Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 531
GLOSSARY 531 Rafa‘a Arabic term meaning to phys- ically raise or to spiritually exalt in rank. Ra hi m Merciful. An attribute of God as mentioned in the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Ra- hi miyyat. Ra h m a n Gracious. An attribute of God as mentioned in the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Ra h- m a niyyat. Rak‘at A unit of formal prayer ( S al a t ). Pl. Rak‘ a t. Ramadan The ninth month of the lu- nar calendar, in which fasting is pre- scribed for all adult, able-bodied Muslims, except those traveling, ill, pregnant, or nursing. S adaqah Superogatory alms. Islam has instituted S adaqah also which is vol- untary and is given to individuals out of a desire to help the poor and needy. Sahib A title of respect similar to di- verse English terms like Mister, Hon- ourable, and Revered. Sal a m Lit. Peace, means Islamic saluta- tion of sal a m ; peace; security; submis- sion, etc. S al a t Five daily Prayers that are obliga- tory for Muslims. Satt a r Concealer; one of the attributes of God. Sha‘b a n The eighth month in the lunar calendar. Shariah Religious law of Islam. The term is also used in the general sense of any revealed law. Shirk Associating partners with Allah. Suf i A Muslim focusing on mystical and ascetic aspects of religious worship. Sunnah In the context of the for- mal Prayer, refers to those rak‘ a t that the Holy Prophet s as offered but are not prescribed as obligatory and are dropped while travelling. Sunnah rak‘ a t are offered regularly by practic- ing Muslims. S u rah A chapter of the Holy Quran. Tahajjud Late night/early morning su- pererogatory prayers. Takb i r Reciting All a hu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). Taqw a Righteousness. Fear of God. Tau hi d The Oneness of God—the fun- damental Islamic belief that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. Tawaff i An Arabic term used in the Holy Quran to denote the taking by God of a soul in death, unless oth- erwise explicated (e. g. in a dream or sleep). Tirmidh i A collection of ah a d i th which is considered to be one of the six most reliable compilations in the corpus of Hadith literature. Ulema A body of Muslim scholars.