The Fiqh of Fasting: GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL ARABIC TERMS

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Glossary of Technical Arabic Terms

Dhikr :- also Dhikrullah: the remembrance of Allah; dhikr may be performed in a number of ways, and it is universally recognised by all Sufis to be at the heart of all spiritual life.

Fajr :- morning prayer; one of the five daily fard prayers.

Fard :- an obligation; anything rendered obligatory by the Shar’ah.

Fidyah :- redemption for the omission of certain religious duties through material donations, or fines, or the performance of religious acts.

Haram :- unlawful, prohibited by the Shariah.

Jami’ Masjid :- a large masjid in which jumu’ah prayer is performed.

Janabah :- the state of legal impurity which necessitates ghusl, having a wet dream or sexual intercourse.

Jumu’ah :- the most blessed day of the Islamic week, Friday, the day of general assembly.

Kufr :- unbelief, denial of the truth of Islam.

Maghrib :- sunset prayer; one of the five daily fard prayers.

Mu’akkadah :- emphasised; the designation given to an act whose performance is encouraged by the Shari’ah.

Mustahab :- liked or praiseworthy; the designation given to acts whose performance is desirable.

Nafl :- supererogatory act of worship.

Niyah :- intention; a mental acknowledgement of what one is about to perform in the way of worship.

Qadi :- Islamic Judge, an official of the Islamic state empowered to hear and decide cases brought before a court of Shari’ah law.

Sawm :- fasting; the anstention from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset with the niyah of worshipping Allah.

Shari’ah :- an open road; the body of laws taken from Qur’an and Sunnah which govern the faith and practice of the Muslim.

Sunnah :- the way that has been walked in; the way of the Messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Tilawah :- recitation of the Qur’an.

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:
"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]