Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 537
GLOSSARY 537 Nafs-e-ammārah The self that incites to evil. The lowest of three spiritual states; also an-nafsul-ammārah. Nawwab An honorific title ratified and bestowed by Mughal emperors to semi-autonomous Muslim rul- ers of princely states in South Asia. The female equivalent is 'Begum' or 'Nawwab Begum. Nikāḥ the announcement of marriage in Islam. Niyog The Arya Samaj practice allow- ing a married woman to indulge in conjugal relations with other men in order to have children. Pir(s) Literally, 'old' (in Persian). Gener- ally refers to a spiritual leader at whose hands students have taken an oath of allegiance. Title is commonly used for leaders of Sufi orders. Prayer and Prayers Three Islamic terms, all sometimes translated as 'prayer, should be distinguished. The first term is du'ā prayers or supplica- tions made to God Almighty. Dưa can be made at any time and in any language. It does not require any for- mal prescribed posture. Du'ā is trans- lated in the text as 'prayer' or 'supplica- tions. Secondly, Şalāt refers to the five daily Prayer services prescribed for all Muslims. Unlike du'ā, Şalāt has fixed timings and modes of performance. We have retained the term Şalāt in the translation or have used the term 'pre- scribed Prayer', or 'Prayer'. Promised Messiah as A title given to the Reformer prophesied to appear during the Latter Days, by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsas; see also About the Promised Messiah on page xxv). Qiblah Qiblah Direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, toward which Muslims face to offer formal prayers. The first Qiblah in Islam was Baitul-Muqaddas in Jerusalem. Quran see Holy Quran. Qutb The polar star. Metaphorically applied to a saintly leader who guides people out of darkness. Rabb Lord, Master, Creator; One who sustains and develops; One who brings to perfection by degrees. Rabbul-'Alamin An attribute of God as mentioned in Sürah al-Fatihah. Meaning: 'Lord of all the worlds. Rafa'a Arabic term meaning to phys- ically raise or to spiritually exalt in rank. When the subject is Allah Taʻālā, the term invariably refers to spiritual exaltation. Rahim Merciful. An attribute of God as mentioned in Sürah al-Fatihah and throughout the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Rahīmiyyat. Rahman Gracious. An attribute of God as mentioned in Sürah al-Fāti- hah and throughout the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Rahmāniyyat. Rak'ats Rak'at A unit of formal Prayer (Şalāt). Pl. Rakʻāt.