Reference
Glossary
150 terms that come up often in South African fatawa, with short, neutral definitions. In any fatwa, terms with a dotted underline can be tapped for their meaning.
A
- AdhanWorship & purity
- The call to prayer.Also written: azaan, azan, adhaan
- AkhlaqBelief & ethics
- Character and moral conduct.Also written: akhlaaq
- AqeedahBelief & ethics
- Creed; the core beliefs of Islam.Also written: aqidah, aqeeda, aqida
- AqiqahFasting & Hajj
- The sacrifice offered in thanks for the birth of a child.Also written: aqeeqah, aqeeqa, aqiqa
- AwrahFamily
- The parts of the body that must be covered.Also written: awra, satr
B
- BalighFamily
- Having reached legal maturity (puberty), after which religious duties become binding.Also written: baaligh, bulugh, buloogh
- BatilRulings
- Void; an act or contract that has no legal effect at all.Also written: baatil
- Bay'ahBelief & ethics
- A pledge, such as a student's pledge to a spiritual guide, or allegiance to a ruler.Also written: bai'at, baiat, bayat
- Bid'ahSources & method
- Innovation; a practice introduced into religion without basis in its sources.Also written: bid'at, bidat, biddah
D
- Da'ifSources & method
- Weak; a hadith whose chain or text falls short of the standard for acceptance.Also written: dhaif, dhaeef, da'eef, daeef
- DamFasting & Hajj
- An animal sacrifice required to make up for certain omissions or violations during Hajj or Umrah.
- Darul IftaSources & method
- An institute or department that issues fatawa.Also written: darul iftaa, dar al-ifta
- DarurahSources & method
- Necessity; a pressing need that can lift a prohibition within limits.Also written: dharurah, dharoorah, zarurat, darura
- DhabihahFood
- Slaughter according to the Shariah, which makes an animal's meat halal.Also written: zabiha, zabihah, dhabh, zabh
- DhikrWorship & purity
- Remembrance of Allah through words of praise and glorification.Also written: zikr, thikr
- DuaWorship & purity
- Supplication; personal prayer to Allah.Also written: duaa, du'aa
F
- FardRulings
- Obligatory; a duty established by decisive evidence. Leaving it without excuse is sinful.Also written: fardh, farz, faraz
- FasidRulings
- Defective; a contract or act that is invalid because of a flaw in its conditions.Also written: faasid
- FaskhFamily
- Annulment of a marriage by a qadi or Muslim judicial body.Also written: fasakh
- FatwaSources & method
- A scholarly answer to a question on Islamic law, given for the situation asked about. Plural: fatawa.Also written: fatwaa
- FidyahFasting & Hajj
- Compensation, usually feeding the poor, given in place of fasts that cannot be kept or for certain lapses in Hajj.Also written: fidya
- FiqhSources & method
- Islamic jurisprudence: the detailed understanding of rulings derived from the sources.
G
- GhararZakat & finance
- Excessive uncertainty in a contract, which can invalidate it.
- Ghayr MahramFamily
- A person one could marry, with whom rules of modesty apply.Also written: ghair mahram, non-mahram, na-mahram, nonmahram
- GhibahBelief & ethics
- Backbiting: speaking about an absent person in a way they would dislike.Also written: gheebah, gheebat, backbiting
- GhuslWorship & purity
- The ritual bath: washing the whole body, required after major impurity such as janabah, haydh or nifas.Also written: ghusal
H
- HadanahFamily
- Custody and care of young children after separation.Also written: hidanah, hizaanat, hidhanah, custody
- HadithSources & method
- A report of the sayings, actions or approvals of the Prophet ﷺ.Also written: hadeeth, ahadith, ahaadith
- HajjFasting & Hajj
- The pilgrimage to Makkah, obligatory once in a lifetime on those able.Also written: haj
- HalalRulings
- Lawful; permitted by the Shariah.Also written: halaal
- HanafiSources & method
- The school of jurisprudence of Imam Abu Hanifah; the majority school among South African Muslims of Indian origin.Also written: hanafee
- HaramRulings
- Unlawful; prohibited by decisive evidence. Doing it is sinful.Also written: haraam
- HaydhWorship & purity
- Menstruation, which has its own rulings for prayer, fasting and other acts.Also written: haidh, haid, hayd, haiz
- HijabFamily
- Modest covering; also the general rules of modesty between the sexes.Also written: hijaab
- HilalFasting & Hajj
- The new crescent moon, whose sighting begins an Islamic month.Also written: hilaal
I
- IddahFamily
- The waiting period a woman observes after divorce or her husband's death before she may remarry.Also written: iddat, idda
- IftarFasting & Hajj
- Breaking the fast at sunset.Also written: iftaar
- IhramFasting & Hajj
- The sacred state entered for Hajj or Umrah, with its garments and restrictions.Also written: ihraam
- IhtiyatSources & method
- Precaution; choosing the safer course where there is doubt.Also written: ihtiyaat, ihtiyaat
- IjarahZakat & finance
- Leasing or hire; also an employment contract.Also written: ijaarah, ijara
- Ijma'Sources & method
- Consensus of qualified scholars on a ruling.Also written: ijmaa
- IjtihadSources & method
- Independent reasoning by a qualified jurist to derive a ruling.Also written: ijtihaad
- ImamWorship & purity
- The one who leads the prayer; also a title for a leading scholar.Also written: imaam
- ImanBelief & ethics
- Faith; belief in the articles of faith.Also written: imaan, eemaan
- IqamahWorship & purity
- The second call given just before the congregational prayer begins.Also written: iqaamah, iqamat, takbeer
- Isal-e-ThawabFuneral
- Conveying the reward of good deeds to the deceased.Also written: isaal-e-thawaab, esaal-e-thawaab, isaal-e-sawaab, isale thawab
- IslahBelief & ethics
- Self-reformation; correcting one's character and conduct.Also written: islaah
- IsnadSources & method
- The chain of narrators through which a hadith is transmitted.Also written: isnaad, sanad
- IstihadahWorship & purity
- Irregular bleeding outside the normal pattern of haydh or nifas; prayer remains due.Also written: istihaadah, istihadha
- IstikharahWorship & purity
- The prayer and supplication for seeking Allah's guidance in a decision.Also written: istikhara, istikhaarah
- IstinjaWorship & purity
- Cleaning oneself after using the toilet.Also written: istinjaa, istinjaa'
- I'tikafFasting & Hajj
- Spiritual retreat in a masjid, especially in the last ten days of Ramadan.Also written: itikaaf, i'tikaaf
J
- Ja'izRulings
- Permissible or valid.Also written: jaaiz
- JanabahWorship & purity
- The state of major ritual impurity after intercourse or seminal discharge; ghusl removes it.Also written: janaabat, janabat, janaabah
- JanazahFuneral
- The funeral; also the funeral prayer offered for a deceased Muslim.Also written: janaazah, janaza, janaaza
- Jumu'ahWorship & purity
- The Friday congregational prayer with its sermon.Also written: jumma, jummah, juma
K
- KafanFuneral
- The shroud in which the deceased is wrapped.Also written: kafn
- KaffarahFasting & Hajj
- Expiation required for certain violations, such as deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast or a sworn oath.Also written: kaffara, kaffaarah, kaffarat
- KhulaFamily
- Divorce sought by the wife, usually in return for giving up the mahr or another consideration.Also written: khul', khul
- KhutbahWorship & purity
- The sermon delivered at Jumu'ah, Eid and some other occasions.Also written: khutba
- KufrBelief & ethics
- Disbelief.
L
- LillahZakat & finance
- Voluntary charity given for the sake of Allah, used more freely than zakat.Also written: lillaah
M
- MadhhabSources & method
- A school of jurisprudence, such as the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i or Hanbali school.Also written: madhab, mazhab, madhaahib
- MahrFamily
- The bridal gift the husband gives the wife, owed to her as her right.Also written: mehr, mehar, mahar
- Mahr MithlFamily
- The customary mahr for a woman of similar standing, due where no mahr was fixed.Also written: mahr-e-mithl, mahrul mithl
- MahramFamily
- A close relative one may never marry, such as a parent, sibling or child; relevant to travel, hijab and seclusion.Also written: mehram
- MakruhRulings
- Disliked. Scholars distinguish makruh tahrimi (close to haram) from makruh tanzihi (better avoided).Also written: makrooh, makrouh
- Makruh TahrimiRulings
- Prohibitively disliked; in Hanafi fiqh, close to haram and sinful to do.Also written: makrooh tahrimi, makrooh tahreemi, makruh tahreemi
- Makruh TanzihiRulings
- Mildly disliked; better avoided, but not sinful.Also written: makrooh tanzihi, makrooh tanzeehi, makruh tanzeehi
- MandubRulings
- Recommended; close in meaning to mustahab.Also written: mandoob
- MasbuqWorship & purity
- A latecomer who joins the congregation after one or more units have passed.Also written: masbooq
- Mashbooh foodFood
- Additives whose source may be animal or alcohol-based; their status depends on origin.Also written: e-numbers, e numbers
- Mawdu'Sources & method
- Fabricated; a report falsely attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.Also written: mawdoo, maudhoo
- MayyitFuneral
- The deceased person.Also written: mayyat, mayyat's
- MiqatFasting & Hajj
- The boundary points at which pilgrims must enter ihram.Also written: meeqat, miqaat
- MirathFamily
- Inheritance; the fixed shares heirs receive under Islamic law.Also written: meeraath, miraath, meerath
- MubahRulings
- Permissible; neither rewarded nor punished in itself.Also written: mubaah
- MudarabahZakat & finance
- A partnership in which one party provides capital and the other labour, sharing profit.Also written: mudaraba, mudharabah
- MufsidRulings
- Something that invalidates an act, such as what breaks a fast or a prayer.
- MuftiSources & method
- A scholar qualified to issue fatawa.
- MuqtadiWorship & purity
- A person praying behind an imam.Also written: muqtadee
- MurabahahZakat & finance
- A cost-plus sale in which the seller discloses cost and profit; used in Islamic finance.Also written: murabaha
- MurshidBelief & ethics
- A spiritual guide in tasawwuf who directs a student's self-reformation.
- MusafirWorship & purity
- A traveller in the legal sense, who may shorten four-unit prayers.Also written: musaafir
- MusharakahZakat & finance
- A partnership in which partners share capital, profit and loss.Also written: musharaka
- MushtabahRulings
- Doubtful; a matter whose lawfulness is unclear and is best avoided.Also written: mashbooh, mashbuh, shubha, shubhah
- MustahabRulings
- Desirable or preferred; rewarded if done, no sin if left.Also written: mustahabb, mustahib
N
- NadhrBelief & ethics
- A vow to perform an act of worship, which becomes binding once made.Also written: nazr, nazar, mannat
- NafaqahFamily
- Maintenance: the duty to provide food, clothing and housing for a spouse or dependants.Also written: nafaqa, nafqah, maintenance
- NaflRulings
- Voluntary; an act done beyond what is obligatory, such as extra prayers.Also written: nafil, nawafil, nafal
- NajasahWorship & purity
- Ritual impurity, such as urine or blood, that must be removed from body, clothes and place of prayer.Also written: najaasah, najasat, najis, najaasat
- NifasWorship & purity
- Post-natal bleeding after childbirth.Also written: nifaas
- NikahFamily
- The Islamic marriage contract.Also written: nikaah, nikkah
- NisabZakat & finance
- The minimum amount of wealth that makes zakat (and some other duties) obligatory.Also written: nisaab
P
- PurdahFamily
- Modesty and screening between men and women who are not mahram.Also written: parda, pardah
Q
- QadhaWorship & purity
- Making up an act of worship, such as a prayer or fast, after its proper time.Also written: qaza, qada, qadhaa
- QardZakat & finance
- A loan; repayment must not carry a stipulated increase.Also written: qardh, qarz
- QasamBelief & ethics
- An oath sworn by Allah; breaking it requires kaffarah.Also written: yamin
- QasrWorship & purity
- Shortening the four-unit prayers to two while travelling.Also written: qasar
- QiblahWorship & purity
- The direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, faced in prayer.Also written: qibla
- QimarZakat & finance
- Gambling; staking money on chance.Also written: qimaar, maysir
- QiyasSources & method
- Analogy: extending a ruling to a new case that shares its underlying cause.Also written: qiyaas
- QurbaniFasting & Hajj
- The animal sacrifice offered on the days of Eid al-Adha.Also written: qurbaani, udhiyah, udhiya, udhiyyah
R
- Rak'ahWorship & purity
- A single unit of the prayer, from standing through the prostrations.Also written: rakaat, raka'at, rakat, rakaats, rakahs
- RibaZakat & finance
- Interest or usury; prohibited gain in loans and certain exchanges.Also written: ribaa
- Ruju'Family
- Taking back a wife during the iddah after a revocable divorce.Also written: rujoo
- RuqyahBelief & ethics
- Seeking healing or protection by reciting the Qur'an and prophetic supplications.Also written: ruqya
S
- SadaqahZakat & finance
- Charity in general, voluntary or obligatory.Also written: sadaqa, sadqah, sadqa
- Sadaqatul FitrZakat & finance
- The charity due before the Eid al-Fitr prayer on behalf of each household member.Also written: sadaqah al-fitr, fitrah, fitra, sadaqat al-fitr
- SahabahSources & method
- The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ.Also written: sahaba, sahaabah, companions
- SahihRulings
- Valid or sound. Of a hadith, one with a reliable chain of narrators.Also written: saheeh
- Sa'iFasting & Hajj
- Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah.Also written: saee, sa'ee
- Sajdah SahwWorship & purity
- The prostration of forgetfulness, made to compensate for certain mistakes in prayer.Also written: sajda sahw, sajdah-e-sahw, sajdatus sahw
- SalahWorship & purity
- The ritual prayer; five daily prayers are obligatory.Also written: salaah, salat, salaat, namaz, namaaz
- SalamZakat & finance
- A forward sale with full payment in advance for goods delivered later.Also written: bay' salam, bai salam, salam sale
- SawmFasting & Hajj
- Fasting: abstaining from food, drink and intercourse from dawn to sunset.Also written: saum, siyam, roza, rozah
- Shafi'iSources & method
- The school of jurisprudence of Imam al-Shafi'i; widely followed in the Western Cape.Also written: shafi, shafee
- ShirkBelief & ethics
- Associating partners with Allah; the gravest sin.
- SuhurFasting & Hajj
- The pre-dawn meal before a fast.Also written: sehri, sahri, suhoor, sehri
- SunnahRulings
- The practice of the Prophet ﷺ; as a ruling, an act that is recommended and was regularly done by him.Also written: sunnat, sunna
- Sunnah Mu'akkadahRulings
- An emphasised Sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ did consistently; habitually leaving it is blameworthy.Also written: sunnat muakkadah, sunnah muakkada, sunnat-e-muakkadah
T
- Tabi'unSources & method
- The generation after the Companions, who learned from them.Also written: tabieen, taabi'een
- TaharahWorship & purity
- Ritual purity, required for prayer and some other acts of worship.Also written: tahaarah, tahara
- TakafulZakat & finance
- Cooperative insurance structured to avoid riba and gharar.Also written: takaaful
- TalaqFamily
- Divorce initiated by the husband.Also written: talaaq, talak
- Talaq Ba'inFamily
- An irrevocable divorce; reconciliation needs a new nikah.Also written: talaaq baain, baain talaaq, talaaq-e-baain
- Talaq MughallazahFamily
- The final, threefold divorce, after which remarriage is barred unless conditions are met.Also written: mughallazah, mughallaza, talaq-e-mughallazah
- Talaq Raj'iFamily
- A revocable divorce, after which the couple may reconcile during the iddah without a new nikah.Also written: talaq rajee, talaaq raj'i, raj'i talaaq, rajee talaaq, talaq-e-raj'i
- TaqlidSources & method
- Following the rulings of a recognised school or scholar.Also written: taqleed
- TaqwaBelief & ethics
- God-consciousness; mindful obedience to Allah.Also written: taqwaa
- TarawihWorship & purity
- The night prayers of Ramadan, prayed after Esha.Also written: taraweeh, taraawih
- TasawwufBelief & ethics
- The discipline of purifying the heart and character, usually under the guidance of a spiritual mentor.Also written: tasawuf, sufism
- TawafFasting & Hajj
- Circling the Ka'bah seven times as an act of worship.Also written: tawaaf
- TawbahBelief & ethics
- Repentance: turning back to Allah, regretting a sin and resolving not to return to it.Also written: taubah, tauba, tawba
- TawhidBelief & ethics
- The oneness of Allah, the foundation of Islamic belief.Also written: tawheed, tauheed
- Ta'wizBelief & ethics
- An amulet containing Qur'anic verses or supplications, whose use scholars discuss with conditions.Also written: taweez, ta'weez
- TayammumWorship & purity
- Dry ablution with clean earth, permitted when water cannot be used.Also written: tayamum
- TilawahWorship & purity
- Recitation of the Qur'an.Also written: tilawat
U
- UlamaSources & method
- Scholars of Islam (singular: alim).Also written: ulamaa, ulema
- UmrahFasting & Hajj
- The lesser pilgrimage to Makkah, which can be done at any time of year.Also written: umra
- UrfSources & method
- Custom; local practice that can shape how a ruling is applied.Also written:
W
- WajibRulings
- Necessary. In Hanafi usage, a duty one level below fard, established by evidence that is strong but not decisive.Also written: waajib, wajeb
- WaliFamily
- A guardian, such as the father in matters of a daughter's marriage.Also written: walee
- WalimahFamily
- The wedding feast hosted after the nikah.Also written: walima, waleemah
- WaqfZakat & finance
- A charitable endowment whose benefit is dedicated permanently to a cause.Also written: waqaf, awqaf
- WasiyyahFamily
- A bequest or will; limited to one-third of the estate and not for heirs.Also written: wasiyyat, wasiyat, wasiyah
- WazifahBelief & ethics
- A regular recitation or litany of dhikr and supplications.Also written: wazifa, wazeefa, wazeefah
- WitrWorship & purity
- The odd-numbered prayer after Esha; wajib in the Hanafi school.Also written: witir
- WudhuWorship & purity
- Ablution: washing the face, arms, wiping the head and washing the feet before prayer.Also written: wudu, wuzu, wudhoo, wudoo, ablution
Z
- ZakatZakat & finance
- The obligatory annual alms on wealth above the nisab, paid to specified categories of recipients.Also written: zakaat, zakah, zakaah
Definitions are general descriptions for orientation only. Rulings differ between schools and situations — read the fatwa itself and ask a Darul Ifta about your own case.