The complete Islamic glossary

The ritual washing of specific body parts (face, arms, head, feet) performed before Salah, prescribed in Quran 5:6.

Worship & Rituals

The midday prayer, performed after the sun passes its zenith until the shadow equals the object's length; 4 Rakahs.

Worship & Rituals

The afternoon prayer, performed from when the shadow exceeds the object's length until sunset; 4 Rakahs.

Worship & Rituals

The Islamic call to prayer (Adhan or Azan), recited five times a day by the muezzin from the mosque to summon Muslims to salah. Consists of seven phrases repeated in a set order (with an eighth added in Fajr), all rooted in the Prophet's ﷺ sunnah.

Worship & Rituals

The sincere intention in the heart that precedes any act of worship; the Prophet ﷺ said "actions are by intentions."

Worship & Rituals

The second pillar of Islam: ritual worship performed five times daily, consisting of specific recitations, bowing and prostrations facing the Kaaba.

Worship & Rituals

The direction toward the Kaaba in Mecca that Muslims face during Salah; established by Allah in Quran 2:144.

Worship & Rituals

Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Dhahabi (d. 1348 CE), a master historian and hadith critic, author of Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, a vast biographical encyclopedia.

Scholars

The dawn prayer, performed between the appearance of true dawn (Subh as-Sadiq) and sunrise; the first of the five daily prayers.

Worship & Rituals

Sunrise — the moment the disc of the sun rises above the horizon. It marks the end of the Fajr prayer time. Praying during actual sunrise is disliked; after full ascent, Duha time begins.

Worship & Rituals

The sunset prayer, performed immediately after sunset until the red twilight disappears; 3 Rakahs.

Worship & Rituals

The night prayer, performed after the red twilight disappears until midnight (preferably) or dawn; 4 Rakahs.

Worship & Rituals