Terms starting with R

The 55th chapter of the Quran (78 verses), "The Most Merciful". Famous for its refrain "which of your Lord's favours will you deny?", repeated 31 times.

The third month of the Islamic calendar, in which the Prophet Muhammad was born and in which he later passed away.

The fourth month of the Islamic calendar, also known as Rabi al-Akhir.

Rabia al-Adawiyya (d. 801 CE), an early female Sufi saint of Basra, renowned for her doctrine of pure, selfless love of God.

A pledge or collateral given as security for a debt, which the creditor may hold until the obligation is repaid.

The seventh month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months in which fighting was traditionally forbidden.

A unit of Salah consisting of standing recitation, one Ruku and two Sajdah; e.g. Fajr is 2 Rakahs, Dhuhr is 4.

The ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar, the month of obligatory fasting and the revelation of the Quran.

The stoning of three pillars at Mina during Hajj — commemorating Ibrahim's rejection of Satan's temptations — by casting small pebbles at the jamarat.

The era of the four "Rightly Guided" caliphs — Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali (632-661 CE) — regarded by Sunnis as a model of Islamic governance.

The area in the Prophet's Mosque between his pulpit and his chamber, which he called "a garden from the gardens of Paradise"; a place of intense devotion.

A narrator who transmits a hadith. Each rawi in a chain is scrutinised for uprightness (adala) and accuracy of memory (dabt).

Usury or interest — any unjustified increase in lending or exchange of certain goods. It is strictly forbidden in Islam and counted among the gravest of major sins.

The campaigns under Caliph Abu Bakr (632-633 CE) to re-establish authority over Arabian tribes that rebelled or refused zakat after the Prophet's death.

Showing off in worship — performing religious acts to be seen and praised by people rather than for Allah; called "the minor shirk".

Oneness of Lordship — affirming that Allah alone creates, sustains, owns, and governs the universe; one of the three categories of Tawhid.

The spirit — the immaterial essence breathed into the human being by God, which in Sufi understanding yearns to return to its divine source.

The bowing position in Salah where the worshipper bends from the waist, placing hands on knees, glorifying Allah saying "Subhana Rabbi al-Azim".

Seeking healing and protection by reciting Quranic verses and prophetic supplications over oneself or another, with reliance on God for the cure.