GLOSSARY
 
Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamah -- the followers of the Sunnah.  The mainstream body of the Muslims.
 
Fard Ain -- an individual obligation, which must be performed by every sane adult, and which is not waived from anybody no matter how great the number of people doing it.  Anybody not performing it is sinful, and anybody fulfilling it is rewarded.
 
Fard Kifayah -- a communal obligation, which must be discharged by a sufficient number of people, else all will be sinful.  Only those performing the duty are rewarded, although if they fulfil the duty, the sin is lifted off everybody.
 
Fiqh -- Islamic jurisprudence
 
Firdaus -- the Highest part of Paradise.  Al-Bukhari and Muslim have narrated
that the Prophet (SAWS) said,
 
"When you ask Allah for Paradise, ask Him for Al-Firdaus, for it is the highest part of Paradise, and the best part of Paradise.  From it gush the rivers ofparadise, and above it is the Throne of (Allah) The Most Gracious.  "
 
Fitnah -- strife, persecution.  When the term fitnah is mentioned in the Quran, it usually means Shirk - associating partners with Allah
 
Hadith -- a report of the Prophet's (SAWS) sayings, deeds or approval
 
Hasan -- good.  A category of hadith that is well corroborated, but not to the same level as one rigorously authenticated (saheeh).
 
Hijrah -- emigration from a land of disbelievers in order to be able to practise Islam.  The most famous hijrah in Islamic history was that of the early Muslims from Makkah to Madinah, and this is counted as the first year of the Islamic calendar.
 
Hururiyyah -- a sect of the Khawarij who retired to Hurura (near Kufah, in Iraq), after which they are named.
 
Khawarij -- a sect that declared takfeer (disbelief) on both Ali (the fourth Caliph) and Muawiyah during the conflict between the two Companions.  They declared Muslims to be disbelievers due to their committing of major sins.
 
Mahram -- a mate relative of a woman that she can never marry, such as her brother, father, son and grandfather, etc.
 
Marfu' -- ascribed.  Used to describe a hadith which has been related through a contiguous series of transmitters from the Prophet (SAWS).
 
Mufassir -- a scholar specialised in the study of Tafseer (plural:mufassireen).
 
Muhaddith -- a scholar specialised in the study of hadith (plural: muhadditheen).
 
Muhajireen -- emigrants.  Those Companions who performed the hijrah from Makkah to Abyssinia and/or Madinah.
 
Mujahid -- one who performs Jihad (plural: Mujahideen).
 
Mutawatir -- used to describe a hadith which has been reported through mass narration, by so many pious Muslims in every generation that it is not admissible that they could all have been mistaken or co-operatively agreed to lie.
 
Sunnah -- the deeds and words of the Prophet (SAWS).
 
Tafseer -- exegesis, explanation and commentary on the Quran.
 
Uhud -- a mountain near Madinah.  The site of one of the early battles between the Muslims and the pagans.  About it, the Prophet (SAWS) said in Saheeh Al-Bukhari:     "This (Uhud) is a mountain that loves us and is loved by us.
 
Ummah -- the Islamic community.
 
Zakah - the compulsory charity (2.5%) which must be paid by those who possess more than a specified amount of wealth for one lunar year.
 


QUOTE BY SALAHUDDIN AYYUBI
 
"We hope in Allah Most High, to whom be Praise, who leads the hearts of Muslims to calm what torments them and ruins their prosperity. Where is the sense of honour of the Muslims? The pride of the Believers? The zeal of the Faithful? We shall never cease to be amazed at how the disbelievers for their part have shown trusts, and it is the Muslims who have been lacking in zeal. Not one of them has responded to the call. Not one intervenes to straighten what is distorted,- but observe howfar the Franks have gone. What unity they have achieved. What aims they pursue. What help they have given. What sums of money they have borrowed and spent. What wealth they have collected and distributed and divided amongst them. There is not a king left in their lands or islands, or a rich man who has not competed with his neighbours to produce more support and rival his peers in strenuous military efforts. In defence of their religion they consider it a small thing to spend life and soul,- and they have kept their infidel brothers supplied with arms and champions of war,- and all they have done and all their generosity has been done purely out of zealfor him they worship in jealous defence of theirfaith. The Muslims on the other hand are weakened and demoralise& they have become negligent and lazy, the victims of unproductive stupification and completely lacking in enthusiasm. If, Allahforbid, Islam should draw reign, obscure her splendour, blunt her sword, there would be no one, east or west, far or near who would blaze the zealfor Allah's religion, or choose to come to the aid of Truth against Falsehood. This is the moment to cast off laziness, to summon from far and near all those men who have blood in their veins; but we are confident (He speaks about himse@f and the small party of believers who began with him and then became a large party); but we are confident, thanks to Allah - A lhamdulillah - in the help that will come from Him in sincerity of purpose and deepest devotion. Insha-Allah the disbelievers shall perish and the Faithful shall have a sure deliverance.

[Salahuddin Ayyubi, Liberator of ajerusalem 12th Century CE]

Abu Shamma, Kitab Ar-Rawadatain (History Book)