Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with over 1.8 billion followers. As a religion that has spread to many different countries and cultures, it has had a significant impact on the English language. Islamic words and phrases have become a part of the English language and are used by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. From religious terms to everyday phrases, understanding Islamic words can provide insight into Islamic beliefs and culture. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common Islamic words in English and their meanings.
How do Muslims say hello?
Muslims use a variety of greetings depending on their culture and language. However, the most common greeting among Muslims is “As-salamu alaykum” (السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ), which translates to “Peace be upon you” in English.
The response to this greeting is “Wa alaykum as-salam” (وَعَلَيْكُمْ السَّلَامُ), which means “And peace be upon you too”. This greeting is used not only when meeting someone for the first time but also in any situation where one person wants to greet another, such as when entering or leaving a home, a workplace, or a mosque.
It is worth noting that the greeting “As-salamu alaykum” is also used by non-Muslims in some Muslim-majority countries as a form of respect and to show appreciation for the culture and customs of the region.
Islamic Words and Meanings
Allah – The name of God in Islam.
Islam – The religion practiced by Muslims.
Muslim – A follower of the religion of Islam.
Prophet – A person who speaks on behalf of God and conveys His message to people.
Quran – The holy book of Islam, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Hadith – The collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Sunnah – The way of life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Shahada – The Islamic declaration of faith, which states that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His messenger.
Salah – The ritual prayer performed by Muslims five times a day.
Zakat – The Islamic obligation to give a portion of one’s wealth to the needy.
Sawm – The fast observed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj – The pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required of all able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime.
Mecca – The holy city in Saudi Arabia, where the Kaaba is located.
Kaaba – The most sacred site in Islam, located in Mecca.
Medina – The city in Saudi Arabia where the Prophet Muhammad migrated to and established the first Islamic community.
Hijrah – The migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.
Ummah – The Muslim community as a whole.
Imam – The person who leads the prayer in a mosque.
Ayat – A verse of the Quran.
Surah – A chapter of the Quran.
Jannah – Paradise or heaven in Islam.
Jahannam – Hell in Islam.
Ramadan – The month in which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset.
Eid al-Fitr – The festival that marks the end of Ramadan.
Eid al-Adha – The festival that commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
Halal – Permissible or lawful according to Islamic law.
Haram – Forbidden or unlawful according to Islamic law.
Wudu – The ritual washing of the face, hands, and feet before prayer.
Ghusl – The full-body washing performed after sexual intercourse or menstruation.
Tayammum – The ritual cleansing with dust or sand when water is not available.
Fitnah – Trials or tribulations that test one’s faith.
Shirk – The sin of associating partners with Allah.
Tawheed – The Islamic belief in the oneness of God.
Bismillah – The phrase “in the name of Allah,” which is said before beginning any action.
Insha’Allah – The phrase “if Allah wills,” which is used to express hope or uncertainty about the future.
Alhamdulillah – The phrase “praise be to Allah,” is used to express gratitude.
SubhanAllah – The phrase “glory be to Allah,” which is used to express wonder or amazement.
Allahu Akbar – The phrase “Allah is the greatest,” which is used to express praise or to emphasize the greatness of Allah.
Masha’Allah – The phrase “as Allah has willed,” which is used to express admiration or approval.
Astaghfirullah – The phrase “I seek forgiveness from Allah,” which is used to ask for forgiveness.
Khutbah – The sermon given by the Imam during Friday prayers.
Jummah – The congregational prayer that Muslims perform on Fridays.
Qiblah – The direction of the Kaaba, towards which Muslims face during prayer.
Takbir – The phrase “Allahu Akbar,” which is said to begin the prayer.
Tasbih – The act of saying “SubhanAllah” repeatedly, which is a form of remembrance of Allah.
Salat al-Janazah – The funeral prayer performed for a deceased Muslim.
Zikr – The remembrance of Allah through recitation, meditation, or prayer.
Iman – Faith or belief in Islam.
Kufr – Disbelief or rejection of Islam.
Fard – An obligatory act in Islam.
Sunnah mu’akkadah – A highly recommended act in Islam.
Sunnah ghair mu’akkadah – A recommended act in Islam.
Mustahabb – A desirable act in Islam.
Makruh – A disliked act in Islam.
Haram al-makruh – An act that is forbidden but less severe than a haram act.
Tafsir – The interpretation of the Quran.
Ijtihad – The process of deriving Islamic laws from the Quran and Hadith.
Fiqh – Islamic jurisprudence.
Fatwa – A legal opinion issued by a Muslim scholar.
Mufti – A Muslim scholar who issues fatwas.
Hadith qudsi – A Hadith in which Allah speaks directly to the Prophet Muhammad.
Tawassul – Seeking the help of Allah through the Prophet Muhammad or other pious people.
Taqwa – Fear of Allah and consciousness of one’s actions.
Sabr – Patience and perseverance in the face of hardship.
Tawakkul – Trust in Allah.
Taubah – Repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah.
Hikmah – Wisdom and understanding.
Adab – Etiquette and manners.
Akhlaq – Ethics and morals.
Fadl – Virtue and excellence.
Ihsan – Excellence in worship and good deeds.
Ilm – Knowledge.
Islamic Words List
Here is a list of 90+ Islamic Words in English.
- Barakah
- Quraysh
- Hijab
- Salah/Salat
- Assalamu Alaikum
- Bismillah
- Khalifah
- Sahaba
- Wudu
- Jinn
- Dunya
- Alhamdulillah
- Dhikr
- Jihad
- Jazak Allahu Khair/Khayrun
- Shukran
- Sheikh
- Subhanallah
- Kafir
- Haram
- Allah
- Malak
- Umrah
- Mashallah
- Rakat
- Halal
- Ummah
- Maghreb
- Qibla
- Jannah
- Islam
- Muslim
- Surah
- PBUH
- Nabi
- Fard
- Rukoo
- Eid
- Masjid
- La Ilaha Illalah
- Dua
- Tawaf
- Athan
- Dhuhr
- Caliph
- Sabr
- Audhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim
- Awrah
- Shahadah
- Salam
- Jumu’ah
- Hafiz
- Ibadah
- Hadith
- Hajj
- Fajr
- Mahram
- Aya
- Waalaikum Salam
- Iftar
- Imam
- Juz
- Ghusl
- Eid Al-Fitr
- Shaitaan
- Iman
- Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
- Insha’Allah
- Isha’
- Iqamah
- Mabrook
- Jahannam
- Ka’bah
- Asr
- Deen
- Qur’an
- Zakah
- Allahu Akbar
- Dawah
- Wallah
- Mustahab
- Tawheed
- Taqwa
- Ramadan
- Eid Al-Adha
- Astaghfirullah
- Khutbah
- Niyyah
- Akhirah
- Fatwa
- Sujood
Learn: Daily use english vocabulary with meaning
Islamic Words in English | Images
Download Islamic Vocabulary Pdf
Dates Of Holidays And Other Days Of Note
| Hijri date | Holiday name |
| 13 Rajab | Birthday of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib[a] |
| 20 or 21 Ṣafar[b] | Arbaʽeen[a] |
| 24 Dhū al-Ḥijja | Eid al-Mubahalah[a] |
| 18 Dhū al-Ḥijja | Eid al-Ghadeer[a] |
| 21, 23, 25, 27, or 29 Ramaḍān[f] | Laylat al-Qadr |
| 26 Rajab or 27 Rajab[e] | Laylat al-Mi’raj |
| 12 Rabī‘ al-Awwal | Mawlid an-Nabī |
| 9 Rabī‘ al-Awwal | Eid-e-Shuja’ (Eid-e-Zahra)[c] |
| 9 Dhū al-Ḥijja | Day of Arafah |
| 8–13 Dhū al-Ḥijja | Hajj |
| 10 Dhū al-Ḥijja | Eid al-Adha |
| 1 Ramaḍān | First day of Ramaḍān |
| 1 Shawwāl | Eid al-Fitr |
| 15 Sha‘bān | Birthday of Hujjat-Allah al-Mahdī[c] |
| 10 Muḥarram | Ashura |
| 1 Muḥarram | Islamic New Year |
| 15 Sha‘bān | Laylat al-Bara’at |
| 29 or 30 Ramaḍān[h] | Chaand Raat[g] |
Islamic words with meaning video lesson
