Glossary

The core terms you'll meet as you study. Search or filter by category.

• Allah

  الله

  The Arabic word for God — the One, the Eternal, the Creator.

  belief

• Iman

  إيمان

  Faith — belief in the heart, declared in words, lived through actions.

  belief

• Tawhid

  توحيد

  The oneness of Allah — the central belief of Islam.

  belief

• Shahada

  شهادة

  The testimony: 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger.' This is what makes someone a Muslim.

  belief

• Salah

  صلاة

  The five daily prayers — the second pillar of Islam.

  worship

• Wudu

  وضوء

  The ritual washing before prayer — face, arms, head, feet.

  worship

• Ghusl

  غسل

  Full-body ritual bath required after certain states of impurity.

  worship

• Rakah

  ركعة

  One unit of prayer — standing, bowing, and two prostrations.

  worship

• Qibla

  قبلة

  The direction of the Kaaba in Mecca — Muslims face it during prayer.

  worship

• Sawm

  صوم

  Fasting — abstaining from food, drink, and intimacy from dawn to sunset, especially in Ramadan.

  worship

• Zakat

  زكاة

  Obligatory charity — 2.5% of qualifying wealth, given annually to the poor and needy.

  worship

• Hajj

  حج

  Pilgrimage to Mecca — obligatory once in a lifetime for those who are able.

  worship

• Quran

  قرآن

  The literal word of Allah, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over 23 years.

  quran

• Surah

  سورة

  A chapter of the Quran. There are 114 in total.

  quran

• Ayah

  آية

  A verse of the Quran. The word literally means 'sign'.

  quran

• Hadith

  حديث

  A narrated saying or action of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Major collections: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah.

  quran

• Sunnah

  سنة

  The way of life and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

  ethics

• Halal

  حلال

  Permitted — what Islam allows.

  ethics

• Haram

  حرام

  Forbidden — what Islam prohibits.

  ethics

• Makruh

  مكروه

  Disliked — not forbidden, but better avoided.

  ethics

• Niyyah

  نية

  Intention — the conscious purpose behind every act of worship.

  worship

• Dhikr

  ذكر

  Remembrance of Allah — short phrases repeated in the heart and on the tongue.

  worship

• Dua

  دعاء

  Personal supplication — talking to Allah in your own words or in taught phrases.

  worship

• Imam

  إمام

  A leader — typically of prayer or of a community.

  people

• Ummah

  أمة

  The global Muslim community.

  people

• Sahaba

  صحابة

  The Companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — those who met him, believed, and lived during his time.

  people

• Masjid

  مسجد

  Mosque — the place of prostration and prayer.

  places

• Kaaba

  كعبة

  The cube-shaped sanctuary at the centre of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca — Muslims face it in prayer.

  places

• Sabr

  صبر

  Patience — endurance with grace and trust in Allah.

  ethics

• Shukr

  شكر

  Gratitude — recognising and acknowledging Allah's blessings.

  ethics

• Tawakkul

  توكل

  Trust in Allah — doing your part, then leaving the rest to Him.

  ethics

• Riba

  ربا

  Interest / usury — forbidden in Islam.

  life

• Sadaqah

  صدقة

  Voluntary charity — beyond Zakat. Even a smile is sadaqah.

  life

• Nikah

  نكاح

  The Islamic marriage contract.

  life

• Jannah

  جنة

  Paradise — the eternal reward.

  belief

• Akhirah

  آخرة

  The Hereafter — the life after death.

  belief