Iftar
the breaking of the day’s fast after sundown, literally ‘breakfast’ in Arabic
Ihram
a ban, the opposite of ihlal. It is the sacred state of dedication in which pilgrims wear simple, white cloth during the Hajj or the Umrah. Women wear a simple dress.
Iiteqaaf
staying in the mosque for a period longer than the prayers or sermons last.
‘Ilm
knowledge
Imam
leader, exemplary figure; leader of prayers
Iqamat
stand up, receive; proclamation prior to prayer
‘Ishaa
late evening prayer; part of the ritual prayer (salat)
Ishraq
to enlighten; also the name of the morning prayer after sunrise
Jamaat
the community of a mosque
Jamarat
symbolic stoning of the devil
Kalima
the creed of faith
Khutbah
sermon in a mosque
Kiswah
the black material, decorated with brocade, that covers the Kaaba
Kurta Pyjama
Indian Muslims’ traditional dress. Consists of wide trousers and a long shirt
Labbeik Allahumma, Labbeik;Labbeik, La Sharika Laka, Labbeik; Innal hamda Wal Nimata Laka Wal Mulk; Laa Sharika Lak
Here I am, O’ God, at Thy Command! Here I am at Thy command! Thou art without other; Here I am at Thy Command! Praise, blessings and dominion are Thine! Thou art without associate
Mabruk (Mubarak)
happy one, blessed one, blessings, congratulations
Maghrib
prayer after sunset; part of the ritual prayer (salat)
Mashallah
literally God’s will; also an expression of one’s own sense of wonder or contentment
Madrassa
Qur’anic school for the education of children and youth
Miqat
the areas bordering Mecca where the pilgrim must be in ihram
Muezzin
mosque official who calls the faithful to prayer – in days gone by from the minaret, now over a loudspeaker
Mufti
an ‘alim with scholarly knowledge of Islamic law (Shariah)
Qibla
the direction of Mecca, indicated by the mihrab, a vaulted niche in a mosque
Raqa’t
a segment of the daily prayers, a ritual cycle
Sa’ee
the running of seven stretches between the hills of Safa and Marwah in a re-enactment of Hagar’s search for water and food
Sahib (Sahabah pl.)
friend, companion; mostly used when referring to companions of the Prophet (pbuh)
Salat
the ritual prayer, comprising fajr, zohr, ‘asr, maghrib and ‘esha
Sallallahu alaiha wa-sallam
peace be upon him, abbreviated as (pbuh)
Sharif
noble, gentle, honourable; originally a descendent of the Prophet (pbuh); in the wider sense the ruling family in Mecca from around 1200 to 1924
Sheikh (Sheika f.)
officer, male or female, respected for his or her knowledge and wisdom
Shirk
polytheism, animism
Subhanallah
God be praised
Tabliqh Jamaat
founded in 1926 in the Old City of Delhi, it is the largest mass movement and preaching groups to the present day
Tafsir
interpretation and the scholarly exegeses of the Qur’an
Tarawih
recitation of the entire Qur’an during the evening prayers of Ramadan
Tashahhud
concluding formulation in any ritual prayer
Tawaf
the seven rounds performed around the Kaaba
‘ulama
plural of ‘alim
Ummah
the community of all Muslims
Umrah
to visit Mecca; the small pilgrimage which can be performed in outside the Hajj season
Wazu
ritual washing prior to prayer
Zikr
remembrance, thoughts of God
Zohr
prayer at noon; part of the ritual prayer
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Mumbai to Mecca Page 11