Terms and What They Mean #3

Reference table #3 to assist you with the words. Next time you need to refer, just click on "Glossary of Terms" label to the right.

TERM	OTHER FORMS OF SPELLING	MEANING
(as)		Alaihi salam. Arabic salutation after mentioning any of the Nabis (beside Muhammad), meaning 'upon him peace'. Sometimes also used for the angel 'Jibril'.
(ra)		Radiallahu 'anh. Arabic salutation after mentioning a companion of Prophet Muhammad. Sometimes also used after prominent ulama. Means 'Allah is pleased with him/her'.
(rh)		Rahimullahu 'alaih. Arabic salutation after mentioning a deceased muslim. Sometimes reserved for ulama and selected people only. Means 'may Allah's mercy be upon him'.
(saw)		Sollallahu alaihi wasallam. Arabic salutation after mentioning the name of Prophet Muhammad, meaning 'Allah's greetings and peace upon him'.
Barakah		Benefit or blessing transmitted from those closer to Allah.
Faqih		A person knowledgable in Fiqh.
Fiqh	Fekah	Islamic ruling or law. Together with Tauhid and Tasawwuf form 3 branches of Islamic knowledge that each Muslim is required to learn.
Iftirasy		The method of sitting during non-final tasyahhuds, where both legs are folded backwards and supports the posterior.
Ilm	Ilm, Ilmu	Knowledge.
Isra' and Mi'raj		The miraculous event when Allah made Prophet Muhammad travel from Mecca to Jerusalem, then to the heavens, then back to Mecca, all in a matter of minutes. Allah gave order to Prophet Muhammad to perform solah 5 times a day.
Khalaf		Muslims of later generation than the 'Salaf'.
Malaikah	Malaikat	Angels. The leader is named Jibril.
Maqam	Makam	Spritual status. In another meaning, maqam refers to grave.
Martabat		Status
Maryam		Mary, mother of Nabi Isa (as).
Nabi		A person selected by Allah to become His messenger.There are hundred of thousand of them, started with Adam, and ended with Muhammad.
Rasul		A person selected by Allah to become His messenger. His responsibility is wider than a Nabi's. To be explained in future lessons if God wills. Out of hundred thousand Nabis, only 313 of them are ranked as Rasuls (Adam and Muhammad included).
Sahabah		Literally 'friends' or 'companions'. Most of the time, this refers to contemporaries of Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Salaf		The pious and knowledgable generation of Muslims within 300 years of the death of Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Sayyidina	Saidina	Literally means 'our master' or 'our leader'. 'Sayyidina Muhammad' would mean 'Our leader Prophet Muhammad'.
Syaikh	Sheikh	Master or teacher. Usually reserved for the very pious ones. In Malaysia, they are called 'Tuan Guru', in Indonesia 'Kiyai' or 'Syiah', in Southern Thailand 'Baba', in Phillipines 'Maulana'.
Tafsir	Tafseer	Literally means 'explanation'. Usually refers to the explanation (or exegesis) of Al-Quran.
Tasawwuf	Tasauf, Sufism	Science of cleansing the heart from flawed characters. Together with Tauhid and Fiqh form 3 branches of Islamic knowledge that each Muslim is required to learn.
Waqaf	Wakaf	Charity. Money or materials set aside for the needy.
Wudu'	Wudu	Ablution. Cleaning the face, hands, forehead, and feet before performing solah or touching the Quran.
Yaqin	Yakin, Yaqeen	True conviction. With confidence.

Wallahu a'lam