Glossary of Islamic words and their meanings
Created | Updated Apr 21, 2005
Islamic words? whats that all about then?
Around 1400 years ago the religion called Islam
appeared on the world map in Arabia. The people in Arabia all spoke what we call 'Classical Arabic'1 and as a result all Islamic terms are in Arabic and the Holy Qur'an2 was also written in Arabic. Like all foreign languages this has resulted in miss understandings about word meanings over the years, many of which are still used today. To try and address some of the meanings of common Islamic terms will be the goal of this entry. To do this you will find a table below with common Islamic terms, their meanings in English and help with pronunciation.
| Arabic word | Phonetically | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | ||
| Alhamdulillah | Al-ham-du-lil-laah | Praise be to Allah |
| Allah | Al-laah | God |
| Allahu Akbar | Al-laahu Ack-bar | God is the greatest |
| Ameen | A-mean | May God answer |
| As-salaamu Alaikum | As-sa-laamu A-lake-kum | May peace be upon you |
| As-salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh | As-salaamu A-lake-kum wah rath-ma-too-laah-he wah barrack-ka-too | may peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon you3" |
| Astaghfir Allah | As-stof-ful-al-laah | I seek forgiveness from Allah |
| Ayah/Ayat | Ay-a | Sign. It is also the name given to verses of the Holy Qur’an |
| B | ||
| Bukhari | Buck-car-ee | Name of one of the compilers of Hadith |
| Bismillah | Biss-mill-laah | In the name of God |
| Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim | Biss-mill-laah ar-rothmaan ar-rath-heem | In the name of God, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful |
| D | ||
| Da’wah | Da-wah | Invitation (for humankind) |
| Du`a | Do-ar | Supplication |
| F | ||
| Fatabarakillah | Fat-tah-ba-rack-al-lah | May Allah bless you |
| Fatwa | Fah-tah-wah | Opinon/Give ruling |
| Fisabilillah | Fi-Sabi-Lillah | For the sake of Allah |
| fimaanallah | Fi-a-maan-al-lah | May you be in the protection of Allah |
1It is called this because over the years, like all languages, Arabic has grown and changed in vocabulary and meanings and some words have changed to form the Arabic of today.2The name given to the Muslim holy book3Extended version of As-salaamu Alaikum.
