Islamic Terminology and Key Vocabulary
A strong vocabulary of Islamic terms is essential for the Qimiyah examination. Many of these terms appear repeatedly in Quranic verses, hadith, and Islamic texts. This topic provides comprehensive coverage of the most important Islamic vocabulary organized by theme, with Arabic script, transliteration, and English meanings. Mastery of these terms will significantly improve reading comprehension and the ability to engage with Islamic texts.
Theology and Belief (العقيدة)
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| توحيد | Tawḥīd | Oneness of Allah; Islamic monotheism |
| إيمان | Īmān | Faith; belief |
| كفر | Kufr | Disbelief; ingratitude |
| شرك | Shirk | Associating partners with Allah (polytheism) |
| إله | Ilāh | God; deity |
| الله | Allāh | The One True God (Allah) |
| رحمن | Raḥmān | The Most Gracious (Allah’s name) |
| رحيم | Raḥīm | The Most Merciful (Allah’s name) |
| قدير | Qadīr | The All-Powerful |
| عليم | ’Alīm | The All-Knowing |
| حكيم | Ḥakīm | The All-Wise |
| سميع | Samī’ | The All-Hearing |
| بصير | Baṣīr | The All-Seeing |
| 活着 | Ḥayy | The Ever-Living |
| قيوم | Qayyūm | The Self-Subsisting |
| نور | Nūr | Light |
| هدى | Hudā | Guidance |
| ضلال | Ḍalāl | Misguidance; astray |
| جنة | Jannah | Paradise; Heaven |
| نار | Nār | Hell; Fire |
| سؤال | Su’āl | Question; asking |
| جواب | Jawāb | Answer; response |
| ثواب | Thawāb | Reward (from Allah) |
| عقاب | ’Iqāb | Punishment |
| نعمة | Ni’mah | Blessing; favor |
| بلاء | Balā’ | Trial; affliction; blessing in disguise |
The Pillars of Islam (أركان الإسلام)
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| إسلام | Islām | Submission to Allah; the religion of Islam |
| شهادة | Shahādah | Testimony; witness |
| شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله | Shahādat an lā ilāha illā Allāh | ”There is no god but Allah” (part of shahādah) |
| محمد رسول الله | Muhammadun Rasūlullāh | ”Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” |
| صلاة | Ṣalāh | Prayer (formal worship) |
| زكاة | Zakāh | Almsgiving; obligatory charity |
| صوم | Ṣawm | Fasting |
| رمضان | Ramaḍān | The month of fasting |
| حج | Ḥajj | Pilgrimage to Mecca |
| مكة | Makkah | Mecca |
| المسجد الحرام | Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām | The Sacred Mosque |
| كفارة | Kaffārah | Expiation; atonement |
| فرض | Farḍ | Obligatory; compulsory |
| سنة | Sunnah | Prophetic tradition; practice |
| نافلة | Nāfilah | Optional/voluntary worship |
| communal | Wājib | Obligatory (Shafi’i term) |
| حرام | Ḥarām | Absolutely forbidden |
| مكروه | Makrūh | Disliked; discouraged |
| مباح | Mubāḥ | Permissible; neutral |
| مستحب | Mustaḥabb | Recommended; preferred |
The Quran and Revelation (القرآن والوحي)
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| قرآن | Qur’ān | The Quran (recited scripture) |
| وحي | Waḥy | Revelation |
| تنزيل | Tanzīl | Revelation; sending down |
| إقرأ | Iqra’ | Read/Recite (the first word of Quran) |
| سورة | Sūrah | Chapter of the Quran |
| آية | Āyah | Verse of the Quran; sign |
| جزء | Juz’ | Section; thirtieth of the Quran |
| حزب | Ḥizb | Party; subdivision of the Quran |
| قراءة | Qirā’ah | Recitation; reading |
| تلاوة | Tilāwah | Recitation of the Quran |
| تفسير | Tafsīr | Quranic exegesis; interpretation |
| محكم | Muḥkam | Clear; unambiguously interpreted |
| متشابه | Mutashābih | Resembling; ambiguous (in the Quran) |
| ناسخ | Nāsikh | Abrogating (verse) |
| منسوخ | Mansūkh | Abrogated (verse) |
| فرض | Farḍ | Revelation as compulsory command |
| ناسخ | Nāsikh | The abrogating verse |
Hadith and Sunnah (الحديث والسنة)
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| حديث | Ḥadīth | Saying; tradition (of the Prophet ﷺ) |
| سنة | Sunnah | The Prophet’s practice; tradition |
| رسول | Rasūl | Messenger (of Allah) |
| نبي | Nabī | Prophet |
| نبوة | Nubuwwah | Prophethood |
| صحابي | Ṣaḥābī | Companion (of the Prophet) |
| تابع | Tābi’ | Follower (of the Companions) |
| تابعي | Tābi’ī | A generation after the Companions |
| رواية | Rivāyah | Narration; transmission (of hadith) |
| سماع | Samā’ | Hearing; audition (of hadith) |
| إسناد | Isnād | Chain of narration (of hadith) |
| متن | Matn | Text (of hadith) |
| صحيح | Ṣaḥīḥ | Authentic (hadith) |
| حسن | Ḥasan | Good (hadith) |
| ضعيف | Ḍa’īf | Weak (hadith) |
| موضوع | Mawḍū’ | Fabricated (false hadith) |
| مرسل | Mursal | Suspended (hadith without Companion link) |
Morality and Character (الأخلاق والآداب)
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| أخلاق | Akhlāq | Morals; ethics; character |
| تقوى | Taqwā | Piety; consciousness of Allah |
| صدق | Ṣidq | Truthfulness; sincerity |
| إخلاص | Ikhlāṣ | Sincerity; purity of intention |
| صبر | Ṣabr | Patience; endurance |
| شكر | Shukr | Gratitude; thanksgiving |
| تواضع | Tawāḍu’ | Humility |
| كبر | Kibr | Pride; arrogance |
| غضب | Ghaḍab | Anger |
| رضا | Riḍā | Contentment; satisfaction |
| حلم | Ḥilm | Forbearance; patience |
| عدل | ’Adl | Justice; fairness |
| ظلم | Żulm | Oppression; injustice |
| مغفرة | Maghfirah | Forgiveness |
| رحمة | Raḥmah | Mercy; compassion |
| حب | Ḥubb | Love |
| كره | Karḥ | Dislike; hatred |
| نيّة | Niyyah | Intention |
| 饵 | ’Ubūdiyyah | Servitude to Allah |
| إساءة | Īsā’ah | Wrongdoing; mistreatment |
Key Facts for Qimiyah Examination
- Tawḥīd (توحيد): The foundational principle of Islam — the absolute oneness of Allah
- Īmān (إيمان): Faith — comprising belief (īmān bil-qalb), declaration (iqrār bil-lisān), and action (amal bil-arba’n)
- Taqwā (تقوى): The goal of all Islamic practice — consciousness and awareness of Allah in all actions
- Ikhlāṣ (إخلاص): Sincerity — performing all acts for the sake of Allah alone
- Ṣabr (صبر): Patience — mentioned over 90 times in the Quran
- Sunnah (سنة): The Prophet’s practice; the second source of Islamic law after the Quran
- ⚡ Exam tip: Many Islamic terms share the same root letters. Learn the root (جذر) to guess the meaning of unfamiliar words. For example, all words with the root ر-ك-م relate to “mercy/compassion” (رَحْمَة، رَحِيم، يَرْحَمُ).
🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)
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- Tawḥīd: Oneness of Allah — the foundation of Islam
- Shirk: Associating partners with Allah — the greatest sin
- Īmān: Faith = Belief (qalb) + Declaration (lisan) + Action (arba’n)
- Taqwā: Piety — awareness of Allah in all actions
- Ṣalāh: Formal prayer — the most visible pillar of Islam
- Zakāh: Obligatory charity — purifying wealth
- Jannah/Nār: Paradise/Hell — the final reckoning
- ⚡ Exam tip: The root system of Arabic makes vocabulary learning systematic. When you see an unfamiliar word, identify its three-letter root and compare to known words with the same root.
🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)
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The 99 Names of Allah (أسماء الله الحسنى)
The Quran states: “And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them” (Al-A’raf 7:180). Here are the most important Names tested in the Qimiyah:
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| الله | Allāh | The God (personal name of the Divine) |
| الرحمن | Ar-Raḥmān | The Most Gracious |
| الرحيم | Ar-Raḥīm | The Most Merciful |
| الملك | Al-Malik | The King; The Sovereign |
| القدوس | Al-Quddūs | The Most Holy |
| السلام | As-Salām | The Source of Peace |
| المؤمن | Al-Mu’min | The Guarantor; The Faithful |
| المهيمن | Al-Muhaymin | The Guardian; The Preserver |
| العزيز | Al-‘Azīz | The Almighty; The Most Honourable |
| الجبار | Al-Jabbār | The Compeller; The Restorer |
| المتكبر | Al-Mutakabbir | The Supreme; The Majestic |
| الخالق | Al-Khāliq | The Creator |
| البارئ | Al-Bāri’ | The Originator |
| المصور | Al-Muṣawwir | The Fashioner |
| الغفار | Al-Ghaffār | The Much-Forgiving |
| القهار | Al-Qahhār | The Dominant |
| الوهاب | Al-Wahhāb | The Bestower |
| الرزاق | Ar-Razzāq | The Provider |
| الفتاح | Al-Fattāḥ | The Opener; The Judge |
| العليم | Al-‘Alīm | The All-Knowing |
| القابض | Al-Qābiḍ | The Withholder |
| الباسط | Al-Bāsiṭ | The Extender |
| الخافض | Al-Khāfiḍ | The Abaser |
| الرافع | Ar-Rāfi’ | The Exalter |
| المعز | Al-Mu’izz | The Giver of Honour |
| المذل | Al-Mudhill | The Giver of Dishonour |
| السميع | As-Samī’ | The All-Hearing |
| البصير | Al-Baṣīr | The All-Seeing |
| الحاكم | Al-Ḥākim | The Judge |
| العدل | Al-‘Adl | The Just |
| اللطيف | Al-Laṭīf | The Subtle; The Courteous |
| الخبير | Al-Khabīr | The Aware |
| الحليم | Al-Ḥalīm | The Forbearing |
| العظيم | Al-‘Aẓīm | The Great |
| الغفور | Al-Ghafūr | The Forgiving |
| الشكور | Ash-Shakūr | The Grateful |
| العلي | Al-‘Aliyy | The Most High |
| الكبير | Al-Kabīr | The Most Great |
| الحفيظ | Al-Ḥafīẓ | The Protector |
| المقيت | Al-Muqīt | The Sustainer |
| الجليل | Al-Jalīl | The Majestic |
| الكريم | Al-Karīm | The Generous |
| الرقيب | Ar-Raqīb | The Watcher |
| المجيب | Al-Mujīb | The Responsive |
| الواسع | Al-Wāsi’ | The Wide; The All-Embracing |
| الحكيم | Al-Ḥakīm | The Wise |
| الودود | Al-Wadūd | The Loving |
| المجيد | Al-Majīd | The Glorious |
| الباعث | Al-Bā’ith | The Resurrector |
| الشهيد | Ash-Shahīd | The Witness |
| الحق | Al-Ḥaqq | The Truth; The Real |
| الوكيل | Al-Wakīl | The Trustee; The Disposer of Affairs |
| القوي | Al-Qawiyy | The Strong |
| المتين | Al-Matīn | The Firm; The Steadfast |
| الولي | Al-Walī | The Friend; The Protector |
| الحميد | Al-Ḥamīd | The Praiseworthy |
| المصير | Al-Maṣīr | The End; The Final Destination |
| الواحد | Al-Wāḥid | The One |
| الصمد | Aṣ-Ṣamad | The Eternal; The Self-Sufficient |
| القادر | Al-Qādir | The Capable |
| المقتدر | Al-Muqaddar | The Powerful |
| المقدم | Al-Muqaddim | The Expediter; The Promoter |
| المؤخر | Al-Mu’akhkhir | The Delayer |
| الأول | Al-Awwal | The First |
| الآخرة | Al-Ākhir | The Last |
| الظاهر | Aẓ-Ẓāhir | The Manifest |
| الباطن | Al-Bāṭin | The Hidden |
| الوارث | Al-Wārith | The Inheritor |
| البر | Al-Barr | The Source of Goodness |
| التواب | At-Tawwāb | The Acceptor of Repentance |
| المنتقم | Al-Muntaqim | The Avenger |
| العفو | Al-‘Afū | The Pardoner |
| الرؤوف | Ar-Ra’ūf | The Kind |
| ذا惩戒 | Dhū al-Jalāl wa al-Ikrām | Possessor of Glory and Bounty |
| مقيم | Muqīm | The Maintainer; The Establisher |
| الشاكور | Ash-Shākūr | The Grateful |
| جبار | Jabbār | The Restorer |
| مانع | Māni’ | The Withholder |
| ذو القوة | Dhū al-Quwwah | Possessor of Strength |
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The Categories of Tawhid
Tawhid is not merely a statement of belief but a comprehensive framework:
1. Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (توحيد الألوهية): Affirming that Allah alone deserves worship. No creature has the right to be worshipped except Allah.
2. Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (توحيد الربوبية): Affirming that Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and Maintainer of all creation.
3. Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat (توحيد الأسماء والصفات): Affirming that Allah’s names and attributes belong to Him alone, without distortion, denial, or likening (tashbih).
Key Theological Terms Related to Tawhid
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| تشبيه | Tashbīh | Likening Allah to creation (forbidden) |
| تعطيل | Ta’ṭīl | Denial of Allah’s attributes (forbidden) |
| تفصيل | Tafsīl | Detailed affirmation of attributes |
| تأويل | Ta’wīl | Interpretation of ambiguous texts |
| تنزيه | Tanzīh | Exaltation of Allah above creation |
The Quran on Allah’s Attributes
Key Quranic verses about Allah’s nature:
- “الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى” (Ar-Raḥmānu ‘alā al-‘arshi is’tawā) — “The Most Gracious rose above the Throne” (Taha 20:5) — establishing Allah’s sovereignty
- “لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ” (laysa ka-mith’lihi shay’) — “There is nothing like unto Him” (Ash-Shura 42:11) — the foundation of tanzīh
- “وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ” (wa Huwa as-Samī’ al-Baṣīr) — “And He is the Hearing, the Seeing” — both attributes together emphasize Allah’s awareness
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