B - Islamic Glossary

Ba'th ()
The arousing or bringing the dead back to life at the end of the world.(Source:Taha Publication)

Ba'ya ()
Giving allegiance to the shaykh.(Source:Taha Publication)  

Ba`i ()
A buyer.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bab al-abwab ()
"The door of doors", meaning repentance.(Source:Taha Publication)  

Bab ar-rayyan ()
"The gate of the well-watered", a special gate of the garden by which the people of fasting enter.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bada' ()
Change of mind in relation to Allah's knowledge. this doctrine was held by some extreme shiite groups who would forecast certain events, and when what they predicted did not occur would say that Allah had "changed his mind".(Source:Taha Publication)

Bada'i` as-sana'i` ()
By abu bakr al-kashani (d. 587/1191), a systematic arrangement of fiqh.(Source:Taha Publication)

Badana ()
(Plural budn) a camel or a cow or an ox driven to be offered as a sacrifice, by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of makka. (cf. hady).(Source:Taha Publication)

Badawa ()
What comes suddenly upon the heart from the unseen because of joy or sorrow.(Source:Taha Publication)

Badiya ()
Desert or semi-arid environment. badr (plural budar): the full moon.(Source:Taha Publication)

Badiyyah ()
a desert or semi-arid environment.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Badl ()
(Plural abdal) a gnostic in constant contemplation of Allah, often seen in more than one place at the same time. badl means "substitute". ibn al-`arabi says: "they are seven. whoever travels from one place and leaves his body in its form so that no one recognises that he has gone, only that one is a badl." some say that they are forty.(Source:Taha Publication)

Badr ()
the first full military confrontation between the Muslims and the enemies of Allah. The battle took place between the Muslims and the Quraish of Mecca in the second year of Hijrah (624 C.E.). Eventhough the Muslims were outnumbered, the final result was to their favor.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bai al-urbun ()
'Urbun refers to the deposit or earnest money that the buyer gives the seller, on the understanding that it will be part of the buying price once the sale is finalized. In the event that the sale falls through the seller keeps this initial amount. Among the different schools, only the Hanabali's have validated al'urbun.(Source:IslamIQ)

Bai Mu'ajjal (Bay Mu'ajjal )
Sale based on deferred payment, either in a lump sum or instalments. *A sale in which the parties agree that the payment of price shall be deferred is called a Bai Mu'ajjal.
*Bai Mu'ajjal is valid if the date of payment is fixed in an unambiguous manner.
*The date of payment can be fixed either with reference to a particular date, or by specifying a period, like three months, but it cannot be fixed with reference to a future event where the exact date is unknown or uncertain. If the time of payment is unknown or uncertain, the sale is void.
*If a particular period is fixed for payment, like one month, it will be deemed to commence from the time of delivery, unless the parties have agreed otherwise.
*The deferred price may be more than the cash price, but it must be fixed at the time of sale.
*Once the price is fixed, it cannot be decreased if it was paid earlier, nor can it be increased in the case of default.
*In order to ensure the buyer pays the installments promptly, the buyer may be asked to promise that in the case of default, he will donate some specified amount for a charitable purpose. In such cases, the seller may receive such an amount from the buyer, not as part of his income, but to use it for charitable purposes on behalf of the buyer.
*If the commodity is sold on installment, the seller may put a condition on the buyer that if he fails to pay any installment on its due date, the remaining installments will become due immediately.
*In order to secure the payment, the seller may ask the buyer to furnish a security whether in the form of a mortgage, a lien or a charge on any of his existing assets.
The buyer can also be asked to sign a promissory note or a Bill of Exchange, but the note or the bill cannot be sold to a third party at a price different from its face value.Bai Salam, also spelled as Bay Salam: (Source:IslamIQ)

Bai Salam (Bay Salam)
This term refers to the advance payment for goods which are delivered later. Normally, no sale can be effected unless the goods are in existence at the time of the bargain. But this type of sale is the exception to the general rule provided the goods are defined and the date of delivery is fixed. The objects of this type of sale are mainly tangible but exclude gold or silver as these are regarded as having monetary value. Barring these, bai al-salam covers almost all things which are capable of being definitely described as to quantity, quality and workmanship. One of the conditions of this type of contract is advance payment; the parties cannot reserve their option of rescinding it but the option of revoking it on account of a defect in the subject matter is allowed. It is also applied to a mode of financing adopted by Islamic banks. It is usually applied in the agricultural sector, where the bank advances money for various inputs to receive a share in the crop, which the bank sells in the market.(Source:IslamIQ)

Bai' ()
Literally means sale. Commonly used as a prefix in referring to different types of sales: Muajjal, Murabahah, Tawliyah and Wadi'ah.(Source:IslamIQ)

Bai' Bithaman Ajil (Al) (Al-Bay-Bithaman Ajil (BBA) financing)
In modern Islamic banking, the term refers to a buying and selling transaction between the bank (or financial institution) and the customer, whereby the former buys a property (or an asset, e.g. a house) at the prevailing market price and sells it to the customer at a mark-up price where payments are made by installments over a period of time agreed upon by both parties. The profit earned by the bank is legitimate from the Shari'ah point of view since the transaction is based on a sale contract rather than a loan contract. Any predetermined profit arising from the loan is prohibited in Islam as it amounts to Riba.(Source:IslamIQ)

Baitul Mal ()
An Islamic treasury intended for the community development as well as provision for Masakeen (needy Muslims).(Source:IslamIQ)

Bakka ()
The ancient name of makka.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bakka'in ()
means weepers. These were the people that could not accompany the Prophet on his campaign to Tabuk because they lacked the resources to do so. They started to weep when they could not go.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bakka'un ()
"Those who weep constantly", a term used in reference to the early sufis in basra.(Source:Taha Publication)



Bala' ()
Affliction, trial, which is a sign of divine love and necessary for spiritual development.(Source:Taha Publication)

Balagha ()
The clear and perspicuous style of the qur'an.(Source:Taha Publication)

Balagha ()
(Plural balaghat) a hadith in which the isnad is not mentioned, but the reporter quotes the prophet directly. also called mu `allaq.(Source:Taha Publication)

Baligh ()
Someone who is an adult.(Source:Taha Publication)

Baligh ()
One who is has reached the age of maturity.(Source:IslamIQ)

Bann isra'il ()
The tribe of israel, the children or descendants of israel or ya`qub.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bann'l-asfar ()
A term used for the byzantines/romans. asfar is meant to be a name for "rum" (roman) or rum, the son of esau. some state that the roman emperors were called the `sons of sufar' and that the israelites say that this is sophar, son of eliphaz son of esau. it may mean the edomites.(Source:Taha Publication)

Baqa' ()
Going on by Allah, when the sufi returns to mankind after annihilation (fana').(Source:Taha Publication)

Baqi ()
the cemetery where a good many of the Sahabah are buried. It is in the south-east side of Madinah.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Baraka ()
Blessing, any good which is bestowed by Allah, and especially that which increases, a subtle beneficient spiritual energy which can flow through things or people.(Source:Taha Publication)

Barakah ()
means blessing or Divine Grace.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Barakallah (BARAKALLA BARAKALAH)
This is an expression which means:May the blessings of Allah (be upon you).When a Muslim wants to thank to another person, he uses different statements to express his thanks, appreciation, and gratitude. One of them is to sayBaraka Allah.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Barakallah fik ()
An expression which means: "may the blessings of Allah (be upon you)." when a muslim wants to thank another person, he uses different statements to express his thanks, appreciation, and gratitude. one of them is to say "barakAllah."(Source:Taha Publication)

Barid ()
(Plural burud) a postal stage of twelve miles, state communication and transport system, loan word from veredus (l.) via beredos (gr.)(Source:Taha Publication)

Barqa ()
Cyrenaica in modern libya.(Source:Taha Publication)

Barr ()
Pious, dutiful to one's parents; one who behaves with kindness and gentleness and is truthful.(Source:Taha Publication)

Barzakh ()
An interspace or dimension between two realities which both separates and yet links them.(Source:Taha Publication)

Barzakh ()
The interspatial life in the grave between death in this world and resurrection on the day of rising.(Source:Taha Publication)

Basira ()
Insight, discernment.(Source:Taha Publication)

Basmala ()
The expression, "in the name of Allah, the all-merciful, the all-compassionate".(Source:Taha Publication)

Basmala ()
The expression "in the name of Allah, the all-merciful, the all-compassionate".(Source:Taha Publication)

Basmalah ( bus-mal-lah)
Name for the Arabic formula pronounced by Muslims at various times for various reasons. The formula "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem," means "In the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful" and is said before any act or activity of importance, such as travelling, eating a meal, rising from sleep, etc. (Source:CIE)

Bast ()
Expansion, an involuntary state over which a human being has no control. it is the expansion of the heart in the state of unveiling which arises from hope. the opposite of qabd.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bath ()
The quickening or bringing the dead back to life at the end of the world. ba `th also means sending forth with a message. }batul:} ascetic and chaste, detached from worldly things and devoted to Allah. it is a title used for both fatima (the prophet's daughter) and maryam.(Source:Taha Publication)

Batil ()
Null and void.(Source:Taha Publication)

Batil ()
means false of falsehood.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Batil ()
Null and void.(Source:IslamIQ)

Batin ()
Inwardly hidden.(Source:Taha Publication)

Batini ()
Inward, esoteric.(Source:Taha Publication)

Batiniya ()
This usually refers to the isma`ilis who interpreted religious texts exclusively on the basis of their hidden meanings rather than their literal meanings. this type of interpretation gained currency about the 8th century among certain esoteric sects, especially the isma'ilis. they believed that beneath every obvious or literal meaning of a sacred text lay a secret, hidden meaning, which could be arrived at through ta'wil; thus, every statement, person, or object could be scrutinised in this manner to reveal its true intent. they further stated that Muhammad was only the transmitter of the literal word of god, the qur' an, but it was the imam who was empowered to interpret, through ta'wil, its true, hidden meaning.(Source:Taha Publication)

Batul ()
means ascetic. It is ascribed to Fatimah (the Prophets daughter) and the Virgin Mary.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bawadi ()
plural form of Badiyyah.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bay' ()
(Plural buyu `) sale; there are various types of sale such as munabadha, mulamasa, muhagala, mukhadara, hasa, etc.(Source:Taha Publication)


Bay'a ()
Literally it means the striking together of the hands of two contracting parties to ratify a contract; hence the act of swearing allegiance.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bay'ah ()
it is an oath of allegiance. To make a pledge.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bayaan ()
Speech(Source:IslamiCity)

Bayan ()
Clarification, elucidation: either of the substance of a meaning in the qur'an or of the meaning of that substance.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bayram ()
Turkish name for `id.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bayt al-haram ()
"The sacred house", the ka'ba.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bayt al-hikma ()
An academy founded by the `abbasid khalif al-ma'mun.(Source:Taha Publication)



Bayt al-mal ()
the State Treasury in an Islamic State.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Baytu'llah ()
"The house of Allah", the ka'ba.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bayyina ()
Oral testimony.(Source:Taha Publication)  


Bayyina ()
(Plural bayyinat) a piece of evidence which is clear and demonstrates the truth; testimony. such clear demonstrative evidence reinforces belief. bayyinat can be either verses of the qur'an or natural phenomena.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bedug ()
A drum used in indonesia to call people to the prayer in forested areas where the voice does not carry,(Source:Taha Publication)

Bektashi ()
Sufi order, popular among ottoman janissaries, founded by hajji bektash wall of khorasan (d. 739/1338). somewhat eclectic, with strong shiite tendencies.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bi shar' ()
A persian term meaning "without shari`a", a term applied to those who disregard legal obligations.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bi'l-ma`ruf ()
According to reasonable usage, in a correct and commonly acceptable manner.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bi'thah ()
the beginning of the Prophet's mission, his call to Prophethood in 610 C.E..
(Source:MSA-USC)

Bid'a haqiqiya ()
Absolute innovation.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bid'a idafiya ()
Relative innovation.(Source:Taha Publication)  


Bid`a ()
Innovation, changing the original teaching of the prophet, something introduced into islam after the formative period.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bida`a ()
(Plural bada `i) goods, merchandise; a share in a business venture.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bidayat al-mujtahid ()
"The beginning of the mujtahid" by ibn rushd, a systematic account of the principles of derivation of judgements in fiqh. his scope extends to the other schools of fiqh. some consider it to be the best book written in the maliki school.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bila kayf ()
"Without asking how", to avoid conceptualising or specifying or anthropomorphising metaphorical expressions like "hand of Allah" or "descent".(Source:Taha Publication)

Bilal ibn Rabah (bee-laal ibin ra-baah)
An early convert to Islam, he was one of the Sahabah (companions) of the Prophet. He was also the first mueddhin (caller to prayer) in Muslim history. (Source:CIE)

Bilqis ()
The queen of saba' or sheba.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bint labun ()
A two-year-old she-camel. the proper age for a camel paid in zakat for 36 to 45 camels.(Source:Taha Publication)



Bint makhad ()
A one-year-old she-camel. the proper age for a camel paid in zakat for 25 to 35 camels.(Source:Taha Publication)

Binyamin ()
Benjamin, the younger brother of the prophet yusuf.(Source:Taha Publication)

Birr ()
Kindness, solicitous regard for parents and others, piety towards Allah, gentle behaviour and regard for others, obedience to Allah.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bishr ibn al-harith ()
Abu nasr ibn al-harith al-hafi, born near marw in about 150/767 and converted from a life of dissipation. he studied hadith in baghdad and then became a mendicant, dying in baghdad in 227/841. he was much admired by ahmad ibn hanbal.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bismi'llah ar-rahman ar-rahim ()
The basmala: "in the name of Allah,the all-merciful, the all-compassionate".(Source:Taha Publication)

Bismillahir rahmanir rahim ()
This is a phrase from the Qur'an that is recited before reading the Qur'an. It is to be read immediately after one reads the phrase:A'uzu Billahi Minashaitanir Rajim.

This phrase is also recited before doing any daily activity. The meaning of it is:In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Black Muslims ()
A term designating African-Americans who adhere to the teachings of the organization known as the Nation of Islam. So-called "Black Muslims" are not to be confused with Muslims (followers of universal Islam) of African-American or African origin. Likewise, the Nation of Islam, a nationalistic organization, is not to be confused with the mainstream, universal world religion Islam. (Source:CIE)



Budala' ()
Another plural of badl. ibn al-`arabi says that they are not the same as the abdal, but are twelve other people.(Source:Taha Publication) 


Bukhl ()
Niggardliness, stinginess, avarice; denying the poor any one's excess wealth; withholding that which it is not lawful to withhold.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bulugh ()
The age of sexual maturity.(Source:Taha Publication)

Bulugh ()
The age of puberty, physical sexual maturity.(Source:Taha Publication)

Buraq (boo-raak)
A winged creature, unknown to earth, which transported Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and thence to Heaven during his miraculous Night Journey and Ascension (Isra' and Mir'aj) in 619 C.E. (Source:CIE)

Burhan ()
Demonstration, demonstrative reasoning, definite proof.(Source:Taha Publication)

Burhaniya ()
Egyptian tariqa, a branch of the shadhili tariqa.(Source:Taha Publication)

Burnz ()
Exteriorisation, being present at different places at the same time. (see badl).(Source:Taha Publication)

Busr ()
means partially ripe dates.
(Source:MSA-USC)

Busr ()
Partially ripe dates.(Source:Taha Publication)

Butriya ()
(Or batriya) a zaydi sect who said that `all was best, but that he had entrusted the imamate to abu bakr and 'umar.(Source:Taha Publication)

Buyu` ()
Sales, the plural of bay'.(Source:Taha Publication)