Terms starting with F

The 113th chapter of the Quran (5 verses), "The Daybreak". The first of the two "seeking-refuge" surahs (Mu'awwidhatayn), against external harms.

The dawn prayer, performed between the appearance of true dawn (Subh as-Sadiq) and sunrise; the first of the five daily prayers.

Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d. 1210 CE), a major theologian and exegete whose vast Quranic commentary (Mafatih al-Ghayb) engages philosophy and the sciences.

Islamic philosophy — the tradition of reasoned inquiry into existence, the soul, and ethics, developed by thinkers such as al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and Ibn Rushd.

The "passing away" of the ego's self-centred awareness, so that the seeker is absorbed in consciousness of God alone.

An obligatory act in Islam, established by definitive scriptural evidence. Denial of a Fard is a matter of faith; abandoning one is a major sin. Includes the five daily prayers, Ramadan fasting, Zakat, and Hajj.

The Prophet's only Hajj (632 CE), during which he delivered the Farewell Sermon affirming human equality, sanctity of life, and the completion of the religion.

The beloved daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, called "az-Zahra" (the Radiant). Wife of Ali and mother of Hasan and Husayn; a leader of the women of Paradise.

An Ismaili Shia caliphate (909-1171 CE) ruling North Africa and Egypt, which founded Cairo and the al-Azhar mosque.

A formal legal opinion issued by a qualified scholar (mufti) in response to a question. Clarifies the Islamic ruling but is not binding like a court verdict.

Compensation of feeding a poor person for each missed fast, prescribed for those permanently unable to fast — such as the chronically ill or the very elderly.

A contemporary field of jurisprudence addressing the questions and circumstances of Muslims living as minorities in non-Muslim-majority countries.

The branch of Islamic jurisprudence governing commercial and financial transactions — contracts, trade, partnerships, and the rules of lawful earning.

The first Muslim civil war (656-661 CE), beginning after the killing of Caliph Uthman, which divided the community and reshaped its political future.

The natural disposition — the innate inclination toward recognizing Allah and the truth with which every human is born; corrupted only by environment.

Processing additives, often labelled with E-numbers, whose halal status depends on their origin; a major focus of contemporary halal scrutiny.

The "branches" of jurisprudence — the detailed, practical rulings of worship and dealings, as distinct from usul al-fiqh (the roots or methodology).

Obligatory charity given before the Eid al-Fitr prayer: a measure of staple food per person that purifies the fast and feeds the poor on Eid.