters of God. They were ignorant of social values. They were nomadic people who were dependent on cattle for their living. There was no government or law. All power existed with the rich. The society was full of barbarity and brutality. Tribes fought with each other over trivial matters for centuries. A slight argument over horses or water could lead to the slaughtering of thousands of innocent people.
 
It was the birth of Prophet Mohammad in 570 A.D in the city of Makkah which brought a revolution to the entire fate of the nomadic Arabs. He became famous among the people of Makkah at a very early age because of his allegiance and reliability. He was widely known as Al-Ameen (honest, trustworthy.)
 
At the age of 40, when Mohammad was meditating at Mt. Hera, he received a revelations from God. The angel Gabriel said to him, “Iqra” which means “to read”. Mohammad replied “I cannot read”. Gabriel embraced and released him. Then the first five verses of God was revealed to him which said, “Recite in the name of your Lord who created! He created man, out of a (mere) cloth of congealed blood. Recite; and thy Lord is most bountiful. He who had taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not.” (96:1-5)
 
Mohammad started proclaiming the message of believing in one God. The people who once called him “Trustworthy” and “Honest” boycotted and plotted to kill him. In 622 A.D., due to worsening living conditions and social isolation, Prophet Mohammad migrated to Medina along with his followers. This flight was known as Hijrah and marks the beginning of the Muslims calendar. Mohammad’s message spread rapidly and the number of followers increased in Medina. During the next few years, a series of battles were fought between various tribes of Makkah and the Muslims of Medina. In 628 A.D, the Treaty of Hudaibiyah was signed between the two parties. Truce was declared for 10 years. The treaty was broken in 629 A.D by the non-Muslims of the Makkans. Mohammad moved towards Makkah with 10,000 men and the battle was won without a single bloodshed.  Mohmmad died in 632 A.D , at the age of 63 in the city of Medina. Mohammad’s death brought a huge catastrophe among Muslims. People could not believe that Mohammad had left them forever. Many of the followers were perplexed and distraught, and claimed him to be still living.  At that time Mohammad funeral, Abu Bakr, who was the most respected of all the followers affirmed that, “O people, those of you who worshipped Mohammad, Mohammad has died. And those of you who worshipped God, God is still living.”
 
Abu Bakr was chosen as the first Caliph (leader). Before his death in 634 A.D., Umar ibn ul Khattab was appointed as his successor. During the ten years of his rule, Muslims conquered 22 hundreds thousands miles of area. Mesopotamia and parts of Persia were taken from the Sassanids Empire (Iranian Dynasty), and Egypt, Palestine, Syria, North Africa and Armenia from the Byzantine Empire. He was devoted and committed to his people and established an empire of peace, justice and dignity. The teachings of Islam started to spread through love. The principle of equality among all the people irrespective of race, color, caste, and creed won the hearts of the people. Within a few years, a lot of people accepted the message of Islam.  By the tenth century, Islam dominated the half of the world known at that time.
The Expansion of Islam
 
Mohammad Ali writes in his article, “The condition of Arabs before the advent of the Holy Prophet and the Transformation He Wrought in Them,” says that “From such debasing idolatry, the holy Prophet uplift the whole of Arabia in a brief span of twenty years . . . is not this the mightiest miracle that the world has ever witnessed ? . . . It was this fallen humanity whom the Holy prophet raised to the highest level of moral rectitude.”
 
Mahatma Gandhi, in his unique style, says “Some one has said that Europeans in South Africa dread the advent Islam – Islam that civilized Spain, Islam that took the torch light to Morocco and preached to the world the Gospel of brotherhood. The Europeans of South Africa dread the Advent of Islam. They may claim equality with the white races. They may well dread it, if brotherhood is a sin. If it is equality of colored races then their dread is well founded.”
 
Sarojini Naidu explains his point in Ideals of Islam by saying that “It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: ‘God Alone is Great’… I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.”

Professor Hurgronje writes “the fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations “.

Imam Mohammad Rasheed has a degree in Islamic Law  from the Islamic University in Madina Saudi Arabia.Asalaam Alaikum for any Questions you may have please leave them below in the comments box and the Imam will get back to you shortly inshAllah. For any Questions you would like to ask but not make them public you can email the Imam at  m_rasheed@hotmail.co.uk

A-Z Islamic Glossary
A

Athaan – The call for Salah
Aameen- May Allah accept it
Aabid- A worshipper
Abu Dawood- A book on Hadith compiled by Imam Abu Dawood
Aadam- The first man A prophet of Allah
Ahad- The only one
Ahaadith-Plural of Hadith
Ahlul Kitab-The people of the book (Christians and Jews)
Alayhis Salaam-Peace be upon them
Alhamdulilah- All praise is due to Allah
Aalim- A scholar of Islam
Allah – Name of creator of universe
Allahu Akbar -God is great
Allah ta`ala- Allah the exalted
Allamah- A highly learned person
Arabic- Language of the Quran
Arsh- Thrown of Allah
Asr- The name of the Salah that is between afternoon and sunset
Asalaam Alaikum- Peace be upon you( greetings of a Muslim)
Astaghfirullah- I seek forgiveness of Allah
Aayat- A verse from the Quran

B

Baitul Makadas- Holy Masjid in Jerusalem
Bismillah- In the name of Allah ( When starting something)
Bani Israeel- Progeny Clan of Israel
Barakah -Blessings
Bidat- Innovation in religion
Bukhari- The book of Hadith compiled by Imam Bukhari
Badr – The battle of Badr
Barakallah feek – May the blessings of Allah be upon you
Black seed – The Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said there is a healing in the black seed for all diseases except death
Burqa – Veil or covering similar to the Niqab but the burqa has a net the covers the eyes
C

Chaasht- The time for non obligatory salah before noon
Caliph- Is a term or title used for the Islamic leader of the ummah

D

Da`if- Weak reported hadith
Dajjal- Islamic anti-christ
Dhul hijjah- 12th month of the Islamic calender
Deen- Religion
Du`a- A supplication to ask something from Allah
Dawah- Dawah is considered to be the Muslim responsibility to invite others to Islam
Dawood-David in English. This Prophet was a devout servant of Allah who used to observe fasting on one day and break it the next, besides practicing forms of worship for about two-thirds of the night. Allah revealed the Psalms (Zaboor) to David, gave him wisdom and knowledge and granted him a strong kingdom.
Dhuhr-The second Salah of the day
Dhul Qada- The 11th months of the Islamic calender
Dunya- This world and its earthly concerns
Dhikr-Remembrance of Allah by reciting his names

E

Esa- Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him)
Ehsan- Goodness
Eid-Muslim religious festival
Eid al Adha- Is the 2nd Muslim festival
Eid al Fitr- Marks the end of the Islamic month Ramadhan Fitr literally means to break

F

Fajr- The 1st salah (prayer) of the day Dawn
Faraaidh- Plural of Fardh
Fardh- Obligatory religious practices
Fatwa- Religious legal verdict
Fiqh- Jurisprudence
Fitnah- Evil, disorder

G

Gheebah- Backbiting
Ghusl- Full ablution
Gog and Magog- Two evil empires

H

Hadith- Sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Habeel- Was the 2nd son of Adam (pbuh) he was murdered by his brother Qabeel
Hafidh-A person is labeled this if they have memorized the whole Quran
Hajar al Asawad- The black stone
Hajj-1 of the five pillars of Islam
Halaal- Permissible
Haraam-Forbidden
Halaqah-A small group of students learning about Islam
Hanafi- One of the 4 schools of thought
Haq- Truth
Haram- The masjid Al Haram considered to be the holiest place and is the focal point of Hajj-The holy pilgrimage to Mecca it is one of the 5 pillars of Islam
Hawa-The name of prophet Aadams wife
Hayat-Life
Hidayah-Guidance and leadership as given by Allah
Hijab-The covering of the hair
Hijrah-The emigration of Muhammed (pbuh)
Hijri-The name of the Islamic lunar calender
I

Ibaadah- Worship
Iblees – Satan
Ibn- Son of
Ibn Katheer- A book of commentary of the Quran
Ibraheem-The prophet Abraham (pbuh)
Iftaar- Breaking the fast
Ilm-Knowledge
Imaan-Faith
Injeel-The Gospel
Isha-The last salah of the day the night prayer
Islam- The religion of Muslims literally means peace and submission to Allah
Istinjaa-Washing of the private parts after using the toilet
Itikaaf- Devotional seclusion in a masjid for a fixed number of days
Iddah- The waiting period after a divorce has been given
Imam- Leader
Inshallah- If Allah wills it
Iqamah- The caller to prayer that announces that the prayer is about to start
Isra- The night journey
Israfeel- The angel that
Istikhara- A prayer that is offered to seek guidance from Allah

J

Jahanam-Hell
Jamaat- Congregational Salah
Jannah- Heaven,Paradise
Jihaad- A struggle in the path of Allah
Jumah- Friday or the Friday prayers
Juz- Part
Jaheeliyah-Days of ignorance before Islam
Jamia- Gathering
JazakAllah- May Allah reward you
Jilbab- Over garment worn by Muslim women
Jinn- The unseen Allah created Jinn and mankind
Jumada al akhira-The 6th month of the Islamic calender
K

Kabah- The structure namely the house of Allah to which the Muslims face during salah
Kafir-A person who hides,denies or conceals the truth, translated into English as infidel
Kalimah- La ilaha il Allah Muhammadan Rasoolullah Testimony of Faith
Khalifah- Caliph
Khutbah- Sermon
Kiraman Katibeen- Two angels that write down the deeds of everyone
L

Labbaik- I am present
Lailatul Qadr- The night of power
La ilaha il Allah Muhammadan Rasoolullah – There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is the Messenger

M

Maghrib- The prayer at sunset
Makrooh- Disliked action
Malaikah- The angels
Maryam- Mother of Jesus Mary Also a name of the surah in the Quran
Mimbar-Pulpit
Musa- The prophet Moses (pbuh)
Madraasa- School
Mahr- A dowry given to the bride
Mahram- A relative or someone who you can not be married to  that a women can be free with her brother her father etc
MashAllah- Whatever Allah wills
Mu`adhdhin- The caller to prayer who calls the Athaan
Munafiq- Religious hypocrite
Mustahab-Recommended
Munkar and Nakeer- Two angels that question you in your grave
N

Nafl- Non obligatory prayer
Niyyah-Intention
Nur-Light
Nabi- Prophet in Arabic and Hebrew
Nafs- Soul or self
Nasheed- Islamic orientated song
Nikah- Islamic contract of marriage
Niqab- The veil that covers the face
Nisaa- Women
O

P

Pbuh- Peace be upon him/them
Prophet- Some one sent by Allah as a guidance to mankind

Q

Qiyamaat- The day of judgment
Quran- The words of Allah
Qiblah- The direction of the Kaba
Qiyaam ul lail- Standing in prayers at night
Quresh-A famous tribe to which the Prophet (pbuh) belonged to
R

Radhi Allah anhu- May Allah be please with him, said whenever the name of a sahabi is read or heard
Rab- Lord
Rabi al awaal- The 3rd months of the Islamic calender
Rajab-The 7th month of the Islamic calender
Rakat- A unit of prayer
Ramadhan- The blessed month when Muslims everywhere fast
Rasool- Messenger of Allah
Riba- The term for usury of which is forbidden in the Quran
Rizq- Livelihood means of living provisions
Rooh- soul
Ruku- To bend in salah
Ridhwaan- A angel in charge of paradise
S

Sallalahu alayhi wa sallam- May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him
Sabr- Patience
Sadaaqah-Voluntary charity
Sahahbah- Companions of the prophet
Sajdah-Prostrating during salah
Salah- Prayer
Salaam-Peace
Sawm- Fasting
Shabaan-The 8th months of the Islamic calender
Shaffi-One of the four schools of thought
Shahadah- Testimony of faith is what a person declared when they become Muslim
Shaitaan-The devil
Sharia- Islamic law
Shawwal- The 10th month of the Islamic calender
Subhana wa ta ala – May he be glorified and exalted
Subhaanallah-Glory be to Allah
Suhur- The pre dawn meal before the fast starts
Sunnah-Everything the Prophet(pbuh) said or did
Surah-Chapter in the Quran
Shirk- Setting up partners with Allah
T
Tahajjud-Voluntary prayer that are done at night after isha but before fajr
Taharah-Purity
Tajweed-Reading Quran in the correct way
Takbeer- Allahu Akbar
Talaq-Divorce
Taqwa- God consciousness
Taraweeh- Prayers done after isha in the month of Ramadhan
Taurat-Torah
Tawaf- The circumbulating the Kaba
Tawakul-Relying on Allah
Tawbah-Repentance
Tayyamumum-Dry ablution
Thawab-Reward
Tauheed-Oneness of Allah
U
Ulema- Well versed jurisprudence
Ummul Mumimeen- The mothers of the believers
Umrah-Paying a visit to the Kabah
Ummah- Followers of the prophet (pbuh)
V
W
Walaikum salaam-Peace be upon you to
Wajib- Almost obligatory
Witr- Compulsory salaah following the isha salah
Wudhu-Ablutions
Wali- Protector guardian

X

Y

Yahya-The prophet John the baptist
Yaqoob- The prophet Jacob
Yusuf-The prophet Joseph
Ya hamuk Allah- Allah mercy be upon you
Yunas-The prophet Jonah
Yawm al Qiyaam-The day of judgment

Z

Zakat-Obligatory charity payable on wealth at the end of Ramadhan
Zaboor- The book revealed to the prophet Dawood (pbuh)
Zam Zam- The name of a well (very famous story)
Zina-illegal sexual intercourse