Glossary

Ahl-ul-Bayt

"The Household of the prophet". This refers to the Prophet, his daughter Fatimahand the 12 Imams of his progeny.

Ali

Ali is the first of the 12 infallible Imams (leaders) appointed by the Prophet, onAllah's instructions, to succeed him to lead the Muslims.

Allah

Allah is the Arabic name (Eloh in Hebrew) for the only creator of all existents.

Anfaal

The extra thing above and beyond the required with regard to a particular aspect. For example the extra prayer offered. Anfaal is also referred to those items that are not owned by anyone such as the peaks of the mountains, villages abandoned by its inhabitants, wealth left behind by a deceased who does not have any inheritors, etc. These belong to Allah and His messenger - that is to say, to the State, to be used for the common weal. The spoils of war are also classified asAnfaal.

Bayt-el-Maal

The Central Bank. May also be referred to as the Treasury.

Emeer-ul-Mu'meneen

Emeer-ul-Mu'meneen is the title the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, exclusively granted to Ali, PBUH, which means Master of the Faithful.

Fiqh

Jurisprudence.

Hadd

The punishment that is specifically defined by the Qur'an or the prophet.

Halaal

Legal, Permissible.

Haraam

Illegal, Illicit, Prohibited.

Imam

Leader. In the specific sense, Imam refers to those 12 successors appointed by the prophet, on Allah's instructions, to lead the Muslims after him. The first of them being Imam Ali and the last of them Imam Mahdi, who has been promised by the prophet to emerge to establish peace and justice throughout the world.

Infallible

A state achieved by an individual, and through Allah's grace, which gives the individual complete freedom from the possibility of being in error. The prophet, his daughter Fatimah and the 12 Imams are infallible.

Islam

Islam is derived from the Arabic word for peace, and it is harmony and submission to the laws of Allah and thus the teachings of Islam are based on the nature of mankind. Islam is a set of teachings that has been revealed by Allah to mankind. The revelation of Islam has taken place, at various times, through different messengers of Allah such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and finally Muhammad peace be upon them.

Jizyah

Under the Islamic system of government, Jizyah is the tax that is paid by the non-Muslims living in the Islamic state. The non-Muslims do not pay either the Khumsor the Zakat taxes. They are not obliged to join the armed forces to defend the Islamic state whereas the Muslims are. The defence of the non-Muslims' lives, wealth, dignity, etc. is the responsibility of the Islamic state.

Khiraaj

It is the government's income from letting a particular category of land to developers.

Khums

Khums is the tax of 20% levied on untaxed, superfluous annual income. The taxed capital is not subjected to future Khums tax.

Mahdi

Imam Mahdi is the last of the infallible Imams promised by the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, to emerge to bring peace and justice to this Earth.

Marje'

A Marje' is a Mujtahid who also satisfy other requirements such faith, self-discipline, etc. to be a "mentor" or a "leader".

Mujtahid

A Mujtahid is a learned scholar of Islamic sciences such as Logic, Jurisprudence,Qur'an, Teachings of the prophet, etc. who has the expertise and ability to derive the appropriate rulings for cases in question. 

Qur'an

The Qur'an is the holy Book of Islam and it is the transcript of the Divine revelations made to the prophet by Allah. After each revelation, its contents were communicated to the Muslims and precisely recorded.

Sunnah

The Sunnah is the "Words & Deeds" or the Conduct and Teaching of the prophet that serve as guidelines and a source of legislation to Muslims.

Ta'zeer

Any punishment that is not defined in the Qur'an or by the Sunnah but established by the judge.

Zakaat

Zakaat is the tax on nine items when over certain limit. These items are Wheat, Barley, Dates, Raisins, Gold, Silver, Camels, Cows, and Sheep.