Terms starting with S

An Arabian prophet sent to Thamud, who carved homes in mountains. Allah gave them a miraculous she-camel as a sign; when they killed it, they were destroyed.

A prophet sent to the people of Madyan, who cheated in trade and measures. He called them to honesty and monotheism; when they refused, they were destroyed.

Solomon, son of Dawud, a prophet-king given dominion over wind, jinn, and the speech of animals. Famed for his wisdom and the Queen of Sheba story.

One of the ten promised Paradise and the first to shoot an arrow in defence of Islam. He commanded the Muslim army that conquered Persia at the Battle of Qadisiyyah.

A chief of the Ansar (Helpers) of Medina whose embrace of Islam brought his whole tribe to faith. At his death, the Prophet ﷺ said the Throne of Allah shook.

One of the ten promised Paradise. An early convert whose sister's embrace of Islam was pivotal in the conversion of Umar ibn al-Khattab.

The ritual walking/running seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah; commemorates Hagar's search for water for baby Ismail.

Patience — steadfast endurance in obeying Allah, avoiding sin, and bearing trials without complaint; mentioned over 90 times in the Quran.

Voluntary charity — any act of giving for the sake of Allah beyond the obligatory Zakat. Includes money, kindness, and even a smile; purifies wealth and soul.

Blocking the means — prohibiting an otherwise permissible act because it reliably leads to something forbidden. Emphasised by the Maliki and Hanbali schools.

Two small hills near the Kaaba between which pilgrims walk seven times (sa'i), commemorating Hajar's search for water for her son Isma'il.

The second month of the Islamic calendar. Pre-Islamic superstitions about its bad luck were rejected by the Prophet.

A hadith of the highest grade of authenticity: an unbroken chain of upright, precise narrators reaching the Prophet, free of hidden defects and irregularity.

The hadith collection of Imam al-Bukhari (d. 870 CE), regarded by Sunni Muslims as the most authentic book after the Quran.

The hadith collection of Imam Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 875 CE), ranked second only to Sahih al-Bukhari in authenticity among Sunni Muslims.

The prostration in Salah where seven body parts (forehead, nose, palms, knees, toes) touch the ground; the closest position to Allah.

A movement calling for a return to the practice of the earliest Muslim generations (the salaf). Spans a wide range of orientations and is much debated.

The second pillar of Islam: ritual worship performed five times daily, consisting of specific recitations, bowing and prostrations facing the Kaaba.

A forward sale in which the buyer pays in full now for goods to be delivered later — permitted by exception, often used to finance agriculture.

The closing 'As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah' that ends the prayer — turning first to the right, then to the left. Exits the sacred state of ihram entered by Takbiratul Ihram.

Invoking blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, as commanded in the Quran; each salawat brings tenfold mercy from God upon the one who recites it.

A Persian truth-seeker who embraced Islam after long travels. The Prophet ﷺ called him 'one of us'. Proposed the Trench strategy at the Battle of Khandaq.

Spiritual listening — devotional gatherings of chanting, poetry, or music used in some orders to awaken the heart; the Mevlevi whirling is a famous form.

The wife of the Prophet Ibrahim and mother of the Prophet Ishaq, given the glad tidings of a son in her old age.

Arabic morphology — the science of word forms and how roots are transformed into different patterns and derivatives.

A simple traditional food of parched, ground barley or wheat mixed with water, dates, or fat; a common provision in the Prophet's time.

The fourth pillar of Islam: abstaining from food, drink, intimacy and sinful acts from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) during Ramadan.

The "master of seeking forgiveness" — a comprehensive prayer taught by the Prophet; whoever says it with conviction and dies that day enters Paradise.

The contemporary debate over the relationship between religion and the state in Muslim-majority societies, with a wide range of views and models.

A Turkic Sunni empire (11th-12th centuries CE) that revived Sunni authority, founded major madrasas, and won the Battle of Manzikert against Byzantium.

The eighth month of the Islamic calendar, preceding Ramadan; the Prophet fasted often during it in preparation for the fasting month.

An "anomalous" hadith in which a reliable narrator contradicts narrators who are more reliable or more numerous. Its irregularity prevents authentication.

A Sunni school of law founded on the teachings of Imam al-Shafi'i, who systematised the principles of jurisprudence (usul al-fiqh) into a coherent method.

The testimony of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" — the first pillar of Islam and gateway to the faith.

A sweet, non-alcoholic drink made from fruit, flowers, or herbs, popular across the Muslim world, especially during Ramadan and celebrations.

Islamic law and the broader moral and legal framework derived from the Quran and Sunnah, covering worship, ethics, and social and legal life.

A panel of qualified scholars that reviews and certifies an Islamic financial institution's products and operations for Sharia compliance.

Describes a product, investment, or transaction that meets Islamic legal requirements — free of interest, excessive uncertainty, gambling, and forbidden industries.

The tenth month of the Islamic calendar, beginning with Eid al-Fitr; fasting its six days after Eid carries the reward of fasting the whole year.

Associating partners with Allah — the gravest sin in Islam, the opposite of Tawhid; it nullifies deeds and, if unrepented, bars entry to Paradise.

Gratitude — recognizing Allah's blessings, thanking Him with heart, tongue and limbs; Allah promises to increase blessings for the grateful.

Sunrise — the moment the disc of the sun rises above the horizon. It marks the end of the Fajr prayer time. Praying during actual sunrise is disliked; after full ascent, Duha time begins.

The spiritual chain of transmission linking a Sufi order back through its masters, often traced to the Prophet Muhammad.

The science of the Prophet Muhammad's biography — the detailed study of his life, character, campaigns, and mission as a model for Muslims.

The Bridge — stretched over Hellfire on the Day of Judgment which all must cross; believers pass according to their deeds, others fall.

A practitioner of tasawwuf who seeks closeness to God through inner purification, devotion, and following a spiritual path under a guide.

The pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr during Ramadan; a Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ to give strength for the day's fast.

Sharia-compliant financial certificates, often called "Islamic bonds", representing ownership in tangible assets or projects rather than interest-bearing debt.

The spiritual "wayfaring" — the disciplined journey of the seeker through stations of purification toward nearness to God.

The first martyr in Islam — an early believer tortured and killed for her faith. The mother of the companion Ammar ibn Yasir.

The recorded words, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad — the second source of Islamic law after the Quran, preserved through hadith.

Voluntary prayers performed in addition to the obligatory ones, following the practice of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ; bring great reward without penalty for omission.

A chapter of the Quran. The Quran contains 114 surahs of varying length, from Al-Baqarah (286 verses) to Al-Kawthar (3 verses), each with its own name and theme.