ISLAMIC TERMINOLOGY 
1. Before you start doing anything e.g. eating, drinking, writing, sleeping, you say BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM which means in the name of Allah, the most Kind, Merciful and Compassionate.
2. After finishing anything or accomplishing you say ALHAMDU-LILLAHI RABBIL-A’LAMEEN which means all Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe. You say the same thing after sneezing or after eating your food.
3. WHEN YOU INTEND TO DO SOMETHING, YOU SAY INSHALLAH meaning God willing.
4. When you see something very nice or beautiful e.g. sunrise, sunset, a newly born baby, a beautiful person, etc. you say MA’SHALLAH.
5. When you see or hear something very interesting or amusing, you say SUB-HANALLAH (Glory be to Allah).
6. When you see or hear something unpleasant, you say ASTAGH - FIRULLAH which means I seek Allah’s pardon.
7. When you mention or hear the name of any prophet or Imam, you say ALAIHIS SALAAM meaning peace be upon him.
8. When you hear or mention the name of Prophet Muhammad, you say SALLALLAHU-ALAIHI-WA-ALIHI-WA-SALLAM meaning peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his family.
9. SALAWAT: ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA’ MUHAMMADINW WA A’LI MUHAMMAD meaning O Allah, bless Prophet Muhammad and his pure progeny.
10. After your daily prayers, it is recommended to say the following; ALLAHU AKBER [Allah is Great] (34 times). ALHAMDU LILLAH [All Praise be to Allah] (33 times) and SUB-HANALLAH [Glory be to Allah] (33 times).
When you hear sad news e.g. about the death of someone, you say INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAJI’OON meaning TO ALLAH WE BELONG AND TO HIM SHALL WE RETURN.
KALEMA: LA ILAHA ILLALLAH. MUHAMMADAR RASOOLULLAH. ALIYYUN WALIYULLAH. WASIYYU RASOOLILLA. WA KHALIFATAHU BILA FASL.
There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) is the Messenger of Allah. Imam Ali (a.s.) is the wali (friend) of Allah. He is also the successor of the holy Prophet (pbuhf). He is the immediate successor of the holy Prophet (pbuhf).
SHAHADAH: ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA IL-LAL - LAHU WAH - DAHU LAA SHARI - KALAH.
WA ASH-HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN ABDUHU WA RASOOLUH.
WA ASH-HADU ANNA ALIYYAN WALIYULLAH
I BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO DEITY EXCEPT ALL.AH WHO HAS NO PARTNER.
AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT PROPHET MUHAMMAD IS THE SLAVE AND A MESSENGER OF ALLAH. AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT IMAM ALI IS THE FRIEND OF ALLAH.
WAJIB = OBLIGATORY
HARAM = PROHIBITTED OR FORBIDDEN.
HALAL = LAWFUL
SUNNAT (or Mustahab) = DESIRABLE
MAKRUH = UNDESIRABLE
JA’EZ = LAWFUL
MUBAH = PERMISSIBLE, LAWFUL
GHASBI = UNLAWFUL
NAMAZ (OR SALAT) = RITUAL PRAYERS
THE NAMES OF ISLAMIC MONTHS:
1) MUHARRAM
2) SAFAR
3) RABI-AL-AWWAL
4) RABI-AL-A’KHAR
5) JAMADIL-AWWAL
6) JAMADIL A’KHER
7) RAJAB
8) SHA’BAN
9) HOLY RAMADHAN
10) SHAWWAL
11) ZIL-QA’D
12) ZIL HAJJ
THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE IMAMS (the successors of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuhf) :
1). IMAM ALI A.S. (the cousin, son-in-law and the immediate successor of the Holy Prophet (pbuhf)
2). IMAM HASAN A.S. (the eldest son of Imam Ali a.s.)
3) IMAM HUSEIN A.S. (the second son of Imam Ali a.s,)
4) IMAM ALI ZAINUL A’BIDEEN A.S. (the son of Imam Husein a.s.)
5) IMAM MUHAMMAD BAQUIR A.S. (the son of the 4th Imam a.s.)
6) IMAM JA’FER SA’DIQ A.S. (the son of the 5th Imam a.s.)
7) IMAM MOOSA KADHIM A.S. (the son of the 6th Imam a.s.)
8) IMAM ALI REZA A.S. (the son of the 7th Imam a.s.)
9) IMAM MUHAMMAD TAQI A.S. (the son of the 8th Imam a.s.)
10). IMAM ALIYYUN NAQI A.S. (the son of the 9th Imam a.s.)
11) IMAM HASAN ASKARI A.S. (the son of the 10th Imam a.s.)
12) IMAM MAHDI SAHIBUZ-ZAMAN A.S. (the son of the 11th Imam a.s.).
The holy Prophet, Lady Fatema and these twelve Imams altogether make fourteen Ma’soomeen (The infallibles).
The Muslim sect that we belong to is known as Shia Ithna-Asheri sect or the Imamiyya sect which means the sect that follows the twelve Imams after the Holy prophet (pbuhf).
Names of Daily Prayers:
Subh or Fajr: meaning early morning prayers.
Zuhr: Noon Prayers
Asr: another noon prayers. [Zuhr and Asr prayers together are also known as Zohrain prayers]
Maghreeb: Evening prayers.
Isha’ another evening prayer. [Maghreeb and Isha’ prayers together are also known as Maghribain prayers].
Jumah: Friday Prayers. (Friday is our holy day and so is Thursday evening onwards)
Qur’an is our Holy Book
Khutba means sermon.
Mimber means pulpit.
A’lam means the most learned religious scholar (to seek religious guidance from).
Taqleed means following a particular religious expert (A’lam) in matter of Islamic Juries Prudence.
When you mention the name of any prophet, Imam or holy person you add “hazrat” before the name e.g. Hazrat Adam alaihis salam. Or Hazrat Fatemah alaiha salam.
Imam Ali a,s. had a very special and unique title of Ameerul Mu’mineen meaning the commander of the faithful.
ISLAMIC GREETINGS.
“SALAMUN ALAIKUM” MEANS PEACE BE WITH YOU. IF SOMEONE WISHES YOU, YOU SAY “WA ALAIKUM SALAM” MEANING AND PEACE BE WITH YOU.
FEE AMANILLA MEANS MAY ALLAH KEEP YOU UNDER HIS PROTECTION. SOMETIMES WE ALSO SAY KHUDA HAFIZ WHICH MEANS ALL THE SAME.
IT IS DESIRABLE (SUNNAT) TO SHAKE HANDS WHEN GREETING YOUR MUSLIM BROTHER.
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO HAVE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH OPPOSITE SEX EXCEPT CERTAIN KINDS OF RELATIVES E.G. YOUR WIFE, MOTHER/STEP MOTHER, SISTER/STEP SISTER, NIECES, MATERNAL AND PATERNAL AUNTS, DAUGHTER/STEP DAUGHTER, MOTHER-IN-LAW, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT GRANDMOTHER, GRAND DAUGHTER, ETC.
USOOL-E-DEEN: TAWHEED (Unity of God)
ADL (Justice of God)
NABUWAT (Prophethood)
IMAMAT (Successorship of the holy Prophet)
QIYAMAT (Day of Judgement)
BRANCHES OF RELIGION:
(1) NAMAZ (2) SAWM OR FASTING (3) HAJJ (4) ZAKAT (5) KHUMS (6) JIHAD (7) AMR BIL MA’ROOF (8) NAHI’ANIL MUNKAR (9) TAWALLA (10) TABARRA.
NAMES OF FOUR HOLY SCRIPTURES: TAWRAT, INJEEL, ZABOOR (PSALMS) AND QUR’AN
NAMES OF FOUR MIGHTY PROPHETS: HAZRAT NUH (Noah), HAZRAT IBRAHIM (Abraham), HAZRAT MOOSA (Moses), HAZRAT ISA (Jesus) AND HAZRAT HUHAMMAD (Peace and blessings be upon them all).
