Terms starting with I

The 112th chapter of the Quran (4 verses), "Sincerity / Purity". A concise declaration of pure monotheism, said to equal a third of the Quran.

A spiritual retreat in the mosque devoted to worship, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan.

A distinct branch of Islam, neither Sunni nor Shia, dominant in Oman. It traces to the early Kharijite movement but developed moderate doctrines of its own.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 1350 CE), the foremost student of Ibn Taymiyyah, a prolific writer on spirituality, law, and the soul.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 1449 CE), the great hadith authority whose Fath al-Bari is the foremost commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari.

Isma'il ibn Kathir (d. 1373 CE), a historian and exegete whose Tafsir Ibn Kathir is among the most widely read commentaries on the Quran.

Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun (d. 1406 CE), a historian and statesman regarded as a founder of sociology and historiography through his Muqaddimah.

Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah (d. 1223 CE), a leading Hanbali jurist whose al-Mughni is a monumental encyclopedia of comparative Islamic law.

Ibn Rushd (d. 1198 CE), an Andalusian Maliki jurist, physician, and philosopher whose commentaries on Aristotle deeply influenced European thought.

Ibn Sina (d. 1037 CE), a Persian polymath, physician, and philosopher whose Canon of Medicine was a standard medical text in East and West for centuries.

Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1328 CE), an influential Hanbali theologian and jurist known for his prolific writings and calls to reform; a much-discussed figure.

The waiting period a woman observes after divorce or her husband's death before she may remarry, to confirm absence of pregnancy and allow for reconciliation.

Merging — assimilating a non-voweled noon or tanween into a following letter so they are pronounced as one emphasized letter. A core rule of noon sakinah.

The meal that breaks the fast at Maghrib — the moment of sunset. Traditionally begun with dates and water, followed by prayer and the main meal. One of the two rewarded moments of the fasting person.

The sacred state for Hajj or Umrah, entered with specific intentions and white seamless garments for men; many normal acts become forbidden.

Spiritual excellence — to worship Allah as if you see Him; the highest level of faith, defined by the Prophet ﷺ in the Hadith of Jibril.

A leasing contract in which the bank buys an asset and leases it to a client for rent; ownership may transfer at the end (ijarah muntahia bittamleek).

Scholarly consensus — the agreement of qualified Muslim scholars of a given era on a religious ruling. The third source of Islamic law after Quran and Sunnah.

Independent legal reasoning — the diligent effort of a qualified scholar (mujtahid) to derive rulings on matters not explicitly addressed in the primary texts.

Concealment — pronouncing a non-voweled noon or tanween in a hidden manner with nasalization before certain letters, between full pronunciation and full merging.

Sincerity — performing all worship purely for Allah, free from showing off or worldly motives; a condition for acceptance of any deed.

The science of Islamic ethics — the study of virtues and vices and the cultivation of noble character, drawing on revelation and reflection.

The science of genealogy — tracing lineages of tribes and families, important for hadith narration, inheritance, and Arab history.

The science of Islamic creed — articulating the articles of faith concerning God, angels, books, messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree.

Islamic astronomy — the study of the heavens and celestial movements, advanced greatly by Muslim scientists and applied to religious timekeeping.

The science of Islamic inheritance — calculating the fixed shares of heirs as ordained in the Quran; praised as half of all knowledge.

The science of Islamic jurisprudence — deriving and detailing the practical rulings of worship and dealings from the sources of the Sharia.

The science of prophetic traditions — collecting, classifying, and authenticating reports of the Prophet's words, actions, and approvals.

Islamic scholastic theology — defending and expounding the doctrines of faith through reasoned argument and dialectic.

The science of the Arabic language — its vocabulary, lexicography, and meanings, used to understand the texts of revelation.

The science of timekeeping — determining the prayer times, qibla direction, and the start of lunar months through astronomical observation and calculation.

The science of the canonical variant readings of the Quran, documenting their transmission, rules, and the chains of the reciters.

The biographical science of hadith narrators — examining their lives, reliability, and dates to evaluate the soundness of chains of transmission.

The discipline of explaining and interpreting the meanings of the Quran, drawing on language, context, hadith, and the reports of the early scholars.

The science of Quranic recitation — the rules governing the correct pronunciation, articulation, and rhythm of reciting the Quran.

The Islamic science of history — recording and critically examining events, dynasties, and lives of notable figures. Pioneered by al-Tabari and Ibn Khaldun.

The science of divine oneness — studying the unity of God, His names and attributes, and the affirmation of pure monotheism.

The person who leads congregational prayer; the worshippers stand in rows behind and follow his actions.

Abu Dawud al-Sijistani (d. 889 CE), compiler of the Sunan Abi Dawud, one of the six canonical hadith collections (Kutub al-Sittah).

Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 855 CE), founder of the Hanbali school, a leading hadith scholar and author of the Musnad, famed for his steadfastness during the Mihna.

Al-Husayn ibn Mas'ud al-Baghawi (d. 1122 CE), a Shafi'i scholar of tafsir and hadith, author of Ma'alim al-Tanzil and Sharh al-Sunnah.

Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE), the greatest hadith scholar, compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari — regarded as the most authentic book after the Quran.

Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Dhahabi (d. 1348 CE), a master historian and hadith critic, author of Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, a vast biographical encyclopedia.

Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (d. 1111 CE), the "Proof of Islam", a towering theologian, jurist, and Sufi whose Ihya Ulum al-Din reshaped Islamic spirituality.

Ahmad ibn Shu'ayb al-Nasa'i (d. 915 CE), author of the Sunan al-Nasa'i, famed for the strictness of his criteria for accepting narrators.

Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi (d. 1277 CE), a Shafi'i jurist and hadith scholar famed for Riyad al-Salihin and his Forty Hadith.

Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qurtubi (d. 1273 CE), an Andalusian Maliki scholar famed for his Quranic commentary focused on legal rulings (al-Jami li-Ahkam al-Quran).

Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (d. 820 CE), founder of the Shafi'i school and author of al-Risala, the foundational text of Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh).

Ibrahim ibn Musa al-Shatibi (d. 1388 CE), an Andalusian Maliki scholar who systematised the higher objectives of the law (Maqasid) in his al-Muwafaqat.

Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 1505 CE), an exceptionally prolific Egyptian polymath who wrote hundreds of works across tafsir, hadith, and the sciences of Arabic.

Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari (d. 923 CE), historian and exegete whose monumental Tafsir and History are foundational references in Islamic scholarship.

Muhammad ibn Isa al-Tirmidhi (d. 892 CE), author of the Jami al-Tirmidhi, noted for grading hadith and recording juristic differences.

Muhammad ibn Yazid Ibn Majah (d. 887 CE), compiler of the Sunan Ibn Majah, the sixth of the six canonical hadith collections.

Malik ibn Anas (d. 795 CE), founder of the Maliki school and compiler of al-Muwatta, one of the earliest collections of hadith and law, based in Medina.

Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 875 CE), a master of hadith and author of Sahih Muslim, ranked second only to Sahih al-Bukhari in authenticity.

Faith — belief in the heart, affirmation by the tongue, and action by the limbs; it comprises six pillars and increases with obedience.

The start of the daily fast at dawn, when eating and drinking stop; many Ramadan timetables list an imsak time a few minutes before Fajr as a precaution.

Saying "Inshallah" (If God wills) when speaking of future intentions, in obedience to the Quran's instruction to defer all plans to God's will.

Constructive engagement between people of different faiths to foster mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation on shared concerns.

The second call to prayer recited immediately before the congregational Salah begins, similar to Adhan but shorter and faster.

The night prayer, performed after the red twilight disappears until midnight (preferably) or dawn; 4 Rakahs.

Submission to Allah — the religion of all prophets; outwardly it consists of the five pillars, inwardly it means total surrender to Allah's will.

Banking conducted according to Sharia, replacing interest with profit-and-loss sharing and asset-backed contracts; also called participation banking.

The rules in Islam governing what may be eaten and drunk — permitting wholesome foods and forbidding pork, intoxicants, blood, and carrion.

The modern global sector of Sharia-compliant banks, investment funds, sukuk markets, and takaful, now operating in many countries worldwide.

The period (roughly 8th-13th centuries CE) of flourishing science, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy across the Muslim world, especially under the Abbasids.

A reform current emerging in the 19th-20th centuries that sought to reconcile Islamic teachings with modern science, reason, and social change.

The first day of Muharram, marking the start of a new year in the Islamic calendar and commemorating the Hijra.

A broad late-20th-century resurgence of religious observance and identity among Muslims worldwide, expressed in worship, dress, education, and culture.

A spectrum of modern political movements that seek to order state and society according to Islamic principles; their methods and goals vary widely.

Prejudice, fear, or discrimination directed against Islam or Muslims; a widely discussed issue in contemporary social and political debate.

The "Greatest Name" of God, by which when He is called He answers and when asked He gives; its exact identity is a matter of scholarly discussion.

A branch of Shia Islam that recognises Isma'il ibn Ja'far as the appointed Imam, known for its esoteric (batini) interpretation of religious texts.

The chain of transmitters who relayed a hadith, each citing the one before. Verifying the isnad is the foundation of authenticating prophetic reports.

The Prophet's miraculous Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension through the heavens, during which the five daily prayers were ordained.

Wastefulness and excess, including in food and drink; the Quran instructs believers to eat and drink without being extravagant.

Seeking refuge in God by saying "A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim" (I seek refuge in God from the accursed devil), said before reciting the Quran.

Seeking God's forgiveness by saying "Astaghfirullah" (I seek forgiveness from God); a means of erasing sins and opening provision.

Juristic preference — departing from a strict analogy in favour of a ruling that better serves justice or need. A secondary source emphasised by the Hanafi school.

A prayer and supplication seeking God's guidance when choosing between courses of action, asking Him to facilitate what is best.

Saying "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (To God we belong and to Him we return) at times of loss or calamity, as taught in the Quran.

Presumption of continuity — a past ruling is presumed to remain in force until proof shows it has changed. Recognised across all major legal schools.

Considering public interest (maslaha) where texts are silent, to reach rulings that serve human welfare. A principle especially linked with the Maliki school.

A manufacturing or construction contract in which goods are produced to order, with price and specifications agreed in advance and payment flexible.

Feeding the poor and hungry, a highly praised act of charity in the Quran and Sunnah and a means of expiation for certain shortcomings.

Abraham, one of the five greatest prophets and "Khalilullah" (Friend of Allah). Father of Ismail and Ishaq, he built the Kaaba and is the patriarch of monotheism.

A prophet identified with Enoch, praised in the Quran as truthful and patient, raised by Allah to a high station. Linked with knowledge and writing.

A prophet of the Children of Israel sent to confront the worship of Baal in ancient Israel. Identified with the biblical Elijah, mentioned in the Quran alongside the greatest prophets and known for his zeal for pure monotheism.

Jesus, one of the five greatest prophets, born miraculously of the virgin Maryam. Given the Injil (Gospel), he will return before the End of Times.

Isaac, the younger son of Ibrahim and Sarah, given as glad tidings in their old age. A prophet and father of Yaqub; through his line came many prophets of Israel.

Ishmael, elder son of Ibrahim and Hajar. He helped build the Kaaba and was offered in the great sacrifice. Ancestor of the Arabs and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.