GLOSSARY
* AAYAH: One of the 6666 verses of the holy Qur’an. Plural: Aayaat.
* AJAMI: Singular derived from Ojmah which means obscureness and vagueness. The Arabs called animals Ajam (plural of Ajami) because they could not understand their way of communication; and they gave the same name to non-Arabs -too- because -as in animals- they could not understand their languages.
* ALAYHAS SALAAM = Peace be upon her. Used after mentioning the name of one of the female descendants of Rasoolollah. Abbr. (AaS). For example: Sayyedaton Nesaa’(AaS).
* ALAYHEMOS SALAAM = Peace be upon them. Used after mentioning the names of more than two descendants of Rasoolollah. Abbr. (AmS). For example: Imam Hasan, Imam Hosayn and Mohassen(AmS).
* ALAYHES SALAAM = Peace be upon him. Used after mentioning the name of one of the male descendants of Rasoolollah. Abbr. (AS). For example: Imam Hasan(AS).
* AMEEROL MO’MENEEN = Commander of the faithful. This title was given to Rasoolollah’s first Caliph Imam Ali by Allah.
* ATHAAN: Is a series of chants that are said before prayers.
* AWSEYAA’: Plural of Wasi which means a person who is chosen by god and appointed by a prophet to continue his message after his death, until another prophet is chosen by god. Many prophets had a number of consecutive Awseyaa’ who appointed another Wasi to be the link between god and man after their deaths. Wesaayat means the appointment of a godly person to be a Wasi.
* BAKRI = Follower of Abu Bakr; opposite: Moslem = Follower of Rasoolollah. Most people -unknowingly- call a follower of Abu Bakr (Sonni). Sonni means follower of Rasoolollah’s tradition, and since a Bakri follows Abu Bakr and not Rasoolollah it is wrong to call him a Sonni as it is wrong to call him a Moslem.
* CALIPH: Is a title given to the successors of prophets, who were chosen by Allah and appointed by his messengers to continue their messages after their deaths. Twelve Caliphs are Rasoolollah’s twelve successors.
* HADEETH: A saying of one of the Ma’soomeen. Plural: Ahaadeeth.
* HIJRAH: Rasoolollah’s migration from Mecca to Medina.
* HIJRI
CALENDAR: One of Moslem calendars which start from Hijrah. The most
commonly used is the lunar Hijri calendar, and the other is the solar Hijri
calendar which is mainly used by Iranians.
* IMAM: It has many uses with different meanings. Here I use it as a title for the twelve people chosen by Allah and appointed by Rasoolollah to continue his message, such as: Imam Hasan, Rasoolollah’s second Caliph.
* KAAHIN: A person who was in contact with invisible creatures (fairies, Satans…) who foretold future and also resolved some complex problems for people. Plural: Kahanah.
* KERAAMAH:
It is a supernatural event that does not follow the rules of nature, which is
performed for or by a godly person; but without the intention to help guide
others to the right path. Plural: Keraamaat.
* LA’NATOLLAH ALAYH = Allah’s curse be upon him. Used after mentioning the name of a male enemy of Allah. Abbr. (LA). For example: Abu Bakr(LA).
* LA’NATOLLAH ALAYHAA = Allah’s curse be upon her. Used after mentioning the name of a female enemy of Allah. Abbr. (LAa). For example: A’eshah(LAa).
* LA’NATOLLAH ALAYHIM = Allah’s curse be upon them. Used after mentioning the names of more than two enemies of Allah. Abbr. (LAm). For example: Abu Bakr, Omar and Othmaan(LAm).
* MA’SOOM: A person who does not commit sins, does not make mistakes, does not forget, etc. thus is suitable for being the link between Allah and mankind. Prophets and their Caliphs are all Ma’soomeen. Plural: Ma’soomeen.
* MEHRAAB: Is the special place in a mosque where the person leading a public prayer stands.
* MENBAR: Is a raised platform with several steps for a public speaker to ascend, and sit or stand on. It is usually placed in mosques and Hosayneyyahs.
* RASOOLOLLAH = Messenger of Allah. This is the title given to prophet Mohammad by Allah.
* ROKOO’: Is a particular position during the prayer, when a Moslem bends putting his hands on his knees.
* SALLALLAHO
ALAYHE WA AALIH = Peace be upon him and his descendants. Used -only- after
mentioning Rasoolollah’s name. Abbr. (SAA). For example: Prophet
Mohammad(SAA).
* SAYYEDATON NESAA’ = Lady of the women. This title was given to prophet Mohammad’s daughter Faatimah by Allah.
* SHAAM: Included: today’s Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan before it was divided by the unjust colonizers.
* SHI’AH = Moslem = Mo’men = Follower of Rasoolollah; opposite: Bakri = Follower of Abu Bakr.
* SOJOOD: Is a particular position during the prayer, when a Moslem puts his forehead on the ground with the palms of his hands, his knees and his toes touching the ground at the same time.
* SOORAH: One of the 114 chapters of the holy Qur’an. Plural: Sowar.
* WODHOO: Is the washing of face and arms in a special way that is mandatory as a preparation for the daily prayers.