GLOSSARY OF ISLAMIC TERMS

Compiled by Ishaq Zahid

Copyright ©1998-2003 Sound Vision All rights reserved.

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Bab Al-Raiyan

The name of one of the gates of Heavens (Jannah) through which the people who often observe fasting will enter on the Day of  Judgement.

Badr

Site of the first great battle between Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the pagans of the Quraish in 2 A.H. Badr is located about 150 kilometers south of Madinah (Saudi Arabia). The Muslim army consisted of 313 men and the Quraish had a total of about 1,000 soldiers, archers and horsemen. See Holy Quran, Al-Anfal (8:5-19, 42-48), Ale Imran (3:13).

 Bahimah

Bahimah (plural baha'im) signifies every quadruped animal (of  which the beasts of prey are excluded). Bahimah thus refers to goats, sheep, and cows.

Baitul Mal

An Islamic treasury intended for the benefit of the Muslims and the Islamic state and not for the leaders or the wealthy.

Baitul Maqdis

Al-Aqsa Mosque, the famous Masjid in Al-Quds (Jerusalem). It was the first Qiblah of Islam. Then Allah Ta'ala ordered Muslims to face the first House of Allah, the Ka'aba, at Makkah (Saudi Arabia). Baitul Maqdis is the third greatest Masjid in the Islamic world, the first being the Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah, and the second being the Masjid al-Rasool (the Mosque of the Prophet (S.A.W.)). It is from the surroundings of Baitul Maqdis that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) ascended to heaven. See Holy Quran, Al-Isra (17:1).

Bakka

Another name for Makkah. See Holy Quran, Ale Imran (3:96).

Al-Baqi'

A cemetry in Madinah. Many of the Sahabiyeen (companions) and family members of the Prophet (S.A.W.) are buried here.

Barzakh

Literally means partition or barrier. In Islamic terminology it usually means the life in the grave, because the life in thegrave is the interspace between the life on earth and the life in the Hereafter. Life in the Barzakh is real, but very different from life as we know it. Its exact nature is known only to allah Ta'ala. It is during our life in the Barzakh that we will be asked about Allah, our faith and the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.). We will also be shown the Jannah (the Heavens) and the Nar (the Hell) and which of these two places we will occupy after we are judged.

 Bid'a

Any innovated practice introduced in the religion of allah. the Prophet (S.A.W.) said that every Bid'a is a deviation from the true path and every deviation leads to Hellfire.

Bismillah Hir Rehman Nir Rahim

"In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Mericful." This utterance is usually made by every Muslim who is about to embark on something lawful (Halal), regardless of the magnitude of the task. This is also the first verse of Surah Al-Fatehah (Chapter 1) of the Holy Quran.

 Buhtan

A false accusation, calumny, slander.