Glossary · Miftah Islamiyat

ahad آحَاد hadith

A report below the mutawatir level of transmission; it may still be sahih, hasan or da‘if.
Introduced in P2-HADH-07 Testing the matn, and the classification sahih, hasan and da‘if (with mutawatir and ahad)

al-Hayy ٱلْحَىّ belief

The Living. A name of Allah meaning that His life is eternal, without beginning or end, and unlike created life.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

al-Kutub al-Arba‘a ٱلْكُتُب ٱلْأَرْبَعَة hadith

The four principal Twelver Shi‘a Hadith collections.
Introduced in P2-HADH-10 The four Shi‘a collections and differences of method

al-Qayyum ٱلْقَيُّوم belief

The Self-Subsisting or Self-Sustaining. A name of Allah meaning that He depends on nothing, while all creation depends on Him for its continued existence.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

Allah ٱللَّه belief

The Arabic name for the one God, used by Arabic-speaking Muslims, Christians and Jews. The syllabus uses both 'Allah' and 'God'; either is acceptable in the examination.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

Ansar ٱلْأَنْصَار people

The Helpers — the Muslims of Madina who received and supported the Emigrants.
Introduced in P1-COM-00 Who made up the first Islamic community? Muhajirun, Ansar and the Ahl al-Bayt

aya آيَة quran

A verse of the Qur'an. The word also means 'a sign'. Plural: ayat.
Introduced in P1-QUR-00 How to study a set passage: Arabic, translation, theme and importance

Bayt al-mal بَيْت ٱلْمَال government

The public treasury holding revenue for communal responsibilities.
Introduced in P2-CAL-06 ‘Umar: administrative reforms and the organisation of the state

bay‘a بَيْعَة caliphate

A pledge recognising and supporting a leader.
Introduced in P2-CAL-00 The succession after the Prophet ﷺ: Saqifa and the meaning of "khalifa"

dabt ضَبْط hadith

Accuracy and precision in a narrator’s memory or written preservation.
Introduced in P2-HADH-06 Testing the isnad: continuity, character and memory

da‘if ضَعِيف hadith

Weak. A Hadith with a break in the chain or a transmitter whose reliability is in question. Not used to establish law.
Introduced in P2-HADH-07 Testing the matn, and the classification sahih, hasan and da‘if (with mutawatir and ahad)

diwan دِيوَان government

An administrative register, notably for military stipends and service.
Introduced in P2-CAL-06 ‘Umar: administrative reforms and the organisation of the state

fiqh فِقْه law

Human understanding and application of Islamic legal guidance; it can contain legitimate scholarly disagreement.
Introduced in P1-QURH-10 The Qur'an in legal thinking: Qur'an, Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas

First Fitna ٱلْفِتْنَة ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ history

The first major Muslim civil war following the killing of ‘Uthman.
Introduced in P2-CAL-11 Opposition to ‘Uthman: the accusations, the siege and his death

Hadith حَدِيث hadith

A transmitted report about a saying, action, approval or description connected with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Introduced in P2-HADH-00 Hadith and Sunna: what the terms mean and how they differ

hajj حَجّ practice

The pilgrimage to Makka, obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is able. The fifth Pillar of Islam.
Introduced in P2-PIL-13 Hajj: preparation, ihram, the miqat and arrival in Makka

hasan حَسَن hadith

Good. A Hadith that meets most but not all the conditions of sahih, usually because a transmitter's memory was slightly weaker.
Introduced in P2-HADH-07 Testing the matn, and the classification sahih, hasan and da‘if (with mutawatir and ahad)

Hijra هِجْرَة history

The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims from Makka to Madina in 622 CE. The Islamic calendar dates from this year.
Introduced in P1-SIR-14 The Hijra: the events of the migration to Madina

ijma‘ إِجْمَاع law

Consensus — the agreement of qualified scholars on a point of law. The third source of Islamic law after the Qur'an and the Sunna.
Introduced in P1-QURH-10 The Qur'an in legal thinking: Qur'an, Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas

isnad إِسْنَاد hadith

The chain of transmitters of a Hadith — the list of people who passed the report on, one to the next, back to the Prophet ﷺ.
Introduced in P2-HADH-01 The parts of a Hadith: isnad and matn

jarh wa ta‘dil جَرْح وَتَعْدِيل hadith

The critical evaluation of narrators: identifying relevant defects and affirming reliability.
Introduced in P2-HADH-05 The journeys of the scholars and the science of narrator criticism

Jibril جِبْرِيل belief

The angel through whom revelation was brought to the prophets, known in English as Gabriel.
Introduced in P1-QURH-00 What "revelation" means in Islam: wahy, the Qur'an as the speech of Allah

jihad جِهَاد belief

Struggle or striving in the way of Allah. It covers spiritual, moral, intellectual and social struggle as well as, under strict conditions, physical struggle. The syllabus requires all of these meanings.
Introduced in P2-FAI-08 Jihad: the meaning of the word and the greater struggle

jizya جِزْيَة government

A historical poll tax applied in particular legal contexts to eligible non-Muslim adult males, with obligations and exemptions.
Introduced in P2-CAL-07 ‘Umar: welfare, justice, and relations with conquered peoples

khalifa خَلِيفَة caliphate

A successor or deputy in political leadership; after the Prophet ﷺ, not a new prophet.
Introduced in P2-CAL-00 The succession after the Prophet ﷺ: Saqifa and the meaning of "khalifa"

kharaj خَرَاج government

Historical land revenue associated with productive conquered territory.
Introduced in P2-CAL-06 ‘Umar: administrative reforms and the organisation of the state

Kharijites ٱلْخَوَارِج history

A historical movement emerging from secession from ‘Ali’s coalition; the label should not be used casually for modern disagreement.
Introduced in P2-CAL-13 Siffin, the arbitration, and the emergence of the Kharijites

kursi كُرْسِىّ belief

Usually translated 'Throne' or 'Footstool'. In Sura 2.255 it is an image of Allah's sovereignty extending over the heavens and the earth. Muslims affirm the word without claiming to know its exact nature.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

Kutub al-Sitta ٱلْكُتُب ٱلسِّتَّة hadith

The six major Sunni Hadith collections.
Introduced in P2-HADH-09 The six Sunni collections and their compilers

Madinan مَدَنِيّ quran

Revelation received after the Hijra, regardless of the physical location where it was revealed.
Introduced in P1-QURH-03 Makkan and Madinan revelation: features, purposes and how to tell them apart

Makkan مَكِّيّ quran

Revelation received before the Hijra, regardless of the physical location where it was revealed.
Introduced in P1-QURH-03 Makkan and Madinan revelation: features, purposes and how to tell them apart

matn مَتْن hadith

The text of a Hadith — the actual words of the report, as distinct from its chain of transmission.
Introduced in P2-HADH-01 The parts of a Hadith: isnad and matn

mawdu‘ مَوْضُوع hadith

Fabricated: a report invented and falsely attributed to the Prophet ﷺ or another authority.
Introduced in P2-HADH-04 Why Hadiths were collected: expansion, distance, and fabricated reports

muhaddith مُحَدِّث hadith

A specialist scholar of Hadith transmission, collection and criticism.
Introduced in P2-HADH-05 The journeys of the scholars and the science of narrator criticism

Muhajirun ٱلْمُهَاجِرُون people

The Emigrants — the Muslims who migrated from Makka to Madina.
Introduced in P1-COM-00 Who made up the first Islamic community? Muhajirun, Ansar and the Ahl al-Bayt

musannaf مُصَنَّف hadith

A classified Hadith collection arranged by subject or legal chapter.
Introduced in P2-HADH-08 Musnad and musannaf: two ways of organising a collection

mushaf مُصْحَف quran

A physical written codex containing the Qur’anic text. Plural: masahif.
Introduced in P1-QURH-06 The arrangement of the Qur'an: suras, ayat, juz', and the order of revelation

musnad مُسْنَد hadith

A Hadith collection arranged mainly by Companion or earliest narrator.
Introduced in P2-HADH-08 Musnad and musannaf: two ways of organising a collection

mutawatir مُتَوَاتِر hadith

A report transmitted through numerous independent routes at every relevant level, making deliberate collusion implausible.
Introduced in P2-HADH-07 Testing the matn, and the classification sahih, hasan and da‘if (with mutawatir and ahad)

Nahrawan ٱلنَّهْرَوَان history

The 658 CE confrontation between ‘Ali’s forces and violent Kharijite militants.
Introduced in P2-CAL-14 ‘Ali: administration, character, Nahrawan, death and significance

qada' قَضَاء practice

A prayer or fast performed later to make up for one that was missed.
Introduced in P2-PIL-05 Salat: private prayer, delayed and combined prayer, and exemptions

qadar قَدَر belief

Divine decree — Allah's knowledge and determination of all that happens. The fifth Article of Faith.
Introduced in P2-FAI-05 Belief in predestination and divine decree: al-qada' wa-l-qadar

qira’at قِرَاءَات quran

Recognised canonical modes of Qur’anic recitation transmitted through qualified chains.
Introduced in P1-QURH-09 Preservation and transmission from ‘Uthman's copies to today

qisas قِصَاص law

Lawful retaliation or due punishment for killing, requiring authority, evidence and process.
Introduced in P2-CAL-12 ‘Ali: accession and the beginning of the First Fitna; the Battle of the Camel

qiyas قِيَاس law

Analogy — extending a ruling from a case named in the Qur'an or Sunna to a new case that shares the same underlying reason. The fourth source of Islamic law. Often confused with ijma‘; they are different.
Introduced in P1-QURH-10 The Qur'an in legal thinking: Qur'an, Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas

rawi رَاوِي hadith

A narrator or transmitter in a Hadith chain.
Introduced in P2-HADH-01 The parts of a Hadith: isnad and matn

Ridda رِدَّة caliphate

The post-Prophetic rebellions and secessions, whose religious, political and fiscal motives varied.
Introduced in P2-CAL-02 The Ridda Wars and the false prophets

rule of law سِيَادَة ٱلْقَانُون government

The principle that public officials and citizens are accountable to publicly known law.
Introduced in P2-CAL-16 Models for government today: value, limits and relations with other states

sadaqa صَدَقَة practice

Voluntary charity, given at any time and in any amount. Not the same as zakat, which is obligatory and calculated. A commonly examined distinction.
Introduced in P2-PIL-08 Zakat: the recipients, and the difference between zakat and sadaqa

sahifa صَحِيفَة hadith

A sheet or small written collection of reports; plural suhuf.
Introduced in P2-HADH-03 Oral preservation and the earliest written records

sahih صَحِيح hadith

Sound. A Hadith with a continuous chain of reliable, accurate transmitters and a text free of defect.
Introduced in P2-HADH-07 Testing the matn, and the classification sahih, hasan and da‘if (with mutawatir and ahad)

salat صَلَاة practice

The five daily obligatory prayers. The second Pillar of Islam.
Introduced in P2-PIL-02 Salat: purification — wudu, ghusl, tayammum — and the conditions of prayer

Saqifa سَقِيفَة caliphate

The meeting place of Banu Sa‘ida associated with the first succession discussion.
Introduced in P2-CAL-00 The succession after the Prophet ﷺ: Saqifa and the meaning of "khalifa"

sawm صَوْم practice

Fasting, especially during the month of Ramadan. The fourth Pillar of Islam.
Introduced in P2-PIL-10 Sawm: Ramadan, intention and the daily observance

shafa‘a شَفَاعَة belief

Intercession — pleading on someone's behalf. Ayat al-Kursi states that no one intercedes with Allah except by His permission.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

shahada شَهَادَة practice

The declaration of faith: that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The first Pillar of Islam.
Introduced in P2-PIL-01 Shahada: wording, meaning and what it commits a Muslim to

Siffin صِفِّين history

The 657 CE battle between forces of ‘Ali and Mu‘awiya.
Introduced in P2-CAL-13 Siffin, the arbitration, and the emergence of the Kharijites

suhuf صُحُف quran

Written sheets or leaves; in Qur’an history, the verified collection made under Abu Bakr and later kept by Hafsa.
Introduced in P1-QURH-06 The arrangement of the Qur'an: suras, ayat, juz', and the order of revelation

Sunna سُنَّة hadith

The example of the Prophet ﷺ — what he said, did, and approved of. Hadiths are the reports that record the Sunna.
Introduced in P2-HADH-00 Hadith and Sunna: what the terms mean and how they differ

Sura سُورَة quran

A chapter of the Qur'an. There are 114 suras. Plural: suras.
Introduced in P1-QUR-00 How to study a set passage: Arabic, translation, theme and importance

taqrir تَقْرِير hadith

A Prophetic approval, including an action known to the Prophet ﷺ that he did not forbid.
Introduced in P2-HADH-00 Hadith and Sunna: what the terms mean and how they differ

tawatur تَوَاتُر quran

Transmission through many independent channels such that deliberate collective fabrication is considered impossible.
Introduced in P1-QURH-09 Preservation and transmission from ‘Uthman's copies to today

tawhid تَوْحِيد belief

The absolute oneness and uniqueness of Allah: that He has no partner, no equal and no offspring. The central doctrine of Islam.
Introduced in P1-QUR-01 Sura 2.255 — Ayat al-Kursi: the living, self-subsisting God

wahy وَحْى quran

Revelation — the process by which Allah communicated the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, chiefly through the angel Jibril.
Introduced in P1-QURH-00 What "revelation" means in Islam: wahy, the Qur'an as the speech of Allah

Yamama ٱلْيَمَامَة history

Region and battle in which Musaylima’s movement was defeated in 632/633 CE.
Introduced in P2-CAL-02 The Ridda Wars and the false prophets

zakat زَكَاة practice

The obligatory annual payment on qualifying wealth, distributed to defined categories of recipients. The third Pillar of Islam. Distinct from sadaqa.
Introduced in P2-PIL-07 Zakat: meaning, eligible wealth and how it is calculated

‘adala عَدَالَة hadith

Moral uprightness and trustworthiness required of a reliable narrator.
Introduced in P2-HADH-06 Testing the isnad: continuity, character and memory

‘illa عِلَّة law

The effective cause or legally relevant reason connecting an established ruling to a new case in qiyas.
Introduced in P1-QURH-10 The Qur'an in legal thinking: Qur'an, Hadith, ijma‘ and qiyas