Definitions and ExplanationsIn the world of Islam, “Dhikr” refers to a type of prayer to God. Also called as “Zikr,” Dhikr literally translates to a form of invocation or remembrance. Dhikr is often done any time of day as a form of silent or personal prayers. Remembering God is done by way of reciting the various names [...]
What is Islam Religion? Islam is the name of the religion practiced by Muslims around the globe. It is based on the Qu’ran, which serves as their main book when it comes to Islamic teachings. The Qu’ran represents the actual word of God for Islamic followers and it is through this book that Muslims are [...]
What is Ijtihad? Ijtihad is the concept of making personal judgment on the various issues of life which is independent of any school of jurisprudence or the making of a choice or a decision that is not based on any teachings of Islam, but still captures the overall essence of this religion. It is said [...]
What is Jihad? Jihad as a word has Arabic roots meaning “to struggle” ,”strive”, or “labor”. It is a religious concept wherein followers of Islam are supposed to practice what they believe in despite being oppressed or persecuted. This struggle or effort may be in the form of fighting off the evil that’s within a [...]
What is Muslim? Muslim and Moslem can be used interchangeably. The word Muslim pertains to a person supporting the Islam religion. The word literally means “one who submits to God”. It was known to all that every Muslim follows Sunnah. However, disparity in defining the Sunnah in terms of “what is” and “what is not” [...]
What is Eid Mubarak? Eid Mubarak is a phrase used as a greeting by Muslims used in Islamic religious festivals Eid Al-Adha (feast of sacrifice wherein the faith of Abraham was shown through his willingness to sacrifice his son to God, after which God accepted a sacrifice of a ram instead) and Eid Ul-Fitr or [...]
What is Eid al-Adha? One of the most important religious holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world is the Eid al-Adha. In English, the term Eid al-Adha is more commonly known as “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Greater Eid”. The religious festival is celebrated to honor or remember how willingly Abraham sacrificed his son, Ishmael to [...]
What is Ramadan? The ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, Ramadan is a very important period in every Muslim’s life. It’s a period of fasting, meant to bring every man closer to religion and during this month, eating, drinking or having sexual relations are prohibited, from day to dawn. The Muslims are supposed to pray [...]
What is Darvish? Darvish is a commonly misspelled version of the word dervish, which pertains to a person in the Sufi Muslim faith who is seeking a path of asceticism. An ascetic is someone who lives a life whose main purpose is to seek spiritual and religious enlightenment. Thus, a dervish is the Sufi Muslim [...]
What is Insha Allah? Insha Allah is a generally Islamic expression used by Muslims which means “God willing”. While other religions from Arabic countries also use the expression, it is more closely tied to Islam because of the use of Allah, the term for God used by Muslims. The term insha’Allah is used when speaking [...]
What is Eid? Eid is the shorthand for Eid ul-Fitr, which is the Islamic celebration for the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting, which aims to strengthen a Muslim’s faith. Eid is a three day celebration marked with festivities, food feasts and gift giving. The term “Eid ul-Fitr” literally means “festivity [...]
What is Qiyam al-Layl? A practice in Islam, Qiyam al-Layl is a prayer made outside of the five mandatory daily prayers in a Muslim’s life. Also called Taraweeh, the prayer is recited during Ramadan. Qiyam al-Layl literally means “standing at night”, referring to how the prayer is recited, punctuated by the occasional bowing and sitting. [...]
What is Pashtunwali? Pashtunwali is an unwritten code of ethics used by the Pashtun tribes people of the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. It is also interpreted as the “way of the Pashtuns” or the “code of life”. It is also practiced by many Afghan and Pakistani non-Pashtuns who live in close proximity of Pashtun communities. Pashtunwali is [...]
Islam is one of the major religions of the world, and the second biggest in terms of following with roughly 1.57 billion followers worldwide. Islam, a monotheistic religion, follows the Qu’ran or the Islamic holy book, which they believe to be the verbatim and literal word of God as told through the prophet Muhammad. Islam, [...]
