Islamic Glossary

Islamic Glossary

Definitions of key Islamic terms

Tawḥīdتوحيد
Belief

The absolute oneness of Allah — in lordship, worship, and names & attributes.

Shirkشرك
Belief

Associating partners with Allah; the greatest sin if not repented from.

Imānإيمان
Belief

Faith: belief in Allah, His angels, books, messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree.

Iḥsānإحسان
Belief

Worshipping Allah as if you see Him, knowing He sees you.

Kufrكفر
Belief

Disbelief or rejection of the truth.

Nifāqنفاق
Belief

Hypocrisy — outward faith with inward disbelief.

Tawbahتوبة
Worship

Repentance: regret, ceasing the sin, and resolving not to return.

Istighfārاستغفار
Worship

Seeking Allah’s forgiveness, often saying «Astaghfirullāh».

Dhikrذكر
Worship

Remembrance of Allah by the tongue and heart.

Duʿāʾدعاء
Worship

Supplication; calling upon Allah.

Ṣalāhصلاة
Worship

The obligatory prayer performed five times daily.

Sawmصوم
Worship

Fasting; abstaining from food, drink, and desires from dawn to sunset.

Zakāhزكاة
Worship

The obligatory annual charity on qualifying wealth.

Ḥajjحج
Worship

The pilgrimage to Makkah, obligatory once in a lifetime for the able.

Wuḍūʾوضوء
Purification

The minor ritual ablution before prayer.

Ghuslغسل
Purification

The major ritual wash of the whole body.

Tayammumتيمم
Purification

Dry ablution with clean earth when water is unavailable.

Fiqhفقه
Knowledge

Islamic jurisprudence — the understanding of rulings.

Madhhabمذهب
Knowledge

A school of Islamic law (Ḥanafī, Mālikī, Shāfiʿī, Ḥanbalī).

Ijmāʿإجماع
Knowledge

Scholarly consensus of the Muslim community on a ruling.

Qiyāsقياس
Knowledge

Analogy — extending a ruling to a new case sharing the same cause.

Sunnahسنة
Knowledge

The sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet ﷺ.

Ḥadīthحديث
Knowledge

A report of the words or actions of the Prophet ﷺ.

Bidaʿahبدعة
Knowledge

A newly invented matter in religion without precedent.

Ḥalālحلال
Rulings

Lawful and permitted in Islam.

Ḥarāmحرام
Rulings

Forbidden; a sin to commit.

Makrūhمكروه
Rulings

Disliked; leaving it is better, though not sinful.

Mustaḥabbمستحب
Rulings

Recommended; rewarded if done, no blame if left.

Sabrصبر
Character

Patience and steadfastness in obedience, hardship, and avoiding sin.

Shukrشكر
Character

Gratitude to Allah through heart, tongue, and action.

Tawakkulتوكل
Character

Reliance upon Allah after taking the means.

Ikhfāʾإخفاء
Character

Sincerity — doing deeds purely for Allah.

Ḥusn al-Ẓannحسن الظن
Character

Thinking well of Allah and of others.

Silat ar-Raḥimصلة الرحم
Character

Keeping ties of kinship.

Marjan Islamic Academy

Learn, Memorize, and Love the Quran · © 2026