Glossary

Arabic terms used throughout this guide. Each entry has the Arabic, transliteration, brief definition, and a link to where it’s covered in detail.

Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to find a term quickly.

A

Adhkar

أَذْكَار plural of dhikr. Remembrances of Allah; the formulas of praise, glorification, and supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ. → What to say after salah

Aameen

آمِين “O Allah, accept.” Said after the recitation of Al-Fatiha, aloud in jahr prayers, quietly in sirr.

‘Aql

عَقْل sound mind. Salah is not obligatory on someone who has lost the capacity to reason; one of the nine conditions for prayer. → Prerequisites for salah

Arafah

عَرَفَة the Day of Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah), the great day of Hajj. Ghusl is recommended on it for those at the pilgrimage. → How to perform ghusl

Athan

الأَذَان the call announcing that the time of a fard prayer has entered, called out by the mu’adhdhin (also spelled adhan). → Athan, the call to prayer

Awrah

عَوْرَة the parts of the body that must be covered. For men: navel to knees, plus shoulders should be covered in prayer when garments are available. For women: the entire body except the face and hands. → Prerequisites for salah

B

Barid / Burud

بَرِيد / بُرُد a classical measure of distance. About four burud (roughly 80 km) is a commonly cited threshold for the travel concessions. → Prayer while travelling

Basmalah

بَسْمَلَة saying Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim (“In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy”). In salah, the basmalah before Al-Fatiha is recited silently, even in jahr prayers.

Bidʿah

بِدْعَة innovation in religion. Practices added to worship that were not done by the Prophet ﷺ or his Companions. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every innovation is misguidance.”

Bulugh

بُلُوغ puberty; the point at which salah and the other obligations become strictly binding on a person. → Prerequisites for salah

D

Daleel

دَلِيل the evidence or proof (from the Qur’an or Sunnah) on which a ruling rests.

Dhikr

ذِكْر remembrance of Allah. Plural: adhkar.

Du’a

دُعَاء supplication. A direct ask of Allah, made in any language.

Duha

الضُّحَى the voluntary mid-morning prayer, prayed from after sunrise until just before Dhuhr. → Sunnah prayers

E

Eid

عِيد festival. The two are Eid al-Fitr (عِيد الفِطْر, after Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (عِيد الأَضْحَى, the day of sacrifice). Salat al-Eid is 2 rak’at with extra takbirs, followed by a khutbah. → The Eid prayer

F

Fajr

الفَجْر the dawn prayer; 2 fard rak’at, recited aloud, prayed between true dawn and sunrise. → Fajr, The Dawn Prayer

Fard

فَرْض obligatory. The 5 daily prayers are fard. The components that are strictly required for the prayer (or wudu) to be valid are also called fard.

Fard ʿayn

فَرْض عَيْن an obligation binding on every individual (such as the five daily prayers).

Fard kifayah

فَرْض كِفَايَة a communal obligation: once enough Muslims perform it, the duty is lifted from the rest; if none do, all are sinful (e.g., the funeral prayer). → The funeral prayer

Fatiha

الفَاتِحَة “The Opening”; the first surah of the Qur’an, recited in every rak’ah of every prayer.

Fitnah

فِتْنَة trial, temptation, or discord.

G

Ghair muakkadah

See Sunnah muakkadah.

Ghusl

غُسْل a full ritual bath that washes the entire body. Required after major impurity (janabah, end of menstruation, end of post-natal bleeding) before salah is valid.

H

Hadath

حَدَث a state of ritual impurity. Minor hadath is removed by wudu; major hadath (janabah) is removed by ghusl.

Hadath akbar

حَدَث أَكْبَر major ritual impurity (janabah, menstruation, nifas), lifted only by ghusl. See Hadath. → How to perform ghusl

Hajj

حَجّ the major pilgrimage to Makkah, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Halal

حَلَال lawful; permitted in Islam.

Harba

حَرْبَة a short spear. The Prophet ﷺ would plant one in the ground as a sutrah to pray toward when outdoors. → The sutrah

Hayd

حَيْض menstruation. During it a woman does not pray, and she does not make up the missed prayers afterwards. → Menstruation and prayer

I

Iftirash

الافتِراش sitting on the left foot laid flat under you, with the right foot upright and toes pointing to the qibla. Used between the two sujood, in the first tashahhud, and in the tashahhud of 2-rak’ah prayers (Fajr). → Fajr, sitting between sujoods

Ihram

إِحْرَام the state of ritual consecration entered for Hajj or Umrah; ghusl is recommended before entering it. → How to perform ghusl

Ijma’

إِجْمَاع the consensus of the scholars; one of the recognized sources of Islamic rulings. → Menstruation and prayer

Ikhtilaf

اخْتِلَاف legitimate difference of opinion among scholars on a point of fiqh. → Prayer while travelling

Imam

إِمَام the leader of a congregational prayer. → The Three Modes of Praying

Iq’a

الإقعَاء the permissible kind: sitting on the heels with both feet upright and both sets of toes pointing toward the qibla. From the Sunnah (Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim) and permissible as an alternative for those who find iftirash or tawarruk physically difficult.

Iqama

الإِقَامَة the second, shorter call given immediately before the fard prayer begins and the rows are straightened. → Iqama, the call to begin

Irsal / Sadl

إِرْسَال / سَدْل releasing the hands at the sides after rising from ruku (as opposed to refolding them on the chest). Both irsal and qabd are permissible per Imam Ahmad.

Istiftah

الاسْتِفْتَاح du’a al-istiftah, the opening supplication recited quietly to oneself after the opening takbir, before Al-Fatiha. → Fajr, the opening du’a

Istighfar

اسْتِغْفَار seeking Allah’s forgiveness, especially saying Astaghfirullah three times immediately after salah. → What to say after salah

Istihada

اسْتِحَاضَة irregular bleeding outside the menstrual cycle. It is not menstruation: the woman makes a fresh wudu for each prayer and prays normally. → Menstruation and prayer

Istikhara

اسْتِخَارَة the prayer of seeking Allah’s guidance when facing a decision: 2 rak’at of nafl followed by the istikhara du’a. → Sunnah prayers

Istinshaq

اسْتِنْشَاق drawing water into the nostrils during wudu.

Istinthar

اسْتِنْثَار blowing the water back out of the nostrils after istinshaq.

I’tidal

اعْتِدَال standing upright after rising from ruku, before going into sujood. A required position in the prayer.

J

Jahr

جَهْر recitation aloud. Used to describe Fatiha + surah in Fajr (both rak’at), Maghrib (first 2), and Isha (first 2).

Jalsat al-istiraha

جَلْسَة الاسْتِرَاحَة the brief, optional “sitting of rest” taken after the second sujood before rising to the next rak’ah. → Fajr walkthrough

Jam’

جَمْع combining two prayers (Dhuhr+Asr, or Maghrib+Isha) in a single time. A concession for travel, illness, or comparable hardship. → Prayer while travelling

Jama’ah

جَمَاعَة congregation; congregational prayer. Wajib on every able adult man who hears the call to prayer. → The Three Modes of Praying

Janabah

جَنَابَة the state of major ritual impurity, caused by sexual relations or ejaculation. Removed by ghusl.

Janazah

جَنَازَة funeral; Salat al-Janazah, the funeral prayer — a fard kifayah of four takbirs, prayed standing with no ruku or sujood. → The funeral prayer

Julus

جُلُوس sitting (the general word). Used for sitting positions in salah (iftirash, tawarruk, iq’a).

Jumu’ah

الجُمُعَة the Friday congregational prayer that replaces Dhuhr: 2 rak’at prayed aloud, preceded by two khutbahs. → Jumu’ah, the Friday prayer

K

Ka’bah

الكَعْبَة the cubic structure in Makkah toward which every Muslim faces in prayer (the qibla). → How to find the qibla

Khushu’

خُشُوع humble focus, stillness, and awe of Allah in the prayer.

Khutbah

خُطْبَة the sermon; the two khutbahs delivered before Jumu’ah, and the khutbah delivered after the Eid prayer. → Jumu’ah, the Friday prayer

Kursuf

كُرْسُف historically, the piece of cloth a woman used to check for the white discharge that marks the end of her period. → Menstruation and prayer

M

Madhhab

مَذْهَب a school of Islamic jurisprudence (e.g., the Hanbali madhhab of Imam Ahmad).

Madhi

مَذْي pre-arousal fluid. Nullifies wudu and requires washing the area (but not full ghusl).

Madmadah

مَضْمَضَة rinsing the mouth with water during wudu.

Maghrib

المَغْرِب the sunset prayer; 3 fard rak’at, first 2 aloud, the 3rd silent. → Maghrib, The Sunset Prayer

Mani

مَنِيّ semen. Nullifies wudu and requires ghusl.

Ma’mum

مَأْمُوم the follower behind an imam in congregational prayer. → The Three Modes of Praying

Masbooq

مَسْبُوق “the one preceded”; a worshipper who joins the congregation after the imam has already begun. → Joining the prayer late

Minbar

مِنْبَر the pulpit from which the imam delivers the khutbah. → Jumu’ah, the Friday prayer

Miswak

مِسْوَاك a natural tooth-stick used to clean the mouth; a sunnah, emphasized before prayer and on Fridays.

Mu’adhdhin

مُؤَذِّن the one who calls the athan (the muezzin). → Athan, the call to prayer

Mukallaf

مُكَلَّف one who is religiously accountable: adult (past puberty) and of sound mind. → Menstruation and prayer

Munfarid

مُنْفَرِد one who prays alone (not in congregation).

Musalla

مُصَلَّى an open prayer ground or designated prayer space, especially for the Eid prayer. → The Eid prayer

Mushaf

مُصْحَف a physical, written copy of the Qur’an.

Muwalat

مُوَالَاة performing the parts of wudu in continuous succession, without long gaps that would allow the previous body part to dry.

N

Nafl

نَفْل voluntary (supererogatory) prayer, beyond the obligatory and the emphasized sunnah. → Sunnah prayers

Najasah

نَجَاسَة physical impurity (urine, feces, blood beyond a small amount, etc.). Must be removed from body, clothes, and place of prayer before salah.

Nawaqid

نَوَاقِض plural of naqid. Nullifiers; things that break wudu. → What breaks wudu

Nifas

نِفَاس postpartum bleeding following childbirth; it carries the same prayer-rulings as menstruation. → Menstruation and prayer

Niyyah

نِيَّة intention. In the heart, not spoken. Required for wudu, for ghusl, and for every salah to be valid.

Q

Qabd

قَبْض refolding the hands above the navel after rising from ruku, as opposed to releasing them (sadl/irsal). Both are permissible per Imam Ahmad.

Qada

قَضَاء making up an obligatory prayer after its time has passed. → Making up missed prayers

Qasr

قَصْر shortening a 4-rak’ah prayer (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha) to 2 rak’at while travelling. → Prayer while travelling

Qassah al-bayda (al-)

القَصَّة البَيْضَاء “the white discharge,” the clear sign that marks the end of menstruation. → Menstruation and prayer

Qibla

القِبْلَة the direction of the Ka’bah in Makkah, which every Muslim faces during prayer. → How to find the qibla

Qiyam

قِيَام standing in prayer. The standing position of salah, before ruku.

Qunoot

قُنُوت a supplication recited in the final rak’ah of witr (after rising from ruku), with hands raised. Not recited in Fajr except in times of calamity (nawazil).

R

Rak’ah / Rak’at

رَكْعَة / رَكَعَات a unit of prayer consisting of one cycle: qiyam → ruku → standing → sujood → sitting → sujood. Fajr is 2 rak’at; Dhuhr/Asr/Isha are 4; Maghrib is 3.

Raful yadayn

رَفْع الْيَدَيْن “raising the hands.” Done in four places: takbir al-ihram, before ruku, after rising from ruku, and after standing from the first tashahhud (per the hadith of Ibn Umar in Bukhari).

Rawatib

رَوَاتِب the regular sunnah prayers that accompany the fard prayers (e.g., 2 before Fajr, 2 after Maghrib).

Rukn

رُكْن a pillar; an essential element of the prayer (or another act of worship) without which it is invalid. Plural: arkan. → What breaks salah

Ruku

رُكُوع bowing in prayer. Hands grip the knees, back is flat and level, head in line with the back.

S

Sadl

See Irsal.

Salaf

السَّلَف the pious early generations: the Companions and those who followed their way.

Salah

الصَّلَاة the prescribed daily Islamic prayer. The second pillar of Islam. → Introduction

Salat al-gha’ib

صَلَاة الغَائِب the funeral prayer offered in absentia for a Muslim who has died elsewhere. → The funeral prayer

Salawat ibrahimiyyah

الصَّلَاة الإبراهيمية sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ in the final tashahhud, beginning with “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad…”

Sebha

سُبْحَة prayer beads used to count dhikr. Permitted, though counting on the fingers is closer to the Sunnah. → What to say after salah

Shadhdh

شَاذّ in hadith science, an “anomalous” report that conflicts with more reliable narrations.

Shahadah

الشَّهَادَة the testimony of faith: “Ash-hadu al la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah.”

Shurut

شُرُوط singular: shart. Conditions. The nine conditions for salah to be valid. → Prerequisites for salah

Sirr

سِرّ recitation silently. Used to describe the Fatiha and surah in Dhuhr (all), Asr (all), Maghrib (3rd rakah), and Isha (last 2).

Sujood

سُجُود prostration. Forehead and nose touch the floor along with both palms, both knees, and the underside of both feet (seven body parts in total). → Fajr, sujood

Sujud al-sahw

سُجُود السَّهْو the two prostrations of forgetfulness that repair the prayer after an unintentional addition, omission, or doubt. → Sujud al-sahw

Sujud al-shukr

سُجُود الشُّكْر a single prostration of gratitude to Allah, made on receiving good news or a blessing. → Sujud al-tilawah

Sujud al-tilawah

سُجُود التِّلَاوَة the single prostration made when reciting or hearing a verse of prostration in the Qur’an. → Sujud al-tilawah

Sunnah

السُنَّة the way of the Prophet ﷺ. Also used to refer to actions that are recommended but not strictly obligatory.

Sunnah muakkadah

سُنَّة مُؤَكَّدَة a strongly emphasized sunnah the Prophet ﷺ kept consistently (e.g., the 12 daily rawatib, witr). A lighter, non-emphasized one is ghair muakkadah. → Sunnah prayers

Surah

سُورَة a chapter of the Qur’an. After Al-Fatiha in the first two rak’at, reciting another surah is a strong sunnah.

Sutrah

سُتْرَة a barrier placed directly in front of the worshipper to mark off the prayer space and screen it. → The sutrah

T

Ta’awudh

تَعَوُّذ seeking refuge in Allah by saying A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim before reciting. → Fajr walkthrough

Tahajjud

تَهَجُّد the voluntary night prayer, prayed in the last third of the night after waking from sleep. → Sunnah prayers

Tahiyyat al-masjid

تَحِيَّة المَسْجِد the 2 rak’at “greeting of the mosque,” prayed on entering before sitting down. → Sunnah prayers

Tahiyyat al-wudu

تَحِيَّة الوُضُوء the 2 rak’at prayed after completing wudu. → Sunnah prayers

Tahlil

تَهْلِيل saying La ilaha illa Allah (“there is no god but Allah”). → What to say after salah

Tahmid

تَحْمِيد saying Al-hamdulillah (“all praise is for Allah”). → What to say after salah

Takbir

تَكْبِير saying “Allahu Akbar” (“Allah is the Greatest”). Used at every transition in salah.

Takbir al-ihram

تَكْبِيرَة الإحْرَام the opening takbir that begins the prayer (with raful yadayn). After saying this, you have entered the state of salah.

Takhlil

تَخْلِيل running wet fingers through (a thick beard during wudu, or between the fingers/toes to ensure water reaches everywhere).

Tamyiz

تَمْيِيز the age of discernment (around seven), when a child is taught to pray. → Prerequisites for salah

Tarawih

تَرَاوِيح the congregational night prayers of Ramadan, prayed after Isha. → Sunnah prayers

Tartib

تَرْتِيب performing the parts of wudu in their correct order (face → arms → head → feet). Also the order in which missed prayers are made up.

Tasbih

تَسْبِيح glorifying Allah by saying “SubhanAllah” / “Subhana Rabbiya l-‘Azim” / “Subhana Rabbiya l-A’la.” Also refers to the 33/33/33+1 count after every fard prayer. → What to say after salah

Tashahhud

التَشَهُّد sitting in prayer and reciting the testimony of faith. Done after the second rak’ah (the first tashahhud) and at the end of the prayer (the final tashahhud).

Tashreeq

التَّشْرِيق the days of Tashreeq (11–13 Dhul-Hijjah) following Eid al-Adha, during which the takbir is said. → The Eid prayer

Tasleem

التَسْلِيم ending the prayer by turning the head right and then left, saying “As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah” each time.

Tathwib (at-)

التَّثْوِيب the phrase As-salatu khayrun min an-nawm (“prayer is better than sleep”) added after “Hayya ‘ala l-falah” in the Fajr athan. → Athan, the call to prayer

Tawaf

طَوَاف circumambulation of the Ka’bah — the seven circuits performed as a rite of Hajj and Umrah. A menstruating woman delays tawaf until she is pure. → Menstruation and prayer

Tawarruk

التَوَرُّك the final tashahhud sitting in prayers with more than 2 rak’at: the left foot extends out and under the right leg, the body rests on the left buttock on the floor, the right foot is upright with toes to the qibla. → Dhuhr, final tashahhud

Tayammum

التَّيَمُّم dry ablution using clean earth, performed when water is unavailable or its use would cause harm. → Tayammum

Tuma’ninah

طُمَأْنِينَة tranquility, stillness. Each position in salah must be held long enough to be at rest in it before transitioning to the next.

U

Umrah

عُمْرَة the lesser pilgrimage to Makkah, which may be performed at any time of year.

‘Urf

عُرْف custom; what people commonly recognize (for example, what counts as “travel”). → Prayer while travelling

W

Wadi

وَدِي thick fluid that sometimes comes after urination. Nullifies wudu.

Wajib

وَاجِب obligatory, required. Used for congregational prayer on able men, listening to the Jumu’ah khutbah, and (per Imam Ahmad) witr.

Witr

الوِتْر the night’s odd-numbered voluntary prayer, prayed after Isha (or, more rewardingly, in the last third of the night). Typically prayed as 2 + 1 rak’at. → Witr, in the Isha walkthrough

Wudu

الوُضُوء the ritual washing required to remove minor ritual impurity before salah. → How to make wudu

Z

Zakat al-fitr

زَكَاة الفِطْر the obligatory charity given before the Eid al-Fitr prayer. → The Eid prayer

Zawal

زَوَال the sun’s passing of its zenith (midday), when the time of Dhuhr — and Jumu’ah — begins. → Jumu’ah, the Friday prayer