‘abath

:

in sport; paly; diversion

‘abd

:

Servant while ‘ibāda is worship or service to God

‘ilm

:

Knowledge

Abu Ţālib

:

the prophet's uncle and biggest supporter in Mecca

ahwā’

:

Whims

aħzāb

:

plural of ħizb, partisans, sectarians

ākhira

:

End

al-‘āqiba

:

Consequence

al-ākhira

:

the end

Allāh

:

The Arabic name for God

al-mala’

:

Aristocrats

al-Rabb

:

The Lord

al-Raħmān

:

The Merciful

āmir

:

the Commander

amr

:

Command

aqdār

:

Fate

aslamna

:

Surrendered

āyāt

:

Qur’ānic verses or literally "signs"

bāţil

:

false and defeatable

bāţilan

:

Purposelessly

burhān

:

a demonstrative proof and contains a factor of compelling rationality

da‘f

:

pettiness; weakness

đalāl

:

Misguidedness

dunyā

:

the immediate objectives, the "here-and-now" of life

falāħ

:

Success

fiţra

:

primordial nature

furqān

:

clearly demarcating line

ghurūr

:

multi-layered self-deception

Ħanif

:

one who recognized the unity of religion rather than followed sects

ħanīf

:

one who follows pure (straight, non-deviant) monotheism (such as Abraham)

haqq

:

the truth

ħashr

:

Gathering

hidāya

:

Guidance

Hijra

:

migration (usually referring to the migration of Muslims from Mecca to Madina)

ħisāb

:

Accounting

houris

:

the females of heaven

hūd

:

the arab messenger sent to the tribe of ‘Ād

hudan lil-nās

:

an invitation to man to come to the right path

Iblīs or Iblees

:

The Devil or Satan

Ibrāheem

:

Abraham

istighnā’

:

complete self-sufficiency or independence

jahūl

:

Foolhardy

jibrīl

:

Gabriel

jihād

:

does not mean holy war; literally, exerting effort or struggle , hence, it could mean spiritual or physical struggle

jinn

:

God created them from smokeless fire (i.e. heat or energy) and had given them the power of choice (as humans). According to the Qur’ān, Iblees (or Satan) was one of the jinn; however, the jinn are not only associated with evil but could also be good (again, just like humans)

kāfir

:

God deserter, infidel

kāhin

:

Soothsayer

Khadīja

:

the prophet's first wife

khalq

:

Creation

khars

:

Guess

khusrān

:

loss; failure

kufr

:

positive desertion by God; rejection of truth; to deny God

ma’mūr

:

The commanded

majnūn

:

crazy; a man possessed with some evil spirit

makr

:

a term denoting a stratagem within the process of a struggle

malā’ika

:

plural of malak meaning angels

malak

:

Angel

maqdūr

:

Measurement or measured

masħūr

:

victim of sorcery

mikhāl

:

Michael

milla

:

Religion

mu’min

:

Faithful, believer

munāfiq

:

Hypocrite

mursal

:

the one sent

muslim

:

obedient to God

nabī

:

a giver of news not prophecies

nafs

:

self or person

najwā

:

cliquing; secret meetings

naskh

:

abrogation or substitution

Nūh

:

Noah

placidity

:

the quality or state of being placid; calmness; serenity

qadar

:

power or measuring out

qādir

:

the powerful and the measurer

qarya

:

a town, city or civilization

qatr

:

narrowness of mind

Quraysh or Quraish

:

the mercantile tribe of Mecca

rasūl

:

Messenger

ratq

:

one undifferentiated mass

rūh

:

Spirit

rūh al-qudus

:

Holy Spirit

safīr

:

Ambassador

sāhir

:

Sorcerer

Şālih

:

the arab messenger sent to the tribe of Thamūd

shā‘ir

:

Poet

shaiţān

:

satan; devil

shirk

:

participation in Godhead; worship of false gods

shiya’

:

plural of shī’a, also meaning a party or a sect

Shu‘aib

:

the prophet sent to the people of Midian (or Madyan) also called "the people of the thicket"

shu‘ūr

:

consciousness or awareness beyond the ordinary; also means feeling

shūrā

:

a consultative council or assembly

siħr

:

a piece of sorcery; witchcraft

sulāla

:

reproductive semen

sulţān

:

that which overwhelms without leaving any real alternative; king or ruler; authority

sura

:

a chapter of the Qur’ān (e.g. al-Baqarah)

ţāghūt

:

evil or ungodly principle

tanzīl

:

gradual and intermittent Revelation; sending down

taqwā

:

fear of God; piety; in Qur’ānic terms it also means conscience (to be squarely anchored within the moral tensions)

tauba

:

genuine repentance

tauhīd

:

Monotheism

wqy

:

to guard or protect against something

zakāt

:

Islamic tax or alms (one of the five pillars of Islam)

żalūm

:

unfair and unjust

żann

:

Doubt

żulm

:

injustice; to put something out of its proper place

abjure

:

to renounce under oath; forswear; to recant solemnly; repudiate; to give up (an action or practice, for example); abstain from

abrogate

:

to abolish, do away with, or annul, especially by authority

adamant

:

impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly unyielding; inflexible

adduce

:

to cite as an example or means of proof in an argument

admonition

:

mild, kind, yet earnest reproof; cautionary advice or warning

allegory

:

the representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form; symbolic representation

alluvium

:

sediment deposited by flowing water

anathema

:

one that is cursed or damned; one that is greatly reviled, loathed, or shunned

antecedent

:

one that precedes another

antedate

:

to be of an earlier date than; precede in time

apostate

:

one who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause

archetype

:

an original model or type after which other similar things are patterned; a prototype

Ash‘arite

:

a school of theology which reduced man to impotence in the interests of saving the omnipotence of God, but whose influence upon Muslims was more formal than real

asunder

:

into separate parts or pieces

autocratic

:

of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers

aver

:

to affirm positively; declare

bane

:

Fatal injury or ruin

beguile

:

to deceive by guile; delude

behoove

:

to be necessary or proper for

blandishment

:

the act of blandishing; a word or act expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart; soft words and artful caresses; cajolery; allurement

bolster

:

to support or prop up with or as if with a long narrow pillow or cushion

calamity

:

an event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster

capricious

:

Characterized by or subject to whim; impulsive and unpredictable

cataclysm

:

a violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change; a violent and sudden change in the earth's crust

chagrin

:

a keen feeling of mental unease, as of annoyance or embarrassment, caused by failure, disappointment, or a disconcerting event

circumambulate

:

to walk around (something), especially as part of a ritual

circumscribe

:

to draw a line around; encircle; to limit narrowly; restrict; to determine the limits of; define

cleft

:

divided; split; a past tense and a past participle of cleave

cliquing

:

to form a small exclusive group of friends or associates

coalescence

:

the act or state of growing together, as similar parts; the act of uniting by natural affinity or attraction; the state of being united; union; concretion

coercive

:

characterized by or inclined to coercion (the act of compelling by force of authority or using force to cause something)

commensurate

:

of the same size, extent, or duration as another; corresponding in size or degree; proportionate

concoct

:

to prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking; to devise, using skill and intelligence; contrive

congealed

:

to solidify by or as if by freezing

contingent

:

liable to occur but not with certainty; possible; dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established; conditional

corollary

:

a proposition that follows with little or no proof required from one already proven

corroborate

:

to strengthen or support with other evidence; make more certain; confirm

cosmogony

:

the astrophysical study of the origin and evolution of the universe

cum

:

together with; plus. often used in combination

decrepit

:

weakened, worn out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use

demagoguery

:

impassioned appeals to the prejudices and emotions of the populace

deride

:

to speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth; ridicule

desultory

:

moving or jumping from one thing to another; disconnected; occurring haphazardly; random

dicta

:

plural of dictum, an authoritative, often formal pronouncement

disdain

:

to regard or treat with haughty contempt; despise; to consider or reject as beneath oneself

disenfranchised

:

deprived of the rights of citizenship especially the right to vote

dissension

:

difference of opinion; disagreement

dross

:

waste or impure matter; scum; worthless, commonplace, or trivial matter

eccentricity

:

deviation from the normal, expected, or established

ecumenism

:

a movement promoting worldwide unity among religions through greater cooperation and improved understanding

élan

:

enthusiastic vigor and liveliness; distinctive style or flair

enmeshment

:

To entangle, involve, or catch in or as if in a mesh

enunciate

:

to pronounce; articulate; to state or set forth precisely or systematically

erring

:

to make an error or a mistake; to violate accepted moral standards; sin; to stray

eschatology

:

the branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind

exasperation

:

frustrated annoyance

exhort

:

to urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal

farce

:

ridiculous or empty show; as, a mere farce

flounder

:

to fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle

forlornness

:

appearing sad or lonely because deserted or abandoned; forsaken or deprived; nearly hopeless; desperate; despondent

fortuitously

:

happening by accident

fraught

:

filled with a specified element or elements; charged

gradation

:

a series of gradual, successive stages; a systematic progression; a degree or stage in such a progression; the act of gradating or arranging in grades

harbinger

:

one that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner

haughty

:

scornfully and condescendingly proud

hearken

:

To listen attentively; give heed

hirelings

:

one who works solely for compensation, especially a person willing to perform for a fee tasks considered menial or offensive

hither

:

to or toward this place

hitherto

:

up to this time; as yet; until now

hoodwink

:

to take in by deceptive means; deceive

hoopoe

:

any of several Old World birds of the family Upupidae, especially Upupa epops, having distinctively patterned plumage, a fanlike crest, and a slender, downward-curving bill

humdrum

:

Lacking variety or excitement; dull

imperviousness

:

incapable of being penetrated; incapable of being affected

inanity

:

something empty of meaning or sense

incessant

:

continuing without interruption; continual

indelible

:

impossible to remove, erase, or wash away; permanent

indigent

:

experiencing want or need; impoverished; poor

inexorable

:

not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless

infanticide

:

the act of killing an infant

intercession

:

entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another

introverted

:

shy or reserved

jeer

:

to speak or shout derisively; mock; to abuse vocally; taunt

jittery

:

having or feeling nervous unease

jugular vein

:

any of several large veins of the neck that drain blood from the head

lacunae

:

plural of lacuna, an empty space or a missing part; a gap

lapidation

:

the act of stoning

lauded

:

Praised

lo

:

used to attract attention or to show surprise

locust

:

Grasshopper

locutions

:

a particular word, phrase, or expression, especially one that is used by a particular person or group; style of speaking; phraseology

lore

:

accumulated facts, traditions, or beliefs about a particular subject; knowledge acquired through education or experience

lote

:

a large tree (Celtis australis), found in the south of Europe, it has a hard wood, and bears a cherrylike fruit

lurch

:

In a difficult or embarrassing position

luxuriant

:

characterized by rich or profuse growth; producing or yielding in abundance

mete

:

to distribute by or as if by measure; allot

morass

:

an area of low-lying, soggy ground; something that hinders, engulfs, or overwhelms

morrow

:

The following day

mote

:

a very small particle; a speck

naught

:

Nothing

niggardly

:

grudging and petty in giving or spending; meanly small; scanty or meager

nigh

:

being near in time, place, or relationship

Nihilism

:

Rejection of all distinctions in moral or religious value and a willingness to repudiate all previous theories of morality or religious belief

obdurate

:

hardened in wrongdoing or wickedness; hardened against feeling; hardhearted

obverse

:

facing or turned toward the observer; serving as a counterpart or complement

paltry

:

lacking in importance or worth; trivial; wretched or contemptible

pantheism

:

a doctrine identifying the Deity with the universe and its phenomena; belief in and worship of all gods

paragon

:

A model of excellence or perfection of a kind; a peerless example

parched

:

to make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat

parchment

:

the skin of a sheep or goat prepared as a material on which to write or paint

parochialism

:

narrowly restricted in scope or outlook; provincial

PBUH

:

Acronym meaning Peace Be Upon Him

penitent

:

feeling or expressing remorse for one's misdeeds or sins

pensive

:

deeply, often wistfully or dreamily thoughtful; suggestive or expressive of melancholy thoughtfulness

perdition

:

loss of the soul; eternal damnation; Hell

perennial

:

lasting or active through the year or through many years

pernicious

:

causing great harm; deadly; destructive

philology

:

Literary study or classical scholarship

pittance

:

meager monetary allowance, wage, or remuneration; very small amount

placidity

:

the quality or state of being placid; calmness; serenity

pneumatology

:

the doctrine or study of spiritual beings and phenomena, especially the belief in spirits intervening between humans and God

portent

:

an indication of something important or calamitous about to occur; an omen; prophetic or threatening significance

posit

:

to assume the existence of; postulate. Presume

primordial

:

Primary or fundamental

proffer

:

to offer for acceptance; tender; offer

promulgation

:

the act of promulgating; publication; open declaration

propound

:

to put forward for consideration; set forth; propose

proselytize

:

to induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith

punitive

:

Inflicting or aiming to inflict punishment; punishing

putative

:

generally regarded as such; supposed

queer

:

deviating from the expected or normal; strange; odd or unconventional, as in behavior; eccentric; of a questionable nature or character; suspicious

quid pro quo

:

Latin for An equal exchange or substitution

ramparts

:

a fortification consisting of an embankment, often with a parapet built on top; a means of protection or defense; a bulwark

ratio legis

:

law of reason

reprimand

:

to reprove severely, especially in a formal or official way; admonish

repudiate

:

to reject the validity or authority; to reject emphatically as unfounded, untrue, or unjust; to refuse to recognize

respite

:

a usually short interval of rest or relief; temporary suspension of a death sentence

retribution

:

judgment in history

revelry

:

boisterous merrymaking; unrestrained merrymaking

Sabeans or Sabaeans

:

adherents of the Sabian religion; worshipers of the heavenly bodies

salient

:

projecting or jutting beyond a line or surface; protruding; strikingly conspicuous; prominent; noticeable

saplings

:

a young tree

satiated

:

filled to satisfaction

scheming

:

to make plans, especially secret or devious ones

senility

:

old age; the mental and physical deterioration associated with aging

sinews

:

a tendon; vigorous strength; muscular power; the source or mainstay of vitality and strength

slander

:

oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation

smugness

:

Exhibiting or feeling great or offensive satisfaction with oneself or with one's situation; self-righteously complacent

solace

:

comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or distress; consolation

soothsayer

:

one who claims to be able to foretell events or predict the future; a seer

sow

:

to scatter (seed) over the ground for growing; to impregnate (a growing medium) with seed

specious

:

having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious; deceptively attractive

staccato

:

expressed in a brief, pointed manner

stint

:

a limitation or restriction

straiten

:

to put or bring into difficulties or distress; to restrict in latitude or scope

stratagem

:

a military maneuver designed to deceive or surprise an enemy; a clever, often underhanded scheme for achieving an objective

subvert

:

to destroy completely; ruin; to undermine the character, morals, or allegiance of; corrupt; to overthrow completely

succor

:

Assistance in time of distress; relief

tautology

:

needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy; an instance of such repetition

telos

:

the end of a goal-oriented process

tendentious

:

marked by a strong implicit point of view; partisan

thicket

:

a dense growth of shrubs or underbrush; a copse; something suggestive of a dense growth of plants, as in impenetrability or thickness

tinsel

:

something sparkling or showy but basically valueless

travail

:

work, especially when arduous or involving painful effort; toil; tribulation or agony; anguish

ultimacy

:

the state or degree of being ultimate; the final or most extreme in degree or size or time or distance

unbridled

:

free from restriction or restraint

volition

:

the act or an instance of making a conscious choice or decision

vouchsafe

:

to condescend to grant or bestow (a privilege, for example); deign

vulgate

:

a widely accepted text or version of a work

vying

:

to strive for superiority; to contend; to use emulous effort, as in a race, contest, or competition

waylay

:

To lie in wait for and attack from ambush

yore

:

time long past