Arabic Words

These well-known Arabic words should be memorized and woven into your
conversations with Muslims. They will be appreciated and are good bridge material.
Your phonetics may vary, so check out pronunciation with a local person.

AH-LUL-KITAB People of the Book, e.g., Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

Also Kitabi is used in certain places.
AL-HAMDU-LI ‘LLAH Praise belongs to God; Praise the Lord.
ALIM Muslim teacher.
ALLAH AKBAR God is Great. A very common saying.
AS-SALAM-ALAI-KUM Peace be upon you. A greeting.
ALAI-KUM SALAM And upon you be peace. Response to the greeting.
AYAT Verse of the Quran.
AZAN The call to prayer.
BARAKAH Blessing.
BISMILLAH-AR-RAHAMANER-RAHIM In the name of God the compassionate,
the merciful. Very important phrase to know as it is so
often stated, particularly at the beginning of an activity.
DAR-UL-HARB The world outside of Islam.
DAR-UL-ISLAM The household of Islam.
DHIKR Ceremony centering around the recitation of the names
and attributes of God.
DUA Spontaneous prayer.
EID Islamic festival.
EID-UL-FITR Feast at the end of the Ramadan Fast.
FATIHAH First Surah of the Quran.
HADITH The Traditions; deeds and saying of the Prophet.
HAJJ Pilgrimage to Mecca.
HAJJI One who has completed pilgrimage to Mecca.
HALAL That which is allowed.
HARAAM That which is not allowed, forbidden actions (food or
dress).
HIJRA Flight of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina. The
beginning of the Muslim lunar calendar (622 AD in our
calendar).
IMAM Muslim priest. Same as Alim or its plural, Ulama.
IMAN Faith.
INJIL Literally, the four Gospels, but also generally refers to
the New Testament.
INSHA-ALLAH God willing. An often repeated phrase.
JIHAD Muslim holy war.
JINN Harmful or helpful spirit beings.
KAABA The cube-like building in the center of the mosque at
Mecca which contains the black stone.
KAFIR Idolaters; enemies of Islam.
KALIMA The Creed; La-ilaha-il-lal-laho Muhammad-ur-Rasul-
Ullah (There is no deity but God, and Muhammed is the
Apostle of God).
KHALIFA Caliph or system of successors in Islam.
MADRASSA Muslim school associated with mosque.
MASJID Mosque.
RAMADAN Ninth month in the Muslim calendar, the month of
fasting.
SALAT The five daily obligatory prayers.
SHARIAT Islamic code of law.
SUFI Follower of mystical Islam.
SURAH A term used for the chapters of the Quran. We can also
use it for chapters of the Bible.
TORAH The Law of Moses.
TORAH, ZABUR,
& IN JIL The Bible.
UMMAH The community of Islam.
WAZU Ritual ablutions before prayer.
ZABUR The Psalms of David.
ZAKAT Almsgiving; 2 ½ percent of income given by Muslims
to charity.

Proper Names
ADAM Adam; Sufi-Ullah, The Chosen of God.
AYUB Job.
HOWWA Eve.
NUH Noah; Nabi-Ullah, the Friend of God.
IBRAHIM Abraham; Khalil-Ullah, the Friend of God.
HAJAR Hagar, mother of Ishmael.
SAARAH Sarah, wife of Ibrihim.
ISHAQ Isaac.
ISMAIL Ishmael.
MUSA Moses; Kalim-Ullah, one who conversed with God.
DAUD David.
SULAIMAN Solomon.
YAHYA John the Baptist.
ISA Jesus.
ISA-AL-MASIH Jesus the Messiah.
ISA RUH ULLAH Jesus, the Spirit of God.
ISA, ALAI-SALAM Jesus, upon Him be peace.
MUHAMMAD (S.M.) or
(PBUH) Muhammad, peace be upon Him.
SHAITAN Satan.