A Selected Glossary of Islamic, Islamist and Related Terms

NOTE

"Selected" means terms and definitions I've accumulated over the years. They're more likely to involve legal and political issues than cultural ones. This glossary list should be thought of more as a supplement to more complete glossaries like Glossary of Islamic Terms and Concepts http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/reference/glossary.html or Islam 101 ... GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS http://www.islam101.com/selections/glossaryA.html ... not least of all because the entries do not include the original arabic script! (Words in parentheses, e.g. "(from: Lewis "Shi'a" p.27)," refer to the source of the definition. Check Sources at the end of this page for the full name of the author and the publication.)

• ISLAM and MUSLIMS (Assorted Terms)
• NON-RELIGIOUS SOCIAL and CULTURAL ARABIC Terms
  • CLOTHING
• ISLAMIC LAW, CRIME, JURISPRUDENCE, and ITS ORIGINS
• HADITH
• ISLAMIC CLERICS and OFFICIALS, Names for, and Kinds of
• GOOD DOERS
• WRONG DOERS or DEROGATORY Terms
• MONEY and CHARITY
• SHI'A and ISLAMIC REPUBLIC of IRAN
• LEGAL Terms and Concepts in SHI'A ISLAM and ISLAMIC REPUBLIC of IRAN
  • GENERAL LEGAL Terms Used in the IRI
  • TYPES of ORDINANCES or AHKAM
  • INTERESTS (MASLAHAT) in Islamic Law
• ISLAMIST Terminology
• SOURCES

Aakhira - life in the hereafter, as opposed to the temporal world or dunya (from Patai, p.152)

Adhan, (also Azzan) - call to prayer (salat), made five times a day.

Adib - a man of letters (from Chamieh)

Ahl al-Dhimma - protected people. Christians and Jews living under Islamic rule. They have agreed to Dhimma or treaty.

Ahl al-Hal Wal `Aqd - literally `the People who Loosen and Bind.` Name given by Islamic jurists to "those who resolve public affairs" ("The Islamic State" by Hassan al-Turabi, from Voices of Resurgent Islam, 1983).
The appropriate leaders of an Islamically-correct state, according to Muslim Brotherhood founder Hasan al-Banna speaking at the fifth Brotherhood conference (1939). These people are "classified in three categories: 1) the [Islamic] jurists; 2) those who have expertise in public affairs: 3) and those who have a prominent position in society, such as the heads of important clans, tribal chiefs and important public officials" [source: Al-Rasa'el (The Epistles) by Hasan al-Banna, p.328 (from Chamieh, p.149)

Ahl al-bayt - `people of the house` (of the prophet). Muhammad's clan the Banu Hashim. (from Aslan, p.112)

Ahmadiyya - a sect named after M. Ghulam Ahmad, who preached in British India that Jesus feigned death and escaped to India, and that jihad is a peaceful battle against nonbelievers. Ahmadis are zealous missionaries, preaching Ahmadi beliefs as the one true Islam. (from Trifkovic, p.251)

`ajam - non-arabs at the time of Muhammad (P) (from Mernissi p.98)

Akhbaar - "anecdotes" about what the Prophet did, as opposed to hadeeth, which relate what the Prophet said. Together they make up the sunna.

'Alim (pl. `ulama) - a scholar of Islam

Al-`amal al-saalih - good deed (from Mahmoud)

Al-Ansar - literally "the supporters." Residents of the city of Medina (aka Yashrub) who welcomed the Muslims to Medina and helped them, hiring them to work, etc. (from Chamieh, p.17)

Aqidah (also Aqidah) - Aqidah is an Islamic creed. The term is usually reserved for a more complex expression of Islamic dogma and doctrine than the Shahada. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqeedah)

Aqbat - Coptic Christians of Egypt

Asbab al-nuzul' - "the knowledge about the reasons of the revelations [in the Quran], i.e. the knowledge about the particular events and circumstances in history that are related to" particular ayat from the Qur'an.

Ash'arite School - traditionalist school of Islam of the ninth and tenth centuries, founded by Abu'l Hasan al-Ash'ari (873-935). Opponents of Mu'tazilites school. Opposed the concept of free will among humans on the grounds that it seemed to compel God to act in a rational manner, therefore human manner, therefore it was shirk. (Implying that God is all-powerful but not all-benevolent.) Believed in literal interpretation of the Qur'an, e.g. that God has a face. (Based on 5:27) Common expression: "bila kayfa" (roughly "Don't ask why"). (Aslan, p.154) Became dominant after the 13th century. (from Aslan, p.158)

Ashraf - Plural form of sharif, meaning "noble," or "high-born," and specifically a descendent of the prophet Muhammad. (Britannica.com) In Pakistan it refers to an elite caste or quasi-caste, whose members claim to be descended from Arab conquers of the region. (from Trifkovic, p.235)

Aslem, Taslam - "Submit (surrender/accept Islam) and you will be safe" http://killdevilhill.com/z/yreligiond/Islamhall/cas/343.html

Awqaf - Muslim religious endowments. (singular is waqf). Traditionally the institution that sustained the juristic class (`Ulama). Now usually controlled by the state in Muslims countries, which in the process has co-opted the clergy and reduced their legitimacy. (from Tolerance, Abou El Fadl, p.7)

Aya, (pl. ayat) - literally "sign." Verses that make up Surahs (Chapters) that make up the Holy Qur'an.

Ba'ath - rebirth. Used to mean renaissance (by the Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party), also resurrection from death in the religious sense. (from Mernissi p.127)

Baraka - blessing, spiritual power (from Aslan, p.159)

Batin - Quran's implicit as opposed to explicit message. Shia believe "the whole of the Quran consists of symbols and allusions ... beyond human comprehension ... that only the Imam has the spiritual perfection to elucidate." (from Aslan, p.183)

Batil - error, injustice. Contrasted with haqq in hadith where the Prophet denounces idols at Ka'ba by saying "Al-haqq has come, and al-batil has vanished." (from Mernissi p.81)

Bid'a - Innovation in religion. The world often carries a negative connotation in contemporary Islamic discourses. (Abou El Fadl) According to a hadith supported by in Al-Bukhari and Al-Muslim, Aisha reported Muhammad said "every matter newly begun is innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in hell." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bida)

Bismillahir rahmanir rahim - "In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful," or "I begin in the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful." A phrase recited before reading the Qur'an or doing any daily activity

Dajjal - antichrist who will appear at end times.

Da'wah - inviting others to Islam. Missionary work

Devshirme - `blood levy` of the Christian population of the Ottoman Empire introduced by Sultan Orkhan (1326-1359). Consisted of the periodic taking of a fifth of all Christian boys in the conquered non-Muslim territories. (p.114) Christian parents mutilated their boys to prevent their capture. "The practice left a deep scar on the collective memory of the Balkan Christians, notably Serbs and Bulgarians, and contributed to their thorough loathing of all things Turkish that persists to this day." (from Trifkovic, p.116)
Turks, on the other hand describe the practice as the "equivalent of a full scholarship to Harvard or Yale." `From the poor families' point of view, it was a great chance for their sons to be offered a high level of education, especially in the palace which would provide good future prospects.` (from www.turkishodyssey.com/turkey/history3.htm )

Dhimmi - a non-Muslim living under the protection of a Muslim state. He is exempt from duties of Islam like military and zakah but must instead pay a tax called jizyah.

Din - religion. Also judgment.

Din Muhammad bi'l-sayf - the traditional doctrine of spreading "the religion of Muhammad with the sword" (from Patai, p.145)

Dunya - life in this world, as opposed to the hereafter or aakhira (from Patai, p.152)

'Eid - Arabic name for a festivity, celebration, recurring happiness, and feast. In Islam, there are two major 'Eids namely the feast of Ramadhan ('EId Al-Fitr) and the Feast of Sacrifice ('Eid Al-Adhha). The first 'Eid is celebrated by Muslims after fasting the month of Ramadhan as a matter of thanks and gratitude to Almighty Allah. It takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the lunar calendar. The second 'Eid is the Feast of Sacrifice and it is to be celebrated for the memory of prophet Ibrahim trying to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael). This 'Eid lasts four days between the tenth and the thirteenth day of Zul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the lunar calendar.

Fadaail - religious virtues. (from Mahmoud)

Fasad fi al-ard - literally "corruption on earth". "The act of destroying or spreading ruin on this earth ... one of the gravest sins possible" because destroying "the beauty of creation" is an "act of blasphemy against" the creator. (p.237)Fasad fi al-ard includes the killing of noncombatants, `the resident and wayfarer.` (from abou el Fadl Great, p.242)

Fatwa (pl. fatawa) - legal opinion concerning Islamic Law. It "may address either a specific problem of interest to a particlar person or a matter of public concern." (El Fadl, Great, p.28)

Fitna - civil strife, war, riots.

Fitra - the doctrine according to which all human beings are Muslims, but some are turned into Jews, Christians, or others by their parents. (from Lewis "Shi'a," p.27)

Ghazi - a Muslim soldier, warrior

Habl al-mateen - "firm rope" from the phrase grasp the firm rope of faith (from Taheri, Spirit, p.25)

Hadeeth (also Hadith, pl. Ahadeeth) - a narration/tradition reported from the Prophet (S) and the Imams (a)

Hanifism - "an obscure Arab monotheistic movement" which arose some time around the 6th century C.E. and which as far anyone is aware, existed nowhere else except in Hijaz (western Arabia). (from Aslan, p.13)

Haqqahu - God's rights

Haram - forbidden, unlawful in Islam.

al-Hayaa - virtuous modesty or demureness (in women). (from Mahmoud)

Hijab - "a veil", "curtain", "partition" or "separation." Covering of Muslim women or "the screening between non-mahram men and women" (from http://www.al-islam.org/about/resources/glossary.html )

Horriya, (also hurriyya) - freedom. Is not used in "religious and literary discourse and texts. The word Horriya occurs only in the juridical sense meaning the liberation of slaves." (from Chamieh, p.82)

Hukm Allah - God's command (from Mahmoud)

Ibaad Allah - slaves and worshipers of Allah, i.e. Muslims. (from Trifkovic, p.143)

Ihsan - "to beautify and improve upon;" kindness. (from Abu El Fadl, p.14)

`Ilm al-kalam - theology. Rejected by wahhabi, salafi "neofundamentalists" as "either redundant or constituting some sort of as `rival` intellectual construction that ends by being a substitute for the true corpus." (p.245, Roy, Globalized)

'Ilm al-tawhid "science of making one." The study of God's oneness, unity, indivisibility, uniqueness, undefinability, etc. (from Aslan, p.150)

Imam - Leader. Refers to a prayer leader for Sunni Muslims. Twelver Shi'a Muslims use it to refer to the 12 "infallible and noble Imams," the descendants of Muhammad (S.A.W.).

Iman - "personal faith." Also refers to "sanctuary" or place of safe refuge. In Arabia, an outlaw would seek iman after being expelled from his tribe. (from Trifkovic, p.41)

Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'un - "We are from Allah and to him we are returning." Phrase uttered when a Muslim is struck with a calamity.

Islam - from the verbal noun of "asalama" -- to submit oneself to God. From Quranic verses: "The Religion of Allah is Al-Islam," (III:19) and "This day I have approved al-Islam for you as a religion." (V:3)

Islamism - the ideology that holds that Islam is not only a religion, but also a political system that governs the legal, economic and social imperatives of the state, and that this political system should be based on a conservative formulation of Islamic or shariah law. Sayyid Abul Ala Mawdudi, and Sayed Qutb were leading Islamists.
(from http://www.answers.com/topic/islamism)

Issa - Prophet in Islam whom Christians call Jesus.

I'tizal - "taking the middle position, weighing the pros and cons." (from Mernissi p.35)

Jahiliyyah - the pre-Islamic "condition of ignorance, barbarism, and chaos" from which the Arabs were rescued. Currently, the condition that Islamists such as Sayyid Qutb believe the Muslim community has returned to.

Jihad, (also Jihaad) - "striving" or "determined effort" in the path of God. Often translated as "holy war." Some Muslims (such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations), strongly object to this translation, maintaining jihad refers to nonviolent striving, but it should be noted that Sahih al-Bukhari (probably the most standard collection of ahaidith), uses the term jihad 199 times, all in the the sense of warfare. (from Streusand) - "striving" or "determined effort" in the path of God. Often translated as "holy war." Some Muslims (such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations), strongly object to this translation, maintaining jihad refers to nonviolent striving, but it should be noted that Sahih al-Bukhari (probably the most standard collection of ahadith), uses the term jihad 199 times, all in the the sense of warfare. (from Streusand)

Jihad al-nafs - "inner struggle to know oneself and know God." (from Abou el Fadl, Great p.132)

Jumhur - majority of the people (from Mernissi p.72)

Jumhuriyya - republic (from Mernissi p.72)

Kabira - "a grave sin " (from abou el Fadl Great, p.259)

Kafir, (pl. Kuffar or Kafirun) - literally "coverer", i.e. not only a non-Muslim/infidel, but "one who covers or hides truth." (from M.A. Qazi)

Kharijites - Early muslims rebels. Sunni consensus is that the Kharijites were "villains and sectarians." Descendents of Kharijites "can be found today only in small enclaves in Algeria, Tunisia, and Oman." (from Sivan, p.92)

Kufr - Unbelief

al-Kufru millatun wahida - literally, "unbelief is one nation." The doctrine that non-Muslims are all essentially the same. (from Patai, p.205)

Kuttaab - "Koran schools." "the mainstay of traditional Arab education for centuries." (from Patai, p.289)

La hikma illa lillah - "power belong only to God", slogan of the Kharijites rebels who killed early Calipha Ali ibn abi Talib (from Mernissi p.27) (A takeoff on "La ilaha illa Allah".)

La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah - "There is no god but God, Muhammad is his messenger." This is the declaration of faith or shahadah of Muslims. The reciting of it makes one a Muslim.

La umam fil-Islam - literally, "There are not nations in Islam." The doctrine that Islamic world should not be divided. (from Patai, p.205)

Al-Lat - A pre-Islamic goddess of the Arabs. (from Mernissi p.126)

Madina, (also Medina) - literally "city". Usually refers to Medinatu'l Nabi (literally "the city of the Prophet") was the name taken by the citizens of Yathrib, the town in northwestern Arabia to which the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions migrated during Hijrah.

Mahdi - "The Directed One. Guide, leader, one fit to guide others. (Qazi, M. p.37) Messianic figure of Islam who, in the last days, will restore justice and righteousness to the world. (Guillaume, A. p.120)Shia believe the Mahdi is the hidden Imam who has "left this world for a transcendent realm from which he will return on the Day of Judgment." According to the 14th-century historian and philosopher Ibn Khaldun, the Mahdi will either directly precede Isa (Jesus), or both messiahs will descend to earth together and join forces to kill the Antichrist. (Aslan, p.186)

Mahram - a person with whom a marriage is not lawful. For example, a father, mother, son, daughter, nephew, son-in-law, aunt or uncle. Paternal cousins and maternal cousins are not Mahram, and marriage with them is common, particularly in traditional environments like Saudi Arabia.

Manakir - sin (from Mernissi p.156)

Ma'ruf - "the good" that the Quran enjoins Muslims to do. Good that is "commonly known" to be good. (from Abu El Fadl, p.14)

Mawali - literally "clients." New, non-Arabic converts to Islam during the era of the Orthodox Caliphs and the Omayyads. "Formed a disadvantaged class compared to the Arabs." (from Chamieh, p.68)

Mazlum - victim of injustice (from Mernissi p.57)

Mehdi - "the directed one." Guide, leader, one fit to guide others. A figure who will appear in end times to lead Muslims.

Mohalels - Men who specialize in marrying divorcees for a single night. The marriage becomes necessary after a woman has been divorced three times by the same husband, but is asked, once again, to return to the family fold. Traditional Islamic rules stipulate that a woman who has been divorced three times by a man becomes haram (forbidden) to him. To undo this, the woman must marry another man and divorce him before she can remarry her original husband. "This complicated arrangement has led to the creation of a curious profession: that of one-night husbands. It was in Qom [Iran], and still is today, that the faithful will find all the mohalels they needed." (from Taheri, Spirit, p.51)

Misr - Egypt (Name used by Egyptians)

al-Mohajerun or al-Muhajirun - literally "the emigrants." Muslims who made the hijira to Medina with the Prophet Muhammad (p). (from Chamieh, p.17)

Mulhid - "a person who doesn't believe in the Beyond and the Oneness of God." (from Mernissi)

Musa - prophet known as Moses to Christians and Jews.

Mutadayyinin - religious people. (from Mahmoud)

Mutawakkila - trust in God. (from Mahmoud)

Mu'tazilite - rationalist school of Islam of the ninth and tenth centuries, long since vanquished. Their Ulama believed that "God, while fundamentally indefinable, nevertheless exists within the framework of human reason." Believed that "theological arguments must adhere to the principles of rational thought." School faded away at the end of the 13th century after Caliph al-Ma'un's inquisition against traditionalism. (from Aslan, p.153, 158)

al-Muwahhidun - "Unitarians," or "monotheists." Name for followers of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. Such folowers believe other Muslims have slacked off on the principle of the unity of God. (from Trifkovic, p.135)

Nabi - a Prophet.

an-Nabi al-ummi - "traditionally understood as meaning 'the unlettered prophet.'" but more likely meaning `the Prophet for the unlettered,` since the Qur'an describes itself as "revelation for a people without a sacred book." (from Aslan, p.35)

Nasiib - predestination or fate. (from Patai, p.153)

Naskh - abrogation of Quranic verse by another or others

Nasekh wa mansukh - "cancelled" verses and "canceling" verses" in the Qur'an. Process by which is determined which verses in the Qur'an (ayat) are to be heeded and which not when those verses contradict each other. Canceled verses are not deleted from the Quran as removing them would be tampering with God's word. (from Chamieh)

Nifaq - hypocritical

Qadar - predestination (from Mernissi p.26)

Qadir - freedom to act (from Mernissi p.34)

Qatala - to kill

Qawm "tribe." Word for Muslim community used in the Qur'an after 625 C.E., replacing Ummah. (from Aslan, p.29)

Qawwamun - can be variously translated as "guardians," "supporters," "masters" or "servants". Found in aya 4:34, `Men are the qawwamun of women in accordance with the favors God has bestowed upon some over others.` Fundamentalists favor reading qawwamun as "guardians," moderates as "supporters" (from abou el Fadl Great, p.267)

Qisma - predestination or fate (from Patai, p.153)

Qiyama - the Day of Judgement.

Qur'an - literally "the recital" or "the recitation." "The Holy Book, revealed by Allah through the angel Jabriel (Gabriel) as guidance to mankind."

Radhi Allahu Anhu - "may God be pleased with him" (sometimes abbreviated as "R.A") used folowing a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.)

Rahma - mercy. Its facets include "sensitiveness (al-riqa), tenderness (al-ta'attuf), forgiveness (al-maghfira), ... everything that is sweet and tender, nourishing and safe, like a womb," a word (rahm) to which it is related. (from Mernissi p.88)

Rasulullah - "Messenger of God," i.e. the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).

Ra'y - personal opinion or judgment (from Mernissi p.26)

Sadaqah - charity given to the poor.

al-Salaf al-salih - rightly-guided forefathers, i.e. the prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions. (from Tolerance, Abu El Fadl, p.9)

Salat also Salah - obligatory prayers said five times a day. (One of the five pillars of Islam.) At Dawn (Fajr), Noon (Zuhr), Afternoon ('Asr), Sunset (Magrib), and Late Night ('Ishha').

Sallalahu Alayhi Wassalam - "peace and blessings of God upon him," sometimes abbreviated as "pbuh" or "S.A.W" or "A.S". "It is a prayer which is said after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)."

Sawm - fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Sawm means abstinence of food, liquid and sex (of course the unmarried are always supposed to refrain from sex) from dawn until sunset. Sawm (Fasting) is one of the five pillars of Islam and takes place during Ramadhan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

Shahadah - declaration of faith. The shahadah in Islam is: "Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammad ur Rasulullah," meaning "I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." A person who converts to Islam must recite this, and is said to have "made their shahadah."

Shaheed (pl. Shuhada) - literally means "one who testifies or witnesses," but is used to mean religious martyr. Usage to describe and honor "sucide bombers" dates back only a few years.

Shaitan - Satan.

Shakk - doubt (shin-fata-kaf) (from Taheri, Spirit, p.94)

Shari'ah - traditional Islamic law based primarily on the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A.W.).

Shiqaq - expressing a difference of opinion creates a schism. "That splits the community and heaven in two." (from Mernissi p.99)

Sira - literally "a way of life, a line of conduct." Biography books about the life of Muhammad. (from Chamieh, p.9)

Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, also SWT - expression used whenever the name of Allah is pronounced or written.

Sunnah - "way" or "custom". The deeds (Akhbaar), sayings (ahadith), and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) that form a normative way of conduct, practice, usage, rule, course, institution, and behavior for Muslims. (from Trifkovic, p.57)

Surah, (pl. Suwar) - one of the 114 chapters that make up the Holy Qur'an. Each Surah in the Qur'an is named from some subject or word in the chapter that is particularly striking.

Tabiun - Second generation of Muslims (from Aslan, p.67)

Takfir - declaring someone a kafir. Specifically accusing a self-described Muslim of being a non-Muslim who is then subject to punishment. Practice opposed by moderate and mainstream Muslims who argue for dawah to return wayward Muslims to the fold. An essential part of radical Islamist or jihadi ideology. (p.244, Roy, Globalized)

Tanfieh - judicious doing of nothing. "In a world where everyone insists on being a doer those who choose to be non-doers should maintain their positions and ignore the perpetual movement that surrounds them. The doers are bound to make mistakes, undoing themselves in the end. ... All evil is done by those who do things for the sake of doing something." (from Taheri, Spirit, p.110)

Tafseer, (also Tafsir) - "explanation" or "interpretation." A commentary on the Qur'an.

al-Tabe'un - literally "the followers." "The second generation of Moslems," who unlike fundamentalists of centuries later (900 AD), "treated the four caliphs and Companions" as human beings capable of both good and bad deeds and not above criticism. (from Chamieh, p.40)

Tafsir - method of interpreting the Quran primarily concerned with elucidating the literal meaning of the text. (from Aslan, p.161)

Tajwid - technical science of Quranic recitation. Has "strict rules regulating when one is permitted to stop during a recitation and when it is forbidden to stop, when to prostrate oneself and when to rise, when to breathe... which consonants to stress", etc. (from Aslan, p.160)

Tanzil - direct revelation. The way in which the Qur'an is considered to have been revealed, as opposed to the indirect revelation that produced the bible. (from Aslan, p.157)

Taqarrab allah - closeness to God (from Mahmoud)

Taqiyeh - concealment in defense of the faith.
".. a theological concept that calls for `dissimulation of the truth`... historically and operationally, it has meant concealment of the truth in any situation in which that seems propitious. In contemporary politics, the Islamic Republic of Iran suffers the abiding suspicion among many foreign government ... that pronouncements of policy on everything from economics to terrorism may be concealment instead of truth." (from MacKey, p.109)

Taqwa - closeness to God (from Mahmoud). "virtue" (from Roy, p.137).

al-Tasamuh - tolerance (from Mernissi p.49)

Tasdeeq - the realization in this world of the eternal truth revealed to Muhammed by Allah in the Qur'an. (Taheri, Spirit)

Tashbih - attributing human characteristics to Allah (an error or sin) (from Trifkovic, p.60)

Tatil - divesting Allah of all attributes (an error) (from Trifkovic, p.60)

Tawheed - Monotheism, Divine Unity

Ta'wil - method of interpreting the Quran primarily concerned with hidden, esoteric meanings. (from Aslan, p.161)

Tharwa - fortune (Ajami); heritage (from Mernissi, p.38)

Thawra - revolution

'Ubudiyya - worship

Umm al-Kitab - 'Mother of Books' mentioned in the Quran. (13:9) A "single concealed book in heaven" from which "all revealed scriptures [Torah, the Gospels, the Quran] are derived." (from Aslan, p.99)

Ummah - Islamic community or nation. term the Quran uses to refer to Muhammad's followers. It may have meant `a community,` `a nation,` or `a people.`" "There is no linguistic evidence" for its relation to the world for `mother` (umm) (from Aslan, p.29)

Umma Muhammadiyya - literally, "Muhammadite nation." (Patai, p.205)

Al-`Uzza - Pre-Islamic goddess "linked in memory with disorder and killing" in Mecca." Arabian counterpart of Venus, also known as Kawkabta. (from Mernissi p.126, 122)

Wahad al-Islamiyya - Islamic unity. (from Patai, p.205)

Wahhabism - "a corpus of doctrines, but also a set of attitudes and behavior," derived from the teachings of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab in the mid-18th century. Wahhab's main contribution to theology was teaching injunctions of others, mainly Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328). "His disciples reject the term `Wahhabite`" or Wahhabi, and prefer `salafist` from "pious forefathers", al-Muwahhidun, or similar terms. (from Kepel, p.157)

Zahir - Quran's explicit message obvious and accessible to all Muslims through the discipline of tafsir. (from Aslan, p.183)

Zulm - injustice, (Mazlum are victims of injustice) (from Mernissi p.57)

Aadaat - customs (from Patai, p.74)

Adab - good manners or politeness (from Patai, p.74)

Asabiyya - family spirit or kinship spirit from the root verb 'asab, meaning "to tie together." Implies "boundless and unconditional loyalty to fellow tribesmen." (from Patai, p.93)

Bedouin - from the Arabic for desert dwellers, badwii or badawii, (which come from the arabic word for desert) (from Patai, p.74)

Dam butlub dam - "blood demands blood" (from Patai, p.80)

Diyafa - hospitality (from Patai, p.100)

Hakam - dispute settlers of pre-Islamic Arabia. (from Aslan, p.29)

Hamaasa - bravery (from Patai, p.79)

Hijaa - "an insulting poem or diatribe." Traditionally "an important part of a struggle with an enemy." (from Patai, p.213)

Hilm - virtue of "dignity, justice, forbearance, leniency, etc." (from Patai, p.214)

Kahins - Poets and "Cultic officials" of pre-Islamic Arabia "who, for a fee, would fall into a trance in which they would reveal divine messages through rhyming couplets," that were "deliberately imprecise." Kahins "interpreted dreams, cleared up crimes, found lost animals," etc. (from Aslan, p.7)

Mubaalagh - exaggeration (from Patai, p.59)

Mufaakharaat - "or boastful oral competitions for glory." (Patai, p.213-4)

Muruwwa - manliness (from Patai, p.100)

Qa'id - war leaders of pre-Islamic Arabia. (from Aslan, p.29)

Qawmiyya - literally "ethnic nationalism," i.e. Arab nationalism. A fairly recent word (circa 1935), coined "from the old Arab word qawm which means people, followers, group, or tribe, and especially the group of kinfolk mobilized for mutual support." (from Patai, p.204, 206)

Sharaf - honor (from Patai, p.100)

Shaykh or Sayyid - Individual who maintained the tribal ethic of a tribe in pre-Islamic Arabia. (from Aslan, p.29)

Sulha - reconciliation (from Patai, p.80)

Tawkiid - overemphasis (from Patai, p.59)

Uruuba - "Arabism" (from Patai, p.206)

Za'iim - an Arab notable who serves as a mediator between families or sometimes individuals, "thereby keeping disputes out of government courts." A Za'iim is an "economically, socially, and politically powerful leader of a major extended family." (from Patai, p.232)

'Abaa - long cloak covering thawb. (part of traditional Bedouin dress.) (from Patai, p.76)

Abayas - traditional black silk cloaks worn by Arab women.

Dishdasha - traditional long white garment worn by Arabs. Called Thobe in Saudi Arabia.

`Iqaal - thick cord that holds kuufiyya in place. (from Patai, p.76)

Jilbab - traditional long women's cloak.

Kuufiyya - shawl that covers the head. (part of traditional Bedouin dress.) (from Patai, p.76)

Taqiyah - scull cap

Thawb - long belted shirt. (part of traditional Bedouin dress.) (from Patai, p.76)

Thobe - traditional long white garment worn by Arabs. Called dishdasha in Kuwait and Bahrain.

'Adab - Islamic Etiquette and manners as reported in Sunna attributed to the Prophet. (from Abou El Fadl)

'Adab al'Ibada - proper etiquette or manners concerning acts of worship (from Abou El Fadl)

'Adab al-Mu'amalat - proper etiquette and manners concerning transactions and dealings. (from Abou El Fadl)

Af'al Jibiliyya - Sunna of the Prophet that does not have legal significance. (from Abou El Fadl)

Adhadi Hadith - reports attributed to the Prophet of solitary transmissions. [i.e. nobody else told that story.] (from Abou El Fadl)

Ahkam (sing. Hukm) - Islamic laws or rules. (from Abou El Fadl), "positive rulings of law" (from Abou El Fadl, Great, p.149)

Ahkam-e emta'i - `sanctioned ordinances` are consciously distinguished in Islamic law from `the established ordinances (ahkam-e ta'sisiyeh) instituted by Mohammad. (from Schirazi Constitution)

Ahkam-e hokumati - "state ordinances" in the Islamic Republic of Iran. "They belonged to the shari'a for the simple reason that they had been enacted by an Islamic state. By way of explaining this point, Ayatollah Montazeri made the following statement to the Assembly of Experts for Framing the Constitution: `We have two kinds of ahkam, one which appears in the Koran and in feqh ... and one which is governmental in the sense that the ruler of a particular place issues it with regard to specific cases on the basis of general [Islamic legal principles].` (from Schirazi, Constitution, p.171-2)

Ahkam-e ta'sisiyeh - `established ordinances` instituted by Mohammad, not by the Islamic state. (from Schirazi, Constitution)

Akhbaar - "anecdotes" about what the Prophet did, as opposed to hadeeth, which relate what the Prophet said.

'Aqua'id (sing. Aquida) - Fundamentals of belief in Islam. (from Abou El Fadl)

Asabiyya - Arab "solidarity groups, generally a clan or a minority." Asabiyya have often served as the power base of a state regime, sometimes effectively seizing control of the state. Examples of this are the Alawis in Syria or Takritis in Iraq. (from Roy, p.15)

Asbab al-nuzul' - the knowledge about the reasons of the revelations, i.e. the knowledge about the particular events and circumstances in history that are related to the revelation of particular passages from the Qur'an.

Ayat-e ahkam - 500 or so verses of the Koran from which ahkam are derived. Most of the practices contained in them were current amongst pagan Arabs before Mohammad. (from Schirazi, Constitution)

Bay'a, also Bei'at - oath of alliegance. "the basis of the ruler's authority [as] described in the classical texts ... a term usually translated as `homage`, as in the subjects paying homage to their new ruler. But a more accurate translation of bay'a which comes from a verb meaning `to buy and to sell,` would be `deal,` in other words, a contract between the ruler and the ruled in which both have obligations." (from Lewis, Foreign Affairs, p.42)
"A pledge by the subject to obey their ruler and entrust him entirely with the conduct of his personal affairs and the affairs of the Moslem community without reservations. If the ruler applies the Law the subject has to execute his orders whether he agrees with them or not. The act of allegiance is accomplished by the subject placing his hands between the hands of the ruler."
(from Historian Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun Al-Moqaddema (the Introduction), p.370 (quoted in Chamieh, p.79)
"The pledge by the people ... show and display their acceptance of, and obedience to the new ruler. In no way is it, as some claim, a sort of election or a mandate to govern. It is an acceptance of what has already been done, a compliance with an accomplished fact, a fait accompli represented by the seizure of power by the new ruler."
(from Dr. Monir Ajlani in his book Abqariyat al-Hokm fil Islam (The Genius of Rule in Islam), p.107 (quoted in Chamieh, p.80)

Da'if Hadith - Reports attributed to the Prophet which are considered weak or suspect. (from Abou El Fadl)

Dawlat rafd - a "state of heresy" , term used by Wahhabis and others to refer to a state run by Shi'a Muslims. (from Kepel War, p.239)

`Diyat - blood money or compensiation (one of the four kinds of Islamic Penal Law) (from Abou El Fadl)

Dhan - a term of evidence in Islamic jurisprudence connoting uncertain or possible knowledge. Synonymous with shak. (from Abou El Fadl)

Fai' - spoils taken by Muslim warriors waging jihad from non-Muslim civilian inhabitants of conquered lands who did not fight against the Muslim mujahideen. (from Chamieh, p.74)

Faqi (pl. Fuqaha') - Jurist, a specialist in Islamic law. (from Abou El Fadl)

Fard (pl. Furud) - A mandatory Islamic legal obligation. (from Abou El Fadl)

Fatwa - Responsa; a legal response given to a problem. (from Abou El Fadl)

Fiqh - "understanding" or "comprehension." In jurisprudence, it means positive law. (Abou El Fadl) (There are currently four schools or madhabs/Madhhab of Sunni fiqh.)

CATEGORIES of FIQH

• Haram - Something forbidden or sinful according to Islamic law. (Abou El Fadl) An example would be stealing or lying. Doing what is haram counts as a bad deed, and not doing it counts as a good deed. (from USC MSA)
• Makruh (also Makrooh - literally "abominable or loathesome" (from Khomeini) Something which is disfavored or disliked under Islamic law. (Abou El Fadl) Makruh is "hated." A (traditional) example of Makruh activity is growing fingernails or sleeping on the stomach. Not doing something Makruh counts as a good deed, but doing it does not count as a bad deed. (from USC MSA)
• Mubah (also Halal) - Something permitted or allowed under Islamic law. (Abou El Fadl) This category is left undecided and left for the person, such as eating apples or oranges (from USC MSA)
• Mandub or Mustahab - something which is recommended or favored under Islamic law. (Abou El Fadl) An example is extra prayers after Zuhr and Maghrib. (from USC MSA)
• Wajib (pl. Wajibat) - An Islamic legal obligation or duty. In terms of gradation of obligation, it is considered less than a fard but more than a mustahab or mandub. (Abou El Fadl) An example is some prayers said with salat are Fard and others are only Wajib
• Fard (pl. Furud) - A mandatory Islamic legal obligation. (Abou El Fadl) An example of a fard obligation is salat, the five daily prayers. Doing the Fard counts as a good deed, and not doing it is considered a bad deed or a sin. (from USC MSA)
• Fard Kifaya - a compulsory duty for some number of Muslims in the community. If a sufficient number of people respond to that duty, the obligation falls from the rest. If not enough people respond to it, then all the people of the community are in sin.
• Fard Ayn - a compulsory duty on every single Muslim to perform. Examples are praying (salat) and fasting (sawm).

Feqh-e puya - Dynamic Feqh (part of debate in Iran, (from Schirazi, Constitution, p.271)

Feqh-e sonnati - Traditional Feqh (part of debate in Iran, (from Schirazi, Constitution, p.271)

Furu' - Traditionally defined as the branches of Islam in which disagreement and debate are permitted. (from Abou El Fadl)

Gharar - "the interdiction of chance ... that is, of the presence of any element of uncertainty, in a contract (which excludes not only insurance but also the lending of money without participation in the risks)." (from Roy, p.132)

Hadd (pl. hudood) - punishment law. Punishments are fixed under hudood, not left to the discretion of the faqih.

Hadith (pl. Ahadith) - Reported oral pronouncements attributed to the Prophet. (from Abou El Fadl)

Haram - Something forbidden or sinful according to Islamic law. (from Abou El Fadl)

Hasa Hadith - Hadith attributed to the Prophet whose authenticity is considered good. (from Abou El Fadl)

Hikmat al-Hukm - The purpose or ultimate wisdom behind a law. (from Abou El Fadl)

Hiraba - literally "waging war against society". Engaging in Fasad fi al-ard by killing noncombatants, `the resident and wayfarer.` According to Islamic law, this crime is "so serious and repugnant" its perpetrators are "not to be given quarter or sanctuary anywhere." Examples include "assassinations, setting fires, or poisoning water wells" (from abou el Fadl Great, p.242)

Hukm Qiyasi - A law based on an analogy or similarity to an already existing law. (from Abou El Fadl)

Ihtikar - "hoarding." Forbidden by Islamic socialists like Bani Sadr. (from Roy, p.135)

Ijmaa` - consensus of the religious scholars. "The most well-known ijmaa` was that ... where scholars of the ... 10th century agreed ... that ijtihaad, [innovative legal reasoning] especially in jurisprudence was" no longer "warranted." An innovation of contemporary "fundamentalists" (like S. Qutb) is that "immaa` should not be limited to scholars, but should be conducted by all people. ..." Qutb, for instance argues that the consensus of the people is necessary for the election as well as the legitimacy of Muslim rulers," and that rulers without such ijmaa` are illegitimate. (Moussalli, Radical p.223)

Ijtihad - Independent or innovative legal reasoning. It also means to exert oneself in discovering God's law. (from Abou El Fadl) Issued as fatawa by "qualified legal scholars," Ijtihad were "an absolutely vital source of the law until the end of the 10th century, when the Traditionalist Ulama, who at that time dominated nearly all the major schools of law, outlawed it ... `closing the gates of ijtihad.`" (from Aslan, p.165)

Ikhtilaf - Disagreement and diversity among jurists and legal schools. (from Abou El Fadl)

Irja - Deferring. The doctrine that holds "actions cannot compromise the purity one's faith". Used as a wait-and-see strategy during the early Muslim fight between Kharijites Shi'a and Sunni (from Kepel War, p.182)

Khutba - Religious sermon most often delivered during Friday prayers. (from Abou El Fadl)

Mahdur addamm - one whose blood must be shed (be killed) by a good Muslim.

Makruh - Something which is disfavored or disliked under Islamic law.

Mandub - Something which is recommended or favored under Islamic law.

Maqsad (pl. Maqasid) - The purpose or ultimate wisdom behind a law.

Maslahat (sometimes Maslaha) - "interest," as in interest of the state. Right of public interest. (Concept used by the Islamic Republic of Iran to get around strict application of shari'ah)

Mehdi - "the directed one." Guide, leader, one fit to guide others. A figure who will appear in end times to lead Muslims.

Mubah - Something permitted or allowed under Islamic law. (from Abou El Fadl)

Mustahab - something which is recommended or favored under Islamic law. (same as Mandub) (from Abou El Fadl)

Mutawatir - Reports attributed to the Prophet of multiple transmissions. They are considered more authentic than ahadi hadith. (from Abou El Fadl)

Nushuz - Women's rebelliousness (from Trifkovic, p.157)

Qa'edeh-e zarurat - A `Rule of Emergency.` Often used to circumvent the shari'a. According to this rule, in an emergency a commandment or a prohibition - IOW an ordinance - can be overlooked." `Emergencies make it permissible to do what is forbidden.` [source: Ja'fari Langarudi: 1984, p.775] The rule of emergency is based on, amongst other things, the Qur'anic verses 2.173 and 6.145 where, after mentioning forbidden meat, the sentence follows: `But if a person finds himself in a dilemma, without desiring (something of his own accord) he will not be guilty if he eats the forbidden meat.` (from Schirazi, p.175)

Qanun - legislation dealing with areas not covered by the shari'ah. Disapproved of by Islamists. (from Roy, p.64)

Qisas - retribution or retaliation (one of the four kinds of Islamic Law) (from Abou El Fadl)

Rawi - a transmitter of hadith. (from Abou El Fadl)

Riba - "usury" (from Roy, p.132) Any interest charged by lenders on Loans. Traditionally forbidden.

Rida - apostacy

Riwaya - a narration of hadith. (from Abou El Fadl)

Sahih Hadith - a "sound" hadith. (from Trifkovic, p.58) Hadith attributed to the Prophet which is considered authentic. (from Abou El Fadl)

Shari'a, (also Shari'at) - Islamic Law. Literally it means "the way". Conceptually it refers to the principles and details of Islamic law. It is often translated as "Divine law." (from Abou El Fadl)
"Shari'ah is the eternal, immutable, and unchanging law as it exists in the mind of God. ... the ideal law as it ought to be in the Divine realm [but] unknown to human beings." It contrasts with figh, which is "the human attempt to reach and fulfill" Shari'ah. (from Abou El Fadl, Great, p.150))
"By the Shari'ah of God is meant everything legislated by God for ordering man's life; it includes the principles of belief, principles of administration and justice, principles of morality and human relationships, and principles of knowledge." (from Qutb Milestones, p.107)

Types of Shari'ah Penal Law

Mas'aleh-gu - (Shi'a cleric), "explainer of problems." The mas'aleh-gu are at the bottom of the Shi'a religious hierarchy. They "hold informal meetings on a daily, weekly or monthly basis for an audience of either sex (but generally female) to answer their questions on the precepts of religion, usually those affecting day to day complexities of observing Islamic rules of cleanliness, or personal, domestic and social problems." (from Moin, p.34)

Motohawwel - a mullah in the process "of gradually changing both appearance and vocation [during the reign of Reza Shah, under pressure from Reza Shah's anti-Mullah policies (circa 1930)]. Many mullahs went all the way without hesitation, even sporting gaudy bow ties. Some did so out of opportunism, but most were simply making use of the psychological defense mechanism provided by Shi'ite tradition. They went along with the time in the firm conviction that one day soon it would turn." (from Taheri, Spirit, p.90)

Mufti - a jurisconsult in the Holy Law. One who gives Islamically legal responses (fatwa) to people’s questions. "The mufti, established in medieval Islam by the recognition of his colleagues and the general population, enjoyed esteem and respect... " (from Lewis, Crisis, p.12)

Mojtahed (or mujtahid) - one who has earned the right to practice ejtehad (interpretation) of Islamic law. In Shi'a Islam a mojtahed is one of a handful of students who have completed the most difficult lessons or dars-e kharej (`studies beyond the text`) to the satisfaction of his teacher. They are often "the sole prayer-leader of a medium-sized town or the Friday prayer-leader of a major town, a very important position in society, in religious, social and - since the 1979 Revolution - political terms. Others, like Khomeini, remain as teachers in the religious centres of Qom, Mashhad, Isafahn and Tehran, or in centres outside Iran, such as Najaf." (from Moin, p.36)

Mu'azzin, (also Mu-adhdhin) - person who calls Adhan (also Adhaan), inviting Muslims to prayer.

Mullah - a corruption of the Arabic world mawla which means both `vicar` and `guardian.` Is used both as a term of respect (a learned man) and abuse (a bigot and fanatic). (from Taheri, Spirit, p.53)
Name used for the basic cleric or mosque leader in parts of the Muslim world: Iran, Turkey, central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. (from Roy, p.28-9)

Mutawa - enforcers of religious obligations in Saudi Arabia. Employed by the Committee for the Commendation of Virtue and the Condemnation of Vice. Make sure that shops are shut at prayer times rattling their sticks on the doors and shouting `salaat, salaat`. Upbraid and occasionally beat Westerners, particularly women. (from Field)

Nayeb-e-Imam - "vicars of the Hidden Imam" (pl.?), complementary name for leading mullahs. (from Taheri, Spirit)

Pir - Persian for "old man." Name for a spiritual master of a Sufi Order. (Aslan, p.199)

Qadi - a judge who serves in a court practicing or implementing Islamic law. (www.theislamproject.org/education/D01_IslamicLaw.htm) Traditionally the qadi was appointed by the ruler, not desigated by popular or peer acclaim, and thus "is presented in literature and folklore in medieval times as a venal, even a ridiculous figure..." (from Lewis, Crisis, p.12)

Sheikh - (Sunni term) comes from the Arabic word for age and implies a person who is old and wise - a teacher. It is applied to religious scholars and judges and sometimes to wise old men who are the heads of villages or tribes. In the Gulf states it has become the title given to all members of the ruling families, though 40 years ago it was applied only to the most senior members of these families. In Saudi Arabia the title has become almost meaningless. It is given to ministers, senior officials and to businessmen of all ages and degrees of wealth and importance." Foreigners, both Asian immigrants and Western businessmen anxious to win contracts," have been "particularly responsible for the spread of the title." (from Field, p.232)

Va'ez - (Shi'a cleric). second level of the Shi'a clerical hierchy above mas'aleh-gu. a va'ez is a preacher "whose task it is to educate people in the principles of religion and entertain them with tales of heaven and hell and the tragedies of martyrs, particularly Imam Hossein. A good va'ez can attract immense local popularity and enjoy the influence and perhaps wealth which accompanies popular adulation." (from Moin, p.34)

Ahl al-Naql - literally "people of imitation." (naql is "imitation of the prophet," contrasting with aql or reason, with which it rhymes). Name given to fundamentalists who "dominated the political and intellectual life" of Sunni Islam following the decline of the Caliphate in 847 AD when Turkish and then Persian conquerors took over. (from Chamieh, p.40)

Fedayeen - what the 13th century group we know as the "assassins" called themselves. ("assassins" comes from the word Hashishiyya, or `hashish taker,` the name their Muslim enemies gave them) Fedayeen comes from the Arabic fida'I - "one who is ready to sacrifice his life for the cause."
After the defeat and suppression of the assassins in the 13th century, the term passed out of use. It was briefly revived in the mid-19th century, by a small group of Turkish conspirators who plotted to depose and perhaps assassinate the sultan ... The term reappeared in Iran in the so-called Fia'i yan-I Islam, the fida'is of Islam, political-religious terrorist group in Tehran, which between 1943, when it began its activities, and 1955, when it was suppressed, carried out a number of political assassinations. After an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the prime minister in October 1955, they were arrested, prosecuted, and their leaders executed. The term was revived again by the militant wing of the Palestine Liberation Organization and, from 1960s onward, designated terrorist activists of the Palestinian organizations." (from Lewis, Crisis, p.145)

Jihadist salafists - have "a similarly supercilious respect for the sacred texts in their most literal form," but combine "it with an absolute commitment to jihad, whose number-one target had to be America, perceived as the greatest enemy of the faith." Contrasted with Sheikhist Salafists. (from Kepel)

Mehdi - "the directed one." Guide, leader, one fit to guide others. A figure who will appear in end times to lead Muslims.

Salafi - derived from al-Salaf al-Salih, "the venerable forefathers," which refers to the generation of the Prophet Mohammed and his companions.
Salafi beliefs include the right to individual interpretation (ijtihad) of the founding texts, the rejection of common law (adat, urf) in favor of the Shari'ah, the rejection of maraboutism or the belief in the powers of intervention of certain individuals ("saints") blessed with baraka, or divine charisma), and the rejection of rapprochement with other religions. (Roy, p.33)
The "three canonical authors" of Salafiyya were Jamal al-Din al-Afghani (1838-1898), Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905), and Rashid Raida (1865-1935).

Shabab - "restless dissatisfied young men thirsty for new ideas." (from Kepel War, p.180)

Tali'a - "the true Muslims, the vanguard as Qutb called them [who] are set apart within the ambient infidel society as a sort of `counter-society.`" (from Sivan Radical, p.85)

Agnabi - foreigner (i.e. a non-arabic)

Dahriyah - atheist (from Mawdudi)

Dajjal - antichrist.

Fasiq - a violater of Islamic law, is "usually reserved to describe someone guilty of openly and flagrantly violating Islamic law and/or someone whose moral character is corrupt.." (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Moh%27min)

Halabi - a "derogatory, sniggered term for light-skinned Arab" used by darker Sudanese. Nickname applied to Al Qaeda "Afghan Arabs" in Khartoum Sudan who "spent most of their time in mosques preaching a hard-line version of Islam," and impressed many Sudanese as "an intense and arrogant bunch." (from Reeve, p.174)

Kafir (pl. Kuffar) (disbeliever) - a person who never accepted Islam.

Koffar al-harbi - literally "warlike pagans". Enemies of Islam whose blood ought to be shed by the faithful. (from Taheri, Spirit)

La-Madhhabi - those who do not belong to one of the four Madhhabs. Islamist author Muhammad Qutb is accused of being such, as is the Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir (though Hizb ut-Tahrir is connected with Wahhabis, who are madhhab.)

Mahdur ad-damm - one whose blood must be shed (be killed) by a good Muslim (from Taheri Spirit).

Mufsed fel-ardh - corrupter of earth (from Taheri Spirit, p.107)

Muharib, (pl. Muharibun) - literally one "who wages war against society". Someone who kills noncombatants, `the resident and wayfarer,` and thus is guilty of Fasad fi al-ard by (from abou el Fadl Great, p.242)

Mulhid (pl. Mulhidun) - atheist, "a person who doesn't believe in the Beyond and the Oneness of God." (from Mernissi p.26)

Munaafiq (pl. Munaafiqeen) - a religious hypocrite, "who outwardly practices Islam, while inwardly concealing his disbelief (kufr), perhaps even unknowingly." (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Moh%27min)

Murjia - practitioners of irja. Those people who refused to take sides, "deferring" a decision to join a political faction in order to maintain the unity of believers against Islam's enemies... (from Kepel, War, p.182)

Murtad - an apostate, a person who was a Muslim and then renounced his religion.

mustakbar - one who "oppresses and exploits humanity or simply mocks the Faith." (from Taheri Holy, p.26)

Rafidin - heretics, used by Wahhabis and other extreme Sunni Muslims to describe Shi'a (from Kepel, War, p.239)

Sheikhist Salafists - derogatory term for supporters of Saudi government like Abdelaziz bin Baz, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia since 1993. Contrasted with Jihadist salafists. (from Kepel)

Taghut - "rebel" i.e. rebel against God. Specifically, when used by Islamists it refers to any Muslim government Islamists decide is un-Islamic.

Takfiri, or `those who define other Muslims as unbelievers,` A common nickname for Bin Laden's followers among Arabs (from 9/11 Commission Report, p.54)

Zama - pretend (specifically, an identity - e.g. Arab, immigrant, North African - other than Muslim.) (from Kepel)

Zindeeq (also Zindig) - infidel, "anyone who holds beliefs of infidelity and yet claims to be a Muslim and presents his beliefs of infidelity in the name of Islam, by placing wrong interpretations on the texts of the Shariat"
FROM: "The Qadiani Funeral" http://www.irshad.org/brochures/funeral.php
"A person who doesn't believe in the Beyond and the Oneness of God." (from Mernissi)

Modaraba - profit and loss sharing accounts. One of two kinds of savings accounts to replace interest bearing accounts in Pakistan.

Murahaba - mark-up contracts which replace interest. One of two kinds of savings accounts to replace interest bearing accounts in Pakistan

Nisab - minimum amount. Minimum amount of net worth qualifying a Muslim to pay zakat. Nisab amount is equivalent to 85 grams of gold (about $750 in 12/01/2000). A Muslim whose possessions are worth less than this need not pay zakat.

Riba - interest on loans

Ushr - charity tax of 5% on crop harvest

Zakat - charity tax on all saving accounts and other capital of 2.5% per year

(Note: Some of these terms may also be used by Sunnis. Some are Farsi transliterations of Arabic Islamic terms.)

Akhbar - literally "news". `Accounts of sayings and deeds of the Imams` considered by Shi'a to be part of the essential religious scripture like the Qur'an or Ahadith. (from Taheri, The Spirit of Allah, p.57)

Akhbari - "traditionalists." Shiite clergy who believed that the right to ijtihad of the sunna was closed after the disappearance of the 12th imam. In contrast to usuli who won this 18th century debate. (from Roy, p.171)

`Ashura - the 10th day of the arabic lunar month of Muharram, the day on which the forces of Omayyad Caliph Yazid put Imam Hussein to the sword in the Mesopotamian desert near the Eurphrates nearly 14 centures ago.

Ayatullah al-uzma - "grand ayatullah" another term for marja taqlid (from Khomeini)

`Aza - "mourning." Shi'ah practice of morning the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. "A tear shed for Husayn washes away a hundred sins." (from Aslan, p.179)

Bahr al-Ulum - "ocean of knowledge." Title given to Shia ayatollah with vast erudition. (from Taheri, Spirit, p.224 (?))

Cheleh - "withdrawal from the world for a period of forty days" to "ponder one's life through the eyes of a detached observer." (from Taheri Spirit, p.121)

Dars-e-kharej - literally "outside the lesson." The "highest degree of Shi'ite education." Taught by the master of the school to the leading talabeh. "No set syllabus" is taught and each master chooses "both the form and the content" of these lectures. (from Taheri, Spirit, p.63)

Elhad - heresy (from Schirazi)

Entehari - volunteers for suicide attacks on the enemies of Islam. Often or usually foreigners who came to Iran. (from Taheri, Spirit, p.283)

Estefta - written inquiries. These make up the most serious questions in a book like Resaleh Towzih al-Masael. (from Khomeini)

Farangi - foreigner (farsi)

Gasht-e-Zaynab - "Zaynab's Patrols." Islamic Republican group that "specialized in enforcing religious rules of conduct in private and public life." (from Taheri Spirit, p.291)

Ghasas - retaliation (from Khomeini)

Ghayba - concealment or occulation (from Lewis Shia)

Ghosl - the full ritual bath that is "required after seminal emission, menstrual flow, after birth, touching a corpse"). ghosl is of two kinds: dipping and sequential. More complete than vozu (Ablution) which is just the washing of face and hands and the rubbing of head and feet. (from Khomeini)

Hayat-e-motalefeh-e-eslami - Coalescing Islamic Mission. Group of Khomeini supporters working to overthrow the Shah of Iran. "The Mission, soon to be known in the clandestine movement only as the hayat, was to emerge as a vital link in the small but growing organization." (from Taheri Spirit, p.149)

Howzeh - secondary school with traditional Islamic education. (from Brumberg, p.63)

Iltiqati - hybrid. A political current represented by `mullahs and politicians who see Islam as an instrument of achieving power rather than a model for society. Mahdi Bazargan, Khomeini's first prime minister, was an "iltiqati" as was Abol-Hassan Bani Sadr, the first president under the ayatollah. Rafsanjani and Khatami were also "iltiqati", albeit each in his own way. ...` (from Taheri, Signals)

Imam - leader. Twelver Shi'a Muslims use it to refer to the 12 "infallible and noble Imams," the descendants of Muhammad (S.A.W.). Shiah believe the 12 "Imams were created not from dust, as other humans were, but from eternal light;" that they "preserve a secret esoteric knowledge" including secret books and the secret name of God, and "the inner truth of the Muslim faith." (from Aslan, p.182)

Iman - faith, a quality one gains when someone has learned that Islam is true.

Jond-Allah - Army of Allah. Islamic Republic group "specialized in enforcing religious rules of conduct in private and public life." (from Taheri Spirit, p.291)

Karbala - city where Hussein, killed in 680, is said to be buried. (One of the two great shrine cities of the Shia Imams.) Ashara is celebrated here. 40 days after Ashara comes the even more important ceremony Arbain.

Ketman - dissimulation (from Taheri, Spirit p.230)

Khod'ah - tricking ones' adversaries in order to benefit from them. (from Taheri Spirit, p.163)

Madraseh - seminary (from the arabic word for school) (from Abrahamian Iran, p.539)

Maktab - traditional elementary school. (from Abrahamian Iran, p.539)

Maktabi - common term for a doctrinaire fundamentalist in Iran. In 1981 ridicule of Maktabis was declared blasphemy by Khomeini, punishable by death. (from Moin Khomeini, p.?)

Masaleh (pl. mas'il, from so'al, "question") - in the "present context refers to questions and answers about the rituals and duties incumbent upon a Muslim" done in a session in a mosque after salat, (usually magrib). (from Khomeini)

Masaleh-gu-ha - mullahs who tell Masaleh (from Khomeini)

Mashru'eh - "theocrats". Mullahs who opposed the Iranian Constitutional rebellion of 1906. (from Taheri, Spirit, p.42)

Mashruteh - constitutionalists. Religious supporters (Mullahs) of the Iranian Constitutional rebellion of 1906. (from Taheri, Spirit, p.42)

Moreeds - followers. (from Taheri, Spirit)

mostazafin - dispossessed. from Qur'an 28:5: "We shall favour those who were dispossessed. We shall make them leaders and endow them with the earth." (from Field, p.236)

Matam - Shi'a Muharram funeral processions in which "participants either beat their breasts in a rhythmic, almost mantric act of contrition, or flog their backs with whips made of chins, all the while shouting out the names of Hasan and Husayn, until the streets are stained with their blood." (from Aslan, p.180)

mostazafin - Literally, the disinherited; originally a religious term for the poor, which has become popularized. (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/iran/ir_glos.html)

Motohawwel - a mullah in the process of gradually changing both appearance and vocation [under pressure from Reza Shah's anti-Mullah policies (circa 1930)]. Many mullahs went all the way without hesitation, even sporting gaudy bow ties. Some did so out of opportunism, but most were simply making use of the psychological defense mechanism provided by Shi'ite tradition. They went along with the time in the firm conviction that one day soon it would turn. (from Taheri Spirit, p.90)

Mufsed fel-ardh - corrupter of earth. (from Taheri Spirit, p.107)

Nafs-e-ammarah - the devil inside (farsi?)

Najes - unclean as opposed to pak. (from Khomeini)

Najaf - city where Ali, who died in 661, is said to be buried. (One of the two great shrine cities of the Shia Imams.)

Nayeb-e-Imam - "vicars of the Hidden Imam" (pl.?), complementary name for leading mullah

Pak - clean, as opposed to najes (Persian not arabic) (from Khomeini)

Qissass (also qisas) - retribution in Islamic law (from Taheri Spirit, p.288)

Raj'a - return (of the hidden imam?) (from Lewis Shia)

SAVAK (Sazman Amniyat va Ettelaat Keshvar) - Organization of Information and Security of the Country. Feared secret police of the Shah of Iran.

Shakk - doubt (root: shin-fata-kaf) (from Taheri Spirit p.94)

Taghut - "rebel" against God. In current use, a term used by Islamists to describe anti-Islamist Muslim regimes.

Tanfih - "taking the sting out of one's potential rivals or enemies," (by, for example, joining their organizations and taking their money in order the make them think you are at least unopposed to their activities). (from Taheri Spirit, p.230)

Tanfieh - judicious doing of nothing. In a world where everyone insists on being a doer those who choose to be non-doers should maintain their positions and ignore the perpetual movement that surrounds them. The doers are bound to make mistakes, undoing themselves in the end. ... All evil is done by those who do things for the sake of doing something. (from Taheri Spirit, p.110)

Taqiyeh or Taqieh - concealment in defense of the faith. (from MacKey, p.109)
Misleading everyone about one's true beliefs in a hostile environment. (from Taheri Spirit, p.230)
".. a theological concept that calls for `dissimulation of the truth`... historically and operationally, it has meant concealment of the truth in any situation in which that seems propitious. In contemporary politics, the Islamic Republic of Iran suffers the abiding suspicion among many foreign government ... that pronouncements of policy on everything from economics to terrorism may be concealment instead of truth." (from MacKey, p.109)

Taqwa - piety. Quality of someone who organizes their "life in accordance with the rules of Islam."

Tasdeeq - the realization in this world of the eternal truth revealed to Muhammed by Allah in the Qur'an.

Ta'ziyeh - Shi'a passion plays which dramatize in detail the events of Karbala. (from Aslan, p.180)

Usuli - "fundamentalist." `.... [Pres.] Ahmadinejad proudly describes himself as a "fundamentalist" (usuli) while Khatami and Rafsanjani have treated the term as an insult and tried to sell themselves as "moderate" .... ` (from Taheri, Signals).
Usuli also refers to the "fundamentalists" who prevailed in the 18th century debate among Shiite clergy over whether ijtihad of the sunna was still permitted following the disappearance of the 12th imam. Usuli believed that the most learned of the Shi'a clergy had the right to ijtihad. Their victory over the the traditionalist akhbari paved the way for the modern Shiite clergy. (from Roy, p.171)

Vozu - Ablution, required before salat. It involves the washing of face and hands and the rubbing of head and feet. Not as complete as a ghosl, the full ritual bath (from Khomeini)

Wali - "God's executor." Ali's role for Shi'a. From the profession of faith: There is no god but God, Muhammad is God's Messenger, and Ali is God's Executor." (from Aslan, p.180)

Zakir - a specialist in telling Shi'ah stories of the martyrs during Ashura. (from Aslan, p.180)

`Anavin-e sanaviyeh - Secondary Legal categories, e.g. `Rule of Emergency` qa'edeh-e zarurat (from Schirazi)

'Aql - reason. One of the elements that make up Islamic law. Reason "exists as a fourth possibility (after sunna, (Schirazi) ejma') the function of which is once again chiefly to disclose the hidden ordinances of the Koran and the sunna concerning particular questions by applying the procedural rules laid down by the osul-e feqh." (from Schirazi, p.170)

Ejtehad - independent legal opinions (from Schirazi) "open interpretation" (from Brumberg, p.61)

Elhad - heresy (from Schirazi)

`Esmat - infallibility. characteristic of the Prophet Mohammad and the Twelve Imams. An atribute that distinguished them from lesser humans. (from Brumberg, p.82)

Ezterar - constraint (from Schirazi)

Lozum - necessity (from Schirazi)

Mahdur addamm - one whose blood must be shed (be killed) by a good Muslim (from Taheri Spirit ).

Maslahat - `expedient interests` or `public welfare.` While Sunni jurists used the concept of maslahat, "It should be noted that maslahat is not part of Shi'ite jurisprudence. ... before the 1979 revolution most [Shi'ite jurists] rejected maslahat as a dangerous innovation (bed'at)" (from Brumberg, p.61)

Mavazin - Islamic principles (from Schirazi)

Niyaz - need (from Schirazi)

`Orf - "customary practices," one of the elements of Islamic law. "Acceptance of customary practices into traditional Islamic law took place over a period of several centuries" (from Schirazi)

Osul-e feqh - `juridical principles` of the shari`ah (from Schirazi)

`otlat - rule whereby it is permissible to let land lie fallow. (from Schirazi, p.186)

Qa'edeh-e zarurat - `Rule of Emergency,` a `secondary legal category` often used to get around complying with the shari'ah. (from Schirazi)

Tabdil - "substituting something better," concept used in interpreting Shari'ah (from Brumberg, p.61)

Taslit - shari'ah rule according to which `people are masters over their wealth` (from Schirazi, p.175)

Zarar - rule whereby (amongst other things) any right is cancelled if that right causes harm to other people (from Schirazi)

Ahkam - ordinances (from Schirazi)

Ahkam-e hokumati - `state ordinances` "They belong to the shari'a for the simple reason that they had been enacted by an Islamic state." (from Schirazi, p.171)

Ahkam-e avvaliyeh - primary Islamic ordinances (from Schirazi)

Ayat-e ahkam - practices developed from "the 500 or so ahkam-verses of the Koran (ayat-e ahkam)," practices "that were current amongst pagan Arabs before Mohammad." (from Schirazi)

Ahkam-e emta'i - `sanctioned ordinances` distinguished in Islamic law from `the established ordinances (ahkam-e ta'sisiyeh) instituted by Mohammad. (from Schirazi), [source: Coulson: 1964; Motahhari: n.d., p.12; M. Watt; 1980, vol.I, p.234; and see also Welhausen: 1961.]

Ahkam-e ta'sisiyeh - `the established ordinances` instituted by Mohammad, distinguished in Islamic law from ahkam-e emta'i) - `sanctioned ordinances` (from Schirazi)

Ahkam-e far'iyeh - `derived ordinances,` ordinances that can be suspended by the Islamic state "when it was in the interest of the country and of Islam to do so." (from Schirazi, p.213)

Hokm-e bokumati - state ordinances (from Schirazi)

Esteslah - taking account of interests (from Schirazi)

Masaleh-e morsaleh - consideration of interests without deriving them from the shari`ah. (from Schirazi)

Maslahat - interest (from Schirazi)

Zanniyat - conjecture (from Schirazi)

Abu Dharr - companion of the prophet "considered a harbinger of Islamic socialism." (Roy, p.135)

`Ada - custom (Mahmood)

Afkar mustawrada - imported ideas. "Is the ultimate term of opprobrium, an oft-repeated code word" by Islamists (from Sivan, p.138)

`Almana - secularization (from Mahmood)

Bara - separation, as in separation for kuffar (term emerging from a relgious and scholarly tradition) (from Kepel)

Batini - extreme shi'ite (Islamist term of denigration)(from Sivan, p.106)

Dhabaha - to slit, rip something open or slaughter (Term used instead of kill, qatala, in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'")(from Makiya)

Dhabih - one to be sacrificed or slaughtered (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'")(from Makiya)

al-Firqa al-Najiya - "community of the truly saved." Termed used by Sayyid Qutb to describe those Muslims that will fight jahili "Muslims" and "establish the true Islamic state and enforce God's law." (from abou el Fadl Great, p.83)

Al-firdaws al-a'la - the "highest paradise" where "God himself resides" (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'")(from Makiya)

Al-`Adalah al-Ijtima'iyyah - social justice. (The arabic term for it as used by S. Qutb, from Moussalli, Ahmad S., Radical)

asabiyya - "identification with a sub-community, like a tribe, a nation, a race or an ethnic group" rejected as unislamic by salafi, neofundamentalists. (p.245, Roy, Globalized)

FiTrah - innate human intuition. Term used by S. Qutb (from Moussalli, Ahmad S., Radical)

Ghadba lili-allah - fury for God (from Ruthven)

Ghazwah - raid for loot against non-Muslims (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'")(from Makiya)

Ghazwul fikri - lit. "battle of thought" ... "very popular in Islamic circles," (found in the works of Sayyid Qutb, Muhammad Qutb, Said Hawwa and the ideologists of the Muslim Brethren), this term refers to the struggle of ideas between pluralism and Islamism (from Assyaukanie)

Hakimiyya - God's Sovereignty. Hakimiyyah "is not a Quranic term but one that is derived from the term hukm (to rule, or govern). . . For [Sayyid Qutb] the confession of faith reiterated daily by Muslims, `there is no God but God, is a revolution against human sovereignty of any shape or form, whether that be of priests, tribal chiefs, princes, or governors - in matters of conscience, rituals, wealth, or justice. `There is no governance except for God, no legislation but from God, no sovereignty of one [person] over the other because all sovereignty belongs to God.` (from (?) Kepel Muslim, p.109)(from Qutb Milestones, p.31)

hizbiyya - joining a political party. Practice rejected as unislamic (even if the party is an Islamic one) by salafi neofundamentalists, A belief that separates them from Islamists. (p.245, Roy, Globalized)

Ibn Taymiyya - "great 14th century `alim ... whose work served as a primary reference for the Wahhabites." (Kepel) A tireless enemy of the sufis and other "heretical innovations in religion", as well as Christians and Jews. Propagated the idea that though a ruler (like the Tatars ibn taymiyya fought) might be an avowed Muslim, if he/they did not follow Shari'a law, he/they were not true Muslims and should be opposed, not obeyed.

Iltizam - "piousness"

Irhab - terrorism, the term favored by bin Laden (from Ruthven)

Islah - reform, i.e. reform of Islamic religious thought and practice that strips it of modern and non-Islamic accretions. (Roy, p.33)

Istishhad - "self-martyrdom", i.e. martyrdom by killing/suicide (from Ruthven)

I'tizal - "the rest of society" that is outside of the true Muslim vanguard. Termed used by Sayyid Qutb to describe those that are Muslim in name but actually jahiliyya. (from abou el Fadl Great, p.83)

Ilah - one who is worshipped

Ibadah - worship. Literally "submission." Comes from root word 'Abd which means slave. Not limited to prayer, Ibadah "the Islamic concept of Ibadah is very wide." Includes what Buddhists would call right livelihood - freeing "speech from filth, falsehood, malice and abuse and speak the truth and talk goodly things ..." (from Mawdudi, p.20)

Jahiliyyah - the condition of ignorance, barbarism, and chaos from which the Arabs were providentially rescued by the gift of the Koran, a condition Islamists like Sayyid Qutb believe the Muslim community has returned to.

Jihad - "striving" or "determined effort" in the path of God. Often translated as "holy war." Some Muslims (such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations) strongly object to this translation, maintaining that jihad refers to nonviolent striving, but it should be noted that Sahih al-Bukhari (probably the most standard collection of ahaidith) uses the term jihad 199 times, all in the the sense of warfare. (from Streusand)

Jihadist salafists - "had a similarly supercilious respect for the sacred texts in their most literal form, but they combined it with an absolute commitment to jihad, whose number-one target had to be America, perceived as the greatest enemy of the faith." (from Kepel (?))

Junud al-kuffar - armies of the infidels (from Mernissi p.99)

Kufr - literally "to cover" "The man who denies God is called Kafir because he conceals by his disbelief what is inherent in his nature and embalmed in his own soul - for his nature is instinctively imbued with Islam." (Mawdudi, p.19)
[Why kufr is not an individual matter or personal choice?] "Kufr is a tyranny, the worst of all tyrannies. What is tyranny? It is an unjust use of force or power. It is when you compel a thing to act unjustly or against its true nature, its real will and its inherent attitude." (from Mawdudi, p.20)

La hizb illa hizbullah - `no other party than the Party of God.` "chant of the Iranian militants as they attacked other parties' headquarters and demonstrations during the first year of the Iranian revolution." (from Roy, p.46)

Manna - to grant. As in bounty or an act of grace conferred by God upon a person who has not asked for it. May be used in the sense of opportunity to kill the enemy. (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'") (from Makiya)

Mufasala - separation (a common arabic term) (from Kepel)

Mulhid - heretic (Islamist term of denigration)(from Sivan, p.106)

Mustashhid - a self-martyr (from Ruthven)

Al-Na'im al-muqim - "a realm which tradition holds is the residence of martyrs." (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'") (from Makiya)

NiZaam - Islamic system. Term used by S. Qutb (from Moussalli, Ahmad S., Radical)

Qawm - nation, as opposed to Islamic community. "The banner the Muslim should glory and die for [is not] that of the nation." (from Sivan)

Rida - appostacy

Sahwa - Islamist "awakening." Strain of thought which mingles radical Wahhabism with Sayyid Qutb's ideas. Safar al-Hawali and Salman al-Awda are the "two main figures" of Sahwa. (from Kepel, 2004, p.176)

Salaf - pious forefathers (from Kepel)

al-Salaf al-salih - rightly-guided forefathers, i.e. the prophet (s.a.w.) and his companions. (from Tolerance, Abu El Fadl, p.9)

Shabab - "restless dissatisfied young men thirsty for new ideas." (from Kepel, p.180)

Shahid - martyrdom

Sheikhist Salafists - supporters of Saudi government like Abdelaziz bin Baz, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia since 1993.

Sirat al Mustaqim - straight path or way of life

Taghrib - westernization (from Mahmood)

Taghut - "rebel" i.e. rebel against God. Has come to mean Muslim governments found to be non-Islamic by Islamists.

Ta'ifi - sectarian, confessional (Islamist term of denigration)(from Sivan, p.106)

Tali'a (also tali'ah) - "The true Muslims." The vanguard to which S. Qutb dedicates his book Milestones, (Ma3alim fi al Tariiq), and which needs `ma3alim and indications in order to understand its role,` (Milestones, p.11-12)(from Moussalli, Ahmad S., Radical). This vanguard is "set apart within the ambient infidel society as a sort of `counter-society.`" (from Sivan, p.85)

Taqnin al-Shari'a - codification of Muslim Law ("somewhat pared-down form" of application) (from Sivan, p.143)

Taqwah - fear of god (Term used in captured "Manual for a 'Raid'") (from Makiya)

Tatbiq al-Shari'a - application of Muslim law. An Islamist goal. (from Sivan)

tawfiq min Allah - `success comes from God.` "One of the most frequently employed slogans in jihad propaganda" (from Roy, p.66)

Ulama al-balat - court ulema. "their ostentatious salafism was no more than the badge of their hypocrisy." (from Kepel Jihad)

Uzla - literally "withdrawal". Rejection of modern life and living of the life of the seventh century as imagined by practitioners of uzla. (from Chamieh, p.172)

Usra - literally "family." Name used by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood for "the basic cell" of their organization. A reflection of "how the militants are generally invited to live as much as possible among themselves ... according to purely Islamic criteria" and seperately from jahili (ignorant) society. (from Roy, p.68-9)

Wahhabism - "a corpus of doctrines, but also a set of attitudes and behavior," derived from the teachings of Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab in the mid-18th century. Wahhab's main contribution to theology was teaching injunctions of others, mainly Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328). "His disciples reject the term `Wahhabite`" or Wahhabi, and prefer `salafist` (from "pious forefathers"), al-Muwahhidun, or similar terms. (from Kepel p.157)

Watan - homeland. "The watan a Muslim should cherish and defend is not a mere piece of land." (from Sivan)

Zindiq - atheist (Islamist term of denigration often used against those who don't consider themselves atheists)(from Sivan, p.106)

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