Explanation of Islamic Terms

Alim	One who has attained a considerable amount of Islamic knowledge. He could also be referred to as an Islamic scholar.
Barakah	Literally means "blessings". It refers to the experiencing of abundance in things which are apparently insignificant or little, both in value and amount.
Bid'ah	Literally means "innovation". In Islam it refers to introducing new things into religion, which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah, and in addition to this, to regard these new things as acts of Ibadah. A bid'ah is a major sin in Islam.
Dua ul-maghfirah	Supplicating to Allah Ta'ala and asking Him for His forgiveness.
Ila	Annulment of a marriage after the husband's sworn testimony to have refrained from sexual intercourse with his wife for a period of at least four months. For further details, refer to the chapter on ila.
Fard	Literally means "compulsory". In Islam it refers to those acts and things which are compulsory on a Muslim. Abandoning or abstaining from a fard act is a major sin. Rejecting a fard act amounts to kufr.
Fatwa	A formal legal opinion or verdict in Islamic law.
Ghayr mahram	Refers to all those persons with whom marriage is permissible. Based on this, it is incumbent to observe purdah with all ghayr mahrams.
Ghibah	Slander or backbiting.
Hayd	Monthly periods or menstruation experienced by a woman.
Hajj	Literally means "pilgrimage". In Islam it refers to the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.
Halal	That which is lawful or permissible in Islam.
Haram	That which is unlawful or prohibited in Islam.
Hûr	Refers to the large-eyed women of jannah, promised to the believers.
Ibadah	Literally means "worship". In Islam it refers to all those acts of worship which one renders to Allah Ta'ala.
Iddah	A period of waiting during which a woman may not remarry after being widowed or divorced. For further details, refer to the chapter on ‘iddah.
Ihram	Two pieces of unstitched cloth donned by the person performing hajj or umrah.
Jahannam	Hell.
Jama'ah	A group, party, community.
Jannah	Paradise.
Kafir	Literally means "a disbeliever". In Islam it refers to one who rejects Allah and does not believe in Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as the final messenger of Allah.
Kaffarah	Literally means "penance, atonement, expiation". In Islamic law it refers to redemption from the omission of certain religious duties by a material donation or a ritual act. For further details, refer to the chapter on kaffarah.
Khula'	Divorce at the instance of the wife who must pay a compensation. For further details, refer to the chapter on khula'.
Kuffar	Plural of kafir.
Li'an	Sworn allegation of adultery committed by either husband or wife. For further details, refer to the chapter on li'an.
Madrasah	Literally means "a school". Also used to refer to a religious school.
Maghrib	Literally means "evening or sunset". Also refers to the time of sunset and the salat that is offered thereafter.
Mahr	Dower or bridal money.
Mahram	Refers to the person with whom marriage is not permissible and with whom strict purdah is not incumbent.
Mahrul mithl	The dower or bridal money that is equal to or similar than that which was given to a girl's paternal grandmothers. For further details, refer to the chapter on mahrul mithl.
Masa'il	Plural of mas'ala.
Mas'ala	Literally means "an issue, problem or question". In Islamic jurisprudence, it refers to a rule or regulation.
Mustahab	Literally means "preferable or desirable". Refers to that act which was carried out by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam or the Sahabah occasionally. Carrying out these actions entails reward and leaving them out does not entail punishment.
Nafl	Optional.
Nadhr	A vow or solemn pledge.
Nifas	Refers to the flowing of blood after child-birth.
Nikah	Marriage.
Purdah	An Urdu word meaning "seclusion". It is an equivalent of the Arabic word "hijab". Refers to the seclusion of women from strangers. There are different stages of purdah, the highest of which is that the woman should not come out of her home except for a valid Islamic reason.
Qada’	Literally means "carrying out or fulfilling". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to fulfilling or completing those duties that one may have missed out due to some reason or the other.
Qadiani	A heretical sect which regards Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani as a prophet of Allah. Qadianis are regarded as disbelievers.
Qiblah	The direction in which one faces when offering salat.
Qurbani	Literally means "sacrifice". In Islam it refers to the sacrificing of animals solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala on the day of  Idul-adha and the two days following it.
Rahmah	Mercy.
Ramadan	The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is regarded as the most sacred month.
Salam	Literally means "peace".
ShariAh	The Islamic Law.
Shaytan	Satan or the devil.
ShiAh	A heretical sect found primarily in Iran.
Sunnat-e-Mu'akkadah	Refers to those actions which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam carried out continuously. It is a sin to leave out such a sunnah without any valid excuse.
Sunni	Refers to those who belong to the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama'ah. This term is generally used as an opposite to ShiAh.
Surmah	Antimony. A black powdery substance that is applied to the eyes. It is sunnah to apply surmah.
Talaq	Divorce.
Talaq-e-kinayah	A divorce that is issued in vague terms without clearly uttering the words of talaq.
Talaq-e-sarih	A divorce that is issued in clear terms without leaving any vagueness or doubt.
Talaqul ba'in	A divorce which causes the annulment of the marriage. If a person wishes to retain his wife to whom he had issued a talaqul ba'in, he will have to remarry her, i.e. their nikah will have to be re-performed.
Talaqul mughallazah	A divorce which not only causes the annulment of the marriage, but if the couple wish to remarry, the woman will have to marry another person first, when he divorces her or passes away, only then can she remarry her first husband.
Talaqur raj'i	A revocable divorce.
Ulama	Plural of Alim.
Ummah	Literally means "community or nation". Here it refers to the Muslim community and nation.
Wajib	Literally means "obligatory". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to that act which has not been established by an absolute proof. Leaving out a wajib without any valid reason makes one a fasiq and entails punishment.
Wali	In the context of marriage or divorce, it refers to the legal guardian of a minor.
Walimah	Refers to the feast that is organized after a marriage. It usually takes place after the bride and bride groom have spent a night together.
Wudû’	Literally means "purity or cleanliness". In Islamic terminology it refers to the act of washing oneself before offering salat.
Zihar	Likening one's wife to one's mother. It is a form of divorce. For further details, refer to the chapter on zihar.
Reference:	Rights In Islam Written By Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahmatullah Alaihi