Adhan: Call to the prayers.

Fajr: The time of morning prayer, until sunrise.

Ghusl: A ritual bath according to Islamic Law.

Haidh: Menstruation, period.

Halal: Allowed as per Islamic Law, permissible.

Haram: Things/actions that are prohibited as per Islamic Law.

Hijab: Islamic covering.

Iddah: The waiting period a woman must observe after divorce or the death of her husband in which it is prohibited for her to marry. The duration differs based on whether it is due to divorce or husband’s death.

Ihtiyat al-Mustahab: Ihtiyat al-Mustahab is a fatwa (ruling) given by a Mujtahid (religious scholar) along with his opinion. His opinion is basically a precautionary measure. The Muqallid (follower) can act either way i.e. act according to the fatwa or the opinion of the Mujtahid. The follower cannot follow any other Mujtahid for this issue when the Mujtahid specifies Ihtiyat al-Mustahab.

Ihtiyat al-Wajib: Ihtiyat al-Wajib is not a fatwa (ruling) and the follower must follow the precautionary measure suggested by the Mujtahid he/she is following OR follow another Mujtahid (on this issue) to whom it is permissible to do Taqlid.

Istihadha: Blood seen by women, which is not blood of Haidh or Nifas or from a wound or a cut or a tear etc.

Janabat: After having sex (penetrative vaginal intercourse) a woman enters into the state of Janabat.

Jum: Jum means keeping haidh and Istihadha both in mind. In the days of Jum, a woman cannot do the things that are haram in haidh, but must do all the things that are wajib (obligatory) in Istihadha. Since Salat is obligatory in Istihadha, she must perform ghusl (if needed; depending on the type of Istihadha) and Salat. Whereas sex is Haram (Prohibited) in Haidh, and as a result she should refrain from sex.

Junub: A woman who is in the state of janabat, that is after sexual intercourse, or after semen comes out in sleep or after sexual intercourse and before performing ghusl.

Katheera: Excessive flow of Istihadha blood.

Maghrib: The time after sunset.

Mahram: Someone with whom marriage is prohibited. Example: Father, Brother.

Makrooh: An act that is disliked. If one avoids it, he gets rewards and if he performs it, he is not punished. Makrooh is of 2 kinds:

Makrooh in worship and Makrooh not in worship. Makrooh in worship: has less reward if performed; for example, reciting more than 7 verses of the Qur’an in the state of haidh. Makrooh not in worship: has rewards if avoided; for example, not applying Hina in the state of haidh.

Marja’: A Mujtahid who is a source of emulation in Islamic practices for the Shia populous. Maraaji’ is the plural of Marja’.

Masjid al-Haram: Ka’aba and the mosque surrounding it (Except Safa and Marwa).

Masjid al-Nabi: Mosque of the Holy Prophet (SAWA) in Madina.

Mubtadiyah: Beginner, the one who sees the blood of Haidh for the first time.

Mudhtaribah: A woman who has neither specific dates nor a fixed duration as far as Haidh is concerned.

Mujtahid: An Islamic jurist capable of independent derivation of legal rulings from the Islamic sources of law.

Mutawassitah: Medium flow of Istihadha blood.

Nasiyah: Forgetful, the one who forgets the dates and the duration of her period.

Nifas: Blood seen by women after childbirth or after miscarriage.

Niyyah: Intention of worship.

Non-Mahram: Someone with whom marriage is allowed. One should observe Hijab (Islamic covering), in their presence. Example: Paternal and Maternal cousins.

Non-Sayyid: A woman who is not from the Holy Prophet’s family.

Qadha: If a prayer or a duty which is not performed on time, when one makes it up it is called ‘Qadha’.

Qaleelah: Little flow of Istihadha blood.

Ramadhan: The 9^th holy month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims fast during the day.

Sajda: Prostration

Salat: Prayers

Salat al-Asr: Mid after noon prayers.

Salat al-Fajr: Morning prayers.

Salat al-Isha: The evening prayer said after Maghrib prayers.

Salat al-Maghrib: Prayer said a bit after the time of sunset.

Salat al-Dhuhr: Noon prayer.

Surah: A chapter of The Holy Qur’an.

Sayyid: A woman who is from the progeny of the Holy Prophet (S)

Tahir: Pure as per Islamic Law.

Tawaf: Circumambulating around Holy Ka’aba.

Tayammum: A way of purifying without the use of water. Tayammum is used as a substitute for Wudhu and/or Ghusl if water is not available or if time is less to perform ghusl/wudhu.

Wajib: Obligatory actions that must be performed and by not performing them one will incur Allah’s punishment.

Wajib Sajda: Obligatory prostration.

Wudhu: A way of purifying, which is necessary before praying, before Tawaaf and other acts of worship where Wudhu is a pre-requisite. Wudhu is done with water.