Terms starting with M

A foretold guided leader from the Prophet's ﷺ family who will appear before the end of time to fill the earth with justice. Sunni and Shia views differ.

The 67th chapter of the Quran (30 verses), also called Tabarak. A Meccan surah on Allah's sovereignty that, by hadith, intercedes for and protects its reciter.

Verses or surahs revealed after the Hijra (in Medina), typically dealing with legislation, social order, jihad, and the building of the Muslim community.

Elongation — prolonging the sound of certain vowels for a specified number of counts in recitation, a key rule of Tajwid governed by the letters alif, waw, and ya.

A school of Islamic jurisprudence — a systematic body of legal opinions from a leading scholar. The four major Sunni schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali.

An Islamic school or college of religious learning; historically a centre of the sciences, and today ranging from primary schools to higher institutes.

The sunset prayer, performed immediately after sunset until the red twilight disappears; 3 Rakahs.

Divine love — the heart's loving attachment to God, regarded by Sufis as both the motive and fruit of the spiritual path.

The obligatory bridal gift — a sum or property given by the groom to the bride as her exclusive right upon marriage. It is a pillar of the marriage contract.

A close relative whom one is permanently forbidden to marry (e.g. parents, siblings, children, grandparents). A mahram may accompany a woman on travel.

The point of articulation — the precise place in the mouth or throat from which each Arabic letter's sound originates. Mastery of makharij is essential to Tajwid.

Verses or surahs revealed before the Hijra (in Mecca), typically focusing on faith, monotheism, the hereafter, and stories of past nations.

That which is disliked but not strictly forbidden. Avoiding it is rewarded, but doing it is not punishable; it lies between halal and haram.

Angels — beings created from light who never disobey Allah; belief in them is the second pillar of faith. They record deeds, convey revelation, and more.

The Owner of All Sovereignty — the absolute owner who gives kingdom to whom He wills.

A Sunni school of law founded on the teachings of Imam Malik ibn Anas. Distinctive for using the practice of the people of Medina as a source of law.

A sultanate of soldier-rulers (1250-1517 CE) based in Egypt that halted the Mongol advance at the Battle of Ayn Jalut and protected the holy cities.

The science of logic — the rules of valid reasoning, adopted into Islamic scholarship as a tool for theology and jurisprudence.

A spiritual "station" — a stable rank of nearness to God attained through effort and discipline, such as patience, gratitude, or trust.

The "Station of Ibrahim" near the Kaaba — a stone bearing the footprint of Prophet Ibrahim, behind which pilgrims pray two units after tawaf.

The science of the higher objectives of Islamic law — protecting religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property — used to guide rulings toward human welfare.

An "inverted" hadith in which something — a narrator's name or part of the text — has been swapped or reversed, whether by error or intent.

A report whose chain stops at a Successor (Tabi'i) — the saying or action of one who followed the Companions, not the Prophet himself.

A report attributed specifically to the Prophet — his words, actions, or tacit approvals — whether the chain is continuous or not.

Experiential knowledge of God — a direct, inward gnosis attained through spiritual realisation, beyond mere intellectual learning.

The mother of the Prophet Isa (Jesus), the only woman named in the Quran and the one after whom a surah is named. A model of purity, chastity, and faith.

Saying "Mashallah" (What God has willed), expressing appreciation and acknowledging that all good comes from God; also said to ward off envy.

Doubtful or questionable food whose lawfulness is unclear; the Prophet advised avoiding doubtful matters to protect one's faith and honour.

The Muslim place of worship; literally "place of prostration." The Prophet ﷺ said the mosques are the most beloved places to Allah.

The "Farthest Mosque" in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey (Isra) and original qibla.

The Sacred Mosque in Mecca surrounding the Kaaba — the holiest site in Islam and the direction (qibla) toward which all Muslims pray.

The Prophet's Mosque in Medina, built by Muhammad himself and containing his tomb — the second holiest site in Islam.

The "Mosque of the Two Qiblas" in Medina, where the command came to turn from Jerusalem to the Kaaba mid-prayer, so the congregation changed direction.

The actual text or content of a hadith — the words of the Prophet — as distinct from its isnad (chain of narrators).

A major Sunni school of theology founded by Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, especially associated with the Hanafi school and giving a defined role to reason in faith.

A fabricated report falsely attributed to the Prophet. It is the worst category and may not be narrated except to expose it as a forgery.

The observance of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday in Rabi al-Awwal; widely celebrated in many regions, though its ruling is debated among scholars.

A report whose chain stops at a Companion — recording the Companion's own statement or action rather than the Prophet's.

Gambling or games of chance, in which wealth is gained by pure chance at another's loss. It is forbidden in Islam and excluded from Islamic finance.

Carrion — an animal that died without proper Islamic slaughter; forbidden to eat, with limited exceptions such as fish and locusts.

The holiest city in Islam, birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and site of the Kaaba; the destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

The second holiest city in Islam, to which the Prophet emigrated (Hijra) and where he established the first Muslim community; site of his mosque and tomb.

The Sufi order inspired by the poet Jalal al-Din Rumi (Mevlana, d. 1273 CE), famous for the whirling "Sema" ceremony performed by the dervishes of Konya.

The semicircular niche in a mosque wall indicating the Qibla direction; the imam stands in or before it during prayer.

A valley near Mecca where pilgrims stay during Hajj, perform the stoning of the Jamarat, and offer sacrifice; site of the "tent city".

The raised pulpit in the mosque from which the imam delivers the Khutbah; usually located beside the Mihrab.

The designated boundaries — both of place (makani) and of time (zamani) — at which the pilgrim enters the state of ihram for Hajj or Umrah.

Islamic inheritance law — the precise, divinely-fixed shares of an estate distributed among heirs. Called "Faraid", it is a detailed science derived from the Quran.

The Scale — the balance on which deeds will be weighed on the Day of Judgment; whoever's good deeds outweigh the bad attains success.

A global fashion movement offering stylish clothing that meets standards of modesty, embraced by many Muslim and non-Muslim consumers alike.

The practice of sighting the new crescent to determine the start of Islamic lunar months such as Ramadan; a recurring subject of contemporary debate.

Sets of prophetic remembrances recited each morning and evening for protection, gratitude, and spiritual fortification throughout the day.

The Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain, a landmark of Islamic Spain (al-Andalus) celebrated for its forest of arches; later converted into a cathedral.

A mountain north of Medina, site of the Battle of Uhud (625 CE). The Prophet said "Uhud is a mountain that loves us and we love it."

A young companion praised by the Prophet ﷺ as the most knowledgeable of his Ummah in halal and haram. He was sent to teach Islam in Yemen.

A "suspended" hadith in which one or more narrators are omitted from the beginning of the chain.

The last two surahs of the Quran (al-Falaq and al-Nas), recited for protection from evil, harm, envy, and whispering.

An early rationalist school of Islamic theology that emphasised reason and free will and held the Quran to be created. Shaped many later theological debates.

A neutral or permitted act for which there is neither reward nor sin. Most everyday actions (eating, sleeping, walking) are mubah by default.

A partnership where one party provides capital and the other provides labour and expertise; profits are shared by agreed ratio while losses fall on the investor.

An "interpolated" hadith into which words not part of the original — often a narrator's explanation — have been inserted into the text.

The person appointed to recite the Adhan and Iqamah; a position of honor in Islamic tradition.

A qualified scholar who issues formal legal opinions (fatwas) in response to questions, applying the principles of his school to new cases.

A Muslim empire of the Indian subcontinent (1526-1857 CE), renowned for its art and architecture, including the Taj Mahal.

A scholar of hadith who has mastered the chains, texts, narrators, and sciences of prophetic tradition.

The first month of the Islamic year and one of the four sacred months; fasting in it, especially on Ashura, is highly recommended.

Clear and ambiguous verses — muhkam verses have a definite, plain meaning, while mutashabih verses bear meanings known fully to Allah; believers accept both.

A jurist qualified to derive legal rulings directly from the primary sources through independent reasoning (ijtihad).

Intimate, whispered supplication to God — a heartfelt private conversation expressing love, need, and longing, often at night.

A "denounced" hadith reported by a weak narrator in a way that contradicts more reliable narrators. It is a category of rejected reports.

A "broken" hadith with a missing link somewhere in its chain (other than at the Companion level), rendering it weak.

One who practises taqlid — a follower who adopts a jurist's or school's rulings rather than deriving them independently.

A cost-plus sale: the seller discloses the purchase price and adds an agreed profit margin. Widely used by Islamic banks to finance purchases without interest.

Watchful meditation — sustained inner attention to the awareness that God observes one at all times, leading to mindfulness and self-vigilance.

A disciple or aspirant who commits to a spiritual guide (murshid) to be trained along the Sufi path.

A hadith in which a Successor (Tabi'i) reports directly from the Prophet, omitting the Companion in between. The gap usually weakens it.

A spiritual guide or master who trains disciples on the Sufi path, having himself been authorised through an unbroken chain (silsila).

A young noble of Mecca who gave up luxury for Islam. The first ambassador of Islam, sent to teach the people of Medina; martyred at Uhud carrying the banner.

A designated place for prayer — especially the open ground outside a settlement where the Eid prayers and prayers for rain (Istisqa) are performed, following the Prophetic Sunnah. Also used for any prayer mat or area.

The physical, written compilation of the Quran between two covers. The standard Mushaf was compiled under Caliph Uthman to unite the Ummah on one text.

A joint-venture partnership in which all partners contribute capital and share profits and losses in proportion to their stake.

A hadith with a continuous chain reaching the Prophet; also the name of hadith collections arranged by Companion, such as Musnad Ahmad.

A recommended act (also called Mandub or Sunnah). Doing it earns reward, but neglecting it carries no sin; encouraged but not obligatory.

The science of hadith terminology: the rules and definitions by which narrations are classified, graded, and authenticated.

A report transmitted by so many narrators at every stage that their collusion on a lie is inconceivable, yielding certain knowledge.

An open area between Arafat and Mina where pilgrims spend the night after Arafat, combine prayers, and gather pebbles for the stoning ritual.

The final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, mercy to all worlds. He received the Quran, established Islam, and is the seal of prophets — none comes after him.

Moses, one of the five greatest prophets and 'Kalimullah' — who spoke with Allah. He confronted Pharaoh, led the Israelites out, and received the Torah.