Islamic literature, including the Qur'an, Hadith, and scholarly works, is predominantly written in Classical Arabic. Understanding certain terms can be challenging for many converts and individuals unfamiliar with Classical Arabic. This glossary aims to define and also clarify uses of these various terms to facilitate a better understanding of Islamic texts.
● Allah - Al 'Ilah - The God; the One true God; the Only God; the name God chose for Himself
● ’Azza wa Jal - Mighty and Majestic be He
● Rabb - Literally means owner or master; In Islamic context, the nearest translation is: Lord
● Jibra'il - Jibril - Archangel Gabriel: the angel in charge of revelation. He is the angel that revealed the Gospel to Jesus, Torah to Moses, and Qur'an to Mohammed (PBUT). Also referred to as the Ruh al-Qudus (Holy Spirit) or al-Ruh al-Ameen (Trustworthy Spirit).
● Mika'il - Mikal - One of the high ranking angels who's responsible for directing winds, clouds, and rain wherever Allah wills.
● Israfil - One of the high ranking angels who's responsible for sounding the Trumpet that initiates the Day of Judgement.
● Nuh - Biblical Prophet Noah
● Ibrahim - Biblical Prophet Abraham
● Musa - Biblical Prophet Moses
● 'Isa - Biblical Prophet Jesus
● Mohammed/Muhammad ﷺ- The final prophet & messenger of Allah
● Sahabi (pl. Sahaba) - A companion of the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ ;someone who met the Prophet while believing in him and died upon that
● Abu Bakr - Closest companion, father-in-law, and first successor to the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ
● Umar - Companion of the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ and the second caliph.
● Uthman - Companion of the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ and the third caliph.
● Ali - Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ and fourth caliph.
● Imam - The one who leads a prayer; a respected figure; the head of a community is its imam
● Salaf - The righteous predecessors; the two generations after the Prophet↵Mohammed ﷺ, which are considered the best generations