Glossary of Islamic Terms

Allahu akbar

Allah is the greatest

asr

the afternoon prayer of four rakat

fajr

the morning prayer of two rakat before sunrise

hadith

a narration attributed to Muhammad (saws)

Al-hamdulillah

praise to Allah

imam

the leader of the salah

iman

faith

Insha Allah

if it be Allah's will (God willing)

isha

the night salah of four rakat after dusk

la ilaaha illa Allah

there is no deity except Allah

maghrib

the dusk salah of three rakat right after the sun sets

masha Allah

It is Allah's will (an expression said when one sees something he/she likes)

masjid

mosque

qiyam

standing in the salah

radhiallahu 'anhu/ha/hum

may Allah be please with him/her/them

rak'ah

a unit of the formal prayer made of one qiyam and two sujuds

sadaqa

an act of charity, monetary or otherwise

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah

salallahu alayhi wa sallam

prayers and peace be upon him (said after the mention of Muhammad and sometimes abbreviated "Saws")

salah

the formal prayer done five times a day

Sawm

fasting

subhanAllah

glorified is Allah (expression said when one is amazed)

sujud

a prostration to Allah in which the toes, knees, palms, and forehead and nose touch the ground

sunnah

an action of Muhammad (saws)

thuhr

the noon prayer of four rakat just after the sun begins to decline (the "th" in Thuhr is pronounced like the "th" in the word "the")

witr

a highly valued optional prayer of any odd number of rakat performed after isha and before fajr..

zakkat

prescribed charity on one's wealth if he or she has enough