'Abd |
‘Abd
is an Arabic
word that means Slave or Servant. It was a common prefix for the
names of Arab males. Before Islam, Arabs often used to name their
sons as slaves of their favorite deities i.e. ‘Abd ‘Uzza, ‘Abd Manaf
etc. Abu Bakr R was a famous Sahabi (Companion)
of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad S and the first
adult male to accept Islam. His given name was ‘Abd al Ka’bah
meaning servant of the Ka’bah. It implied that the person with
that name is a worshipper of the Ka’bah. After the advent of
Islam, the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad
S banned the practice of using such names because they conflict with the basic
Islamic belief that Muslims worship only Allah (God).
Muhammad S suggested to change Abu Bakr R‘s name ‘Abd
al Ka’bah to ‘Abd Allah. Such names with a prefix of ‘Abd
are still commonly used by Muslims, the world over. ‘Abd is also
used as a prefix to the many beautiful names of Allah (God),
such as ar Rahman, al Malik, al al ‘Aziz,
al Ghaffar, al Ghafur, as
Samad and al Qadir etc. Names such as ‘Abd al Rahman,
‘Abd al Malik, ‘Abd al Aziz, ‘Abd al Ghaffar,
‘Abd al Ghafur, Abd as Samad and ‘Abd
al Qadir etc. are still very popular.
|
‘Abdul
Muttalib |
‘Abdul Muttalib
was the nickname of the grandfather of Muhammad
S. Hashim
bin 'Abd Manaf,
the great-grandfather of Muhammad S was the chief
of Makkah and also a caretaker of the Ka’bah. Through his trading
caravans, he had brought prosperity to Makkah. He had made Makkah
the trading capital of Arabia. During
one of his business trips, caravan of Hashim bin
'Abd Manaf stopped at Yathrib
(Madinah).
There, he married Salma bint
‘Amr of the local Najjar tribe. A few
days after his marriage, Hashim bin
'Abd Manaf continued on his business
trip. During that journey, he fell sick and died of his illness. His fellow travelers
buried him in Ghaza. A few months after the death of Hashim
bin 'Abd Manaf,
his widow Salma gave birth
to his son. That boy was named ‘Amr bin
Hashim, but everyone called him Shaybah
(Old man)
because he had a bunch of white hair at birth. Back in Makkah, Al Muttalib
bin 'Abd Manaf,
a younger brother of Hashim bin
'Abd Manaf assumed the responsibilities
of the offices of the Ka'bah after
him. By chance, Al Muttalib bin
'Abd Manaf found out that his nephew,
son of his elder brother Hashim
bin 'Abd Manaf, was growing up in Yathrib
(Madinah)
with his mother and maternal uncles. Al Muttalib
bin 'Abd Manaf
decided to return the wealth of Hashim bin
'Abd Manaf to his son Shaybah.
Al Muttalib
bin 'Abd Manaf
traveled to Yathrib (Madinah)
to bring his nephew back to Makkah. After initial hesitation Salma
agreed to send her son to Makkah with his uncle Al Muttalib
bin 'Abd Manaf.
On their way to Makkah, Shaybah was riding ahead of Al Muttalib
bin 'Abd Manaf.
In those days, usually servants rode ahead of their masters. When people of Makkah
saw Shaybah riding ahead of Al Muttalib,
they mistook him as a servant of Al Muttalib.
That is why they called him 'Abdul Muttalib,
which means the servant of Al Muttalib.
This nickname became so popular that his real name ‘Amr bin
Hashim or his nickname Shaybah, was completely forgotten. With
time 'Abdul Muttalib
became the chief of Makkah and the caretaker of the Ka’bah. He inherited
the responsibility to provide drinking water to the pilgrims of the Ka’bah.
Fetching water all day long from distant wells made him very tired. By chance
he discovered the long-lost Zamzam well. Muhammad
S was the son
of 'Abdul Muttalib’s
youngest son ‘Abdullah. Muhammad S was born a
few months after the death of his father. 'Abdul Muttalib
loved his grandson Muhammad
S very much. 'Abdul
Muttalib died
when Muhammad
S was only eight year old.
|
‘Abdullah
/ ‘Abd Allah |
After the advent of Islam,
‘Abd Allah became one of the most popular names. It means slave
of Allah. Rules of Arabic language grammar allow the two words
to be combined together. After joining together, words ‘Abd and Allah
can be written as ‘Abdullah or ‘Abdallah. Arabs
worshiped Allah in the days of ignorance also, but they took many
partners with Him. They mistakenly considered Allah as the biggest
of their many gods. The name ‘Abd Allah was in use among Arabs
before Islam also. Father of Muhammad S was also named ‘Abdullah. He had died a few
months before Muhammad S
was born.‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib
was the name of the father of Muhammad S. He was the youngest son of ‘Abdul Muttalib.
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib
died a few months after his marriage with Aminah bint
Wahb. Muhammad S was born a few months after the death of his father
‘Abdullah bin ‘Abdul Muttalib.
| ‘Abdullah
bin Zayd bin ‘Abd Rabbihi
R |
‘Abdullah
bin Zayd bin ‘Abd Rabbihi R
was a Sahabi (Companion of
Muhammad S).
Soon after Muhammad S arrived in Madinah, Muslims
constructed Masjid Nabi (Mosque
of the Messenger S)
there. Regular Group Prayers were instituted in Madinah when
the Masjid Nabi (Mosque
of the Messenger S)
was completed. It was a big change for the Muslims, who used to offer Salah
(Prayers) secretly in Makkah.People
some times could not reach Masjid Nabi (Mosque
of the Messenger S)
at proper times of the Salah (Prayers).
Many people missed Salah (Prayers)
at different times. Muhammad S
and his Sahabah (Companions)
discussed the problem. They tried to search for a suitable mechanism to inform
Muslims about the group prayers. They discussed the possibilities of lighting
up a fire to send smoke signals, blowing a horn, striking a flat-bell, ringing
a bell blowing into a shell and even sending some to the neighborhoods announcing
the prayers. Muhammad S was not very happy with any of those approaches. Still,
Muhammad S settled the issue in favor of a bell. One day, he ordered
to get a bell made for informing Muslims of Madinah
about the Salah (Prayers).
The same night, ‘Abdullah bin Zayd bin ‘Abd
Rabbihi R saw an unusual
dream. In his dream, he saw a man walking with a large shell. He asked the man
in his dream to sell that shell to him. The man in his dream asked him the purpose
to buy that shell. ‘Abdullah bin Zayd bin
‘Abd Rabbihi R told the
man in his dream, that he would blow the shell to inform people about the group
prayers. The man in his dream responded that instead of selling that shell, he
could suggest a better way of calling Muslims for prayers. He taught the
words and method of Adhan (Call
for Prayers) when ‘Abdullah bin
Zayd bin ‘Abd Rabbihi R
showed his willingness about it. The man in his dream also taught him the words
and method of Iqamah (Second
call for Prayers). Next morning ‘Abdullah bin
Zayd bin ‘Abd Rabbihi R
told Muhammad S
about his dream. Muhammad S
liked it and told him that it is a vision from Allah (God).
Muhammad S also asked him to teach the words to Bilal
R because he had a stronger voice. After hearing the
first Adhan (Call for
Prayers) by Bilal R, ‘Umar bin
Khattab R
rushed to the Masjid Nabi (Mosque
of the Messenger S).
‘Umar bin Khattab R
swore by Allah (God) that
he had also seen exactly the same dream. Muhammad S
said Alhamdu lillah (Praise
be to Allah) in reply. Since
the day when ‘Abdullah bin
Zayd bin ‘Abd Rabbihi
R
saw
a dream, more than fourteen
centuries
ago, Muslims use exactly the same
Adhan
(Call
for Prayers)
to call for prayers.
|
Abrahah
al Ashram |
Abrahah
al Ashram was the Governor of Yaman.
He represented the Christian King of Habash (Ethiopia).
He did not like the popularity of the Ka’bah as a pilgrimage destination
among the Arabs. He constructed a grand church in Yaman to lure
away pilgrims from the Ka’bah. When his plans to replace the Ka’bah
with his own church did not succeed, he decided to destroy the Ka’bah.
Allah (God) wiped out his
entire army before they could reach Makkah, where the Ka’bah
is located. This event is also recorded in the 105th Surah
(Chapter) of the Qur-an,
named Surah (Chapter)
al-Fil (The Elephant).
Name of this Surah (Chapter)
of Qur-an, is due to the fact that Abrahah al
Ashram had an elephant at the head of his army. Arabs living in and around
Makkah had never seen an elephant before. Muhammad
S was born a few weeks after
this event. |
Abu
Bakr
R |
Abu
Bakr R was a friend
of Muhammad S
and a prominent Sahabi (Companion
of Muhammad S).
Abu Bakr R was
the first adult male to accept Islam. Muhammad
S married one of his daughters,
‘A’ishah R in the year 3 Hijrah. Abu Bakr
R became the first Khalifah
(Caliph) of Muslims after the
demise of Muhammad S.
Muslims performed their first Hajj (Pilgrimage
to the Ka’bah) according to Islamic rites in the year 9 Hijrah
under the leadership of Abu Bakr R.
Muhammad S had
stayed back in Madinah. Some times later, after the
Hajj (Pilgrimage to the
Ka’bah) had left for Makkah, Muhammad S
received the first 40 Ayah (Verses)
of Surah at-Taubah (Also
known as Surah Bara’t) from Allah
(God). Muhammad S sent ‘Ali bin
Abu Talib R to
deliver these verses to Abu Bakr R,
so that he could further pass them on to all Muslims who had assembled
for Hajj (Pilgrimage to
the Ka’bah).
|
Abu
Hurayrah
R |
Abu
Hurayrah R was
a Sahabi (Companion of Muhammad
S)
of Muhammad S. He lived on a raised platform inside the Masjid
Nabi (Mosque of the Messenger S)
in Madinah during the lifetime of Muhammad S.
Many poor Muslims lived on this platform. They are known as Ashab
Suffah (Companions from the platform).
They used to spend most of their time in learning Islam and praying.
The nickname Abu Hurayrah R
was coined by Muhammad S.
It means father of a kitten. Abu Hurayrah R
used to take care of a kitten.Abu Hurayrah R
did not spend much time in the company of Muhammad S.
During his relatively short stay at the Masjid Nabi (Mosque
of the Messenger S),
he always shadowed Muhammad S,
whenever he was outside his living quarters. Abu Hurayrah R
spent a lot of time in memorizing each and every word that he heard from
Muhammad S. A large
number of Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad S)
were compiled and narrated by Abu Hurayrah R.
|
Abwa |
Abwa
was a township between Makkah and Yathrib (Madinah).
A few days after his marriage, ’Abdullah
bin ‘Abdul Muttalib went with a trading caravan to Sham.
He fell sick on his way back to Makkah. Caravan continued to Makkah
after leaving him in Yathrib (Madinah)
for treatment. He died of his sickness in Yathrib (Madinah)
and was buried there.Aminah bint
Wahb, mother of Muhammad S
took him to the grave of his father ‘Abdullah bin
‘Abdul Muttalib in Yathrib (Madinah).
Muhammad S was
six year old at that time. On their way back from Yathrib
(Madinah), Aminah
bint Wahb fell sick at Abwa. She died and was buried at Abwa.
Muhammad S was
brought back to his grandfather ‘Abdul Muttalib in Makkah,
by Umm Ayman, a maidservant of his father. |
‘Abyar
‘Ali |
Dhul
Hulayfah is the Miqat for pilgrims
coming from Madinah or north either by air or land. It is
now called ‘Abyar ‘Ali. Mawaqit
(Plural of Miqat)
are places setup by Muhammad S
where pilgrims change into Ihram (Special
Dress for Hajj). |
Adam
A
(Adam) |
Adam
A (Adam) was the
first Nabi (Messenger) of
Allah. Adam A
(Adam) was also the first human Allah
(God) had created. Allah
(God) gave Adam A
(Adam) knowledge and capacity to think.
Allah (God) had created Adam
A (Adam) to represent
good. He asked Mala”ikah (Angels)
to do Sajdah (Prostration)
to Adam A (Adam).
They obeyed Allah (God). Iblis
(Satan) refused to respect Adam
A (Adam)
because he thought that he was superior to him. Allah (God)
had created Iblis (Satan)
to represent evil. Iblis (Satan)
told Allah (God) that he can
lure Adam A (Adam) and his
children away from the path, Allah (God)
had taught him. Allah
(God) also created a partner for Adam
A (Adam) and sent
them to live in Jannah (Paradise).
Allah (God) told Adam
A (Adam) and his
wife Hawwa (Eve) to
stay away from a particular tree, but Iblis (Satan)
succeeded in luring him to eat from that tree. Immediately, Adam
A (Adam) realized
his mistake and asked Allah (God)
for forgiveness. Allah (God)
forgave them and sent them to live on earth. All humans are descendents of Adam
A (Adam)
and his wife Hawwa (Eve).
Besides Adam A
(Adam), Allah (God)
directly spoke to only Musa A
(Moses). |
Adhan
(Call for Prayers) |
The
literal meaning of the word Adhan is announcement.Adhan
is the call for Salah (Prayers).
Adhan (Call for Prayers)
is called for the Jama’ah Salah (Group
Prayers) offered by Muslims in the Masajid
(Mosques). Adhan
(Call for Prayers) is usually called
by a Mu’adhdhin (Caller
of Adhan), from the minaret or a relatively higher
point of a Masjid (Mosque).
Tradition of Adhan (Call
for Prayers) began in the first year of Hijrah (Migration)
after Muhammad S
and other Muslims from Makkah had migrated to Madinah.
Words of Adhan (Call for
Prayers) came to some Sahabah (Companions
of Muhammad S)
in their dreams.Words of Adhan (Call
for Prayers) are common allover the world.Allah O Akbar,
Allah O Akbar God is Great, God is Great Allah
O Akbar, Allah O Akbar God is Great, God is Great Ashshado
an la ilaha illallahI bear witness there is no deity
but Allah Ashshado an la ilaha illallah
I
bear witness there is no deity but Allah Ashshado
anna Muhammadun rasul AllahI bear witness that
Muhammad S is the Messenger of AllahAshshado anna Muhammadun
rasul AllahI bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger
of Allah Haiyyah alas salahHurry
to the prayer Haiyyah alas salahHurry
to the prayer Haiyyah alal falahHurry to
the success Haiyyah alal falahHurry to
the success Allah o Akbar Allah o Akbar God
is Great God is Great La ilaha illallah There is
no deity but AllahAdhan (Call
for Prayers) for the Fajr Salah (Morning
Prayers) has an additional phrase As-salatu
Khayrum minan naum meaning Prayer is better than sleep.
This phrase is repeated twice after Haiyyah alal falah
Hurry to the success.
|
Adultery
(Zina) |
Establishing
sexual relationship outside marriage is called Zina.
Islamic laws are designed to establish an ideal social system based on social
equality and justice to all. Islam completely prohibits sexual
relationship outside marriage. There is a severe punishment for it in this world
as well as in the life after death.
And come not near the unlawful sexual intercourse. Indeed, it is a great sin beyond
limits and evil way.
Surah (Chapter)
al-Isra” (The Night Journey)
Qur-an 17:32 Islam
also prohibits situations that may lead to Zina (Sexual
Relations outside Marriage) such as indecent clothes, mixed parties, obscenity,
and meeting members of the opposite sex in privacy etc.
|
Afaqi |
Pilgrims
of Hajj (Pilgrimage to
the Ka’bah) who live outside the Miqat
are called Afaqi. Mawaqit
(Plural of Miqat)
are the places designated by Muhammad S,
where Hajj pilgrims change into Ihram
(Special Dress for Hajj).
| Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad
S) |
The
word Ahadith is plural of the word Hadith.
In the Islamic context, Ahadith are the sayings of
Muhammad
S. After the Holy Qur-an,
Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad
S)
provide the most valuable source of Islamic knowledge. Following the Holy Qur-an
and Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad
S)
is an essential part of Islamic faith. In broader context, whatever Muhammad
S said, did or approved
of something by remaining silent after witnessing anything related to the religion
done by someone; is classified as a Hadith
(Saying of Muhammad
S).Many
scholars of Islam spent their lifetimes in scientifically scrutinizing
and compiling the Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad S).
Scores of authenticated Ahadith (Sayings
of Muhammad S)
are available in several compilations. It is a duty of Muslims to learn
Islam from the Holy Qur-an and Ahadith
(Sayings of Muhammad S).
| Ahl-Kitab
(People of the Book) |
Ahl
Kitab means People of the Book. The term Kitab
means a divinely revealed Book or a Book revealed by Allah
(God). The term is generally used for followers
of the religions sent by Allah (God),
who were also given Divine Book, before Islam. The Holy Qur-an
is also referred to as the Book.Two main Ahl Kitab
(People of the Book) are the
Jews who were given Torat
(Torah) and the Christians who were given Injil
(Bible). |
Ahmad
|
Ahmad
is another name of Muhammad S.
This name has been mentioned in the Qur-an at one place (The Holy
Qur-an 61:6). | |
|