The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 722
GLOSSARY 721 Nikah The Islamic marriage contract. Nutfah Lit. sperm drop; see 'Alaqah. Paisa See Currency values. Patwārī An accountant. Pīr Spiritual mentor Qaşīdah An ode. Qassām-e-Azal The Eternal Dispenser of all things; a Divine epithet denot- ing God as the primordial source from which all creation flows. Qiblah Direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah, toward which Muslims face to offer formal prayers. Quraish The leading tribe in Makkah during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sas. He himself was from the Banū Hashim clan of the Quraish tribe. Quran see Holy Quran. Qutb see Aqtab 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. Rabīʻuth-Thānī Also known as Rabi al-Akhir, is the fourth month of the Islamic calendar. Rafa' Arabic term meaning to phys- ically raise or to spiritually exalt in rank. When the subject is Allah the Almighty, the term invariably refers to spiritual exaltation. Rahim Merciful. An attribute of God as mentioned in Sūrah al-Fatihah and throughout the Holy Quran. The ver- bal noun of this attribute is Rahimi- yyat. Rahman Gracious. An attribute of God as mentioned in Sürah al-Fati- hah and throughout the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Rahmaniyyat. Rak'at A unit of formal prayer (Șalāt). Pl. Rakāt. Rasül The terms Rasūl (Messenger) and Nabi (Prophet) are often misunder- stood, with the misconception that a Rasûl brings a new law and scripture, while a Nabi only reforms his peo- ple; however, the two terms are in- terchangeable, representing different aspects of the same role. A Rasûl re- ceives divine messages and, as a Nabi, conveys them. Thus, every Rasûl is a Nabi, and every Nabi is a Rasûl, with revelation preceding its delivery. Rubūbiyyat Allah's attribute of sustain- ing or nurturing. Şihah Sittah The title given to the six au- thentic books of Hadith. Salat The formal Muslim prayer offered five times daily. Sannyasis Hindu ascetics.