ISL202 Glossary

•  A.H

means After Hijrah. It is the reference used in the Islamic calendar, instead of A.D. which is used in the Christian calendar

 Abu dawud

Abu sulayman ibn al-ash'ath ibn ishaq al-azdi as-sijistani, the author of the sunan and one of the greatest of the scholars of hadith. he was born in 203/817 and died on a friday in the middle of shawwal, 275/888 in basra. he was so accomplished in the science of hadith that it was said that hadiths were made pliable for abu dawud in the same way that iron was made pliable for the prophet da'ud. he said, "i wrote down 500,000 hadiths of the prophet and selected from them those which are in the sunan." he was a pupil of ibn hanbal.

 Abu hanifa

Abu hanifa an-nu`man ibn thabit, founder of the hanafi school in baghdad. he is one of the four imams and is known for developing ra'y (judicial opinion). he shunned sleep and was called the "peg" because he used to stand for long periods in night prayers. he only slept between zuhr and asr. he grew up in kufa and the khalif al-mansur asked him to accept the post of qadi. he refused and al-mansur imprisoned him and beat him until he died. he would never sit in the shade of someone to whom he had loaned money, saying, "every loan that brings benefit is usury." he died in 150/767.(

 Abu yusuf

Ya`qub ibn ibrahim ibn habib al-ansari al-baghdadi, born in kufa in 113/731. he was the student of abu hanifa and the first to propagate his school, a hadith master and brilliant jurist who had an extensive knowledge of tafsir. he acted as qadi in baghdad for al-mahdi, al-hadi and harun arrashid, who made the hanafi school the official state code for the 'abbasids. he was also the first to write on the principles (usul) of hanafi fiqh, and was a mujtahid. he died in baghdad in 182/798. he wrote kitab al-kharaj on taxation and constitutional questions.

 Adam (aa-dum)

The first human being, created by God as His vicegerent (responsible deputy) on Earth. Muslims believe Adam was the first prophet of God as well, establishing monotheism as the original

ISL202

Glossary

spiritual system of humankind. Islam does not share with Christianity the doctrine of " Original Sin," instead maintaining that each individual person is born sinless and is responsible for his or her own spiritual state, independent of the actions of other persons, past or present.

 Adhan اذان

The Muslim call to worship. The adhan consists of specific phrases, recited aloud in Arabic prior to each of the five daily worship times. Upon hearing the adhan, Muslims discontinue all activity and assemble at a local masjid for formal communal worship.

•  Badr

The first full military confrontation between the Muslims and the enemies of Allah. The battle took place between the Muslims and the Quraish of Mecca in the second year of Hijrah (624 C.E.). Eventhough the Muslims were outnumbered, the final result was to their favor

•  Bai'

Literally means sale. Commonly used as a prefix in referring to different types of sales: Muajjal, Murabahah, Tawliyah and Wadi'ah.

 Baligh

One who is has reached the age of maturity

 Banni isra'il

The tribe of israel, the children or descendants of israel or ya`qub.

•  Baqi

The cemetery where a good many of the Sahabah are buried. It is in the south-east side of Madinah.

•  C.E.

stands for Christian Era. It is used instead of A.D. in Islamic text referring to the dates before the Hijrah.

 Calendar, muslim

A lunar calendar whose months are: muharram, safar, rabi' al-awwal, rabi' ath-thani, jumada alula, jumada alakhira, rajah, sha`ban, ramadan, shawwal, dhu'l-qa`da, dhu'lhijja. the lunar year is approximately eleven days shorter than the solar year.

 Call to Prayer

Adhan

 Charity

Sadaqah

 Chisti

Mu'in ad-din Muhammad, founder of the sufi order, the chistiya. he was from sistan and was born in 537/1142 and lived in various towns. after going on hajj and during his ziyara at madina, he was asked to establish islam in india. after a forty day khalwa next to al-hujwiri's tomb in lahore, he went to delhi in 589/1193 and then directly to ajmir where he died in 632/1236. also known as gharib nawaz, "the friend of the poor", some historical accounts state that forty thousand families accepted islam at his hand.

 Da'if

" Weak", the status below hasan. usually the weakness is one of discontinuity in the isnad

 Da'wa

Inviting or calling people to worship Allah by following the messenger of Allah.

 EESA (Jesus Christ)

In Christian belief, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, one third of the Blessed Trinity which comprises himself, his Father, and the Holy Spirit. Sent to Earth to atone for the sins of mankind, Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, around 5 BCE, to mortal parents by virginal birth. His mother on Earth was Mary, his father Joseph. In Catholic doctrine, Mary -- whose own conception is referred to as the Imaculate Conception; being born without any stain of 'original sin' -- was elevated to the status of Queen of Heaven after Jesus' death, while Joseph was made a saint. Jesus preached for three years on the Earth, explaining to the large and ever-expanding following he attracted the mysteries of his kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, and how people could attain that wonderful place. He gathered to him twelve acolytes, or Apostles, whom he later sent out into the world on their own, to cast out demons and bring the true word of God to the masses.

•  Eid

The word ' Eid is an Arabic name to mean a festivity, a celebration, a recurring happiness, and a feast. In Islam, there are two major ' Eids namely the feast of Ramadhan ('EId Al-Fitr) and the Feast of Sacrifice (' Eid Al-Adhha). The first ' Eid is celebrated by Muslims after fasting the month of Ramadhan as a matter of thanks and gratitude to Almighty Allah. It takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the lunar calendar. The second ' Eid is the Feast of Sacrifice and it is to be celebrated for the memory of prophet Ibrahim trying to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael). This ' Eid lasts four days between the tenth and the thirteenth day of Zul-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the lunar calendar.

•  Eve

See Hawwa

 Fada'il

Virtues, excellent qualities. it is the plural of fadila

•  Fahm

Understanding.