GLOSSARY

Ahl al­Dhimma

[Lit. the people under protection covenant the Non­Muslim subjects of a Muslim government, belonging to the Jewish, Christian or Sabean creed, who, for the payment of a poll­tax, enjoys security of their persons and property in a Muslim country.

Ahl al­Kitab

[Lit. the people of the Scripture] Jews & Christians.

Awqaf

Religious trusts or endowments

Dar al­Herb

[The Land of Warfare] a country in which peace has not been proclaimed between Muslims and unbelievers.

Dar al­Islam

[The Land of Islam] territories in which Islam and Islamic religious law prevail

F'arida

An enjoined duty; a compulsory act of worship.

Fatwa

A legal Islamic opinion

1. Fiqh

[In the literal sense]: a framework of understanding

2. Fiqh

[In the terminological sense]: provisions of Islamic law

Ghusl

Major ablution; ceremonial washing of the body.

Halal &Haram

[Respectively] what is lawful and what is forbidden in Islam

Hijra

The migration of Muslims to Medina

Jahiliyya

(1) The pre­Islamic era.
(2) The adoption of the pagan practices of that period.

Janaba

A ceremonial impurity (that necessitates ghusl)

Jihad

Striving in the cause of Allah.

Masaleh Mursala

Public interests

Mawali

Non­Arab Muslims

Nafila

An optional, supererogatory practice of worship, in contrast to farida

Ribat

Guarding Muslims from infidels

Sadagat

Supererogatory spending for charity. of Zakat

Tahlil

Uttering the formula of faith: "La ilaha illa Allah", i.e. (No god but Allah)

Takbir

Uttering the formula "Allahu Akbar", i.e. (Allah is the Greatest)

Takfir

Judgment of someone as unbeliever

Tasbih

Uttering the formula: "Subhan Allah", i.e. (Glory be to Allah)

Usul al­Fiqh

Principles of jurisprudence