Occultation
The hidden state of the Twelfth Shia Imam in Islamic theology, during which the Imam is believed to communicate differently with the community.
Old and New Testaments: The Testimony of the Qurʾān
Explore the references in the Qurʾān to the sacred scriptures of the Jews and Christians, highlighting the respect and acknowledgment given by Prophet Muḥammad.
Old Testament - Al-ʿAhdu ʾl-ʿAtīq: Definition, Etymology, and Significance in Islam
Discover the Islamic perspective on the Old Testament, referenced as Al-ʿAhdu ʾl-ʿAtīq, and explore its significance, as well as figures and events mentioned in the Islamic texts.
Omar Hassan al-Bashir
Sudanese military general and former president who led a coup d'état in 1989 and implemented Islamic policies in Sudan.
Omar Khayyam
Persian polymath known for his contributions in philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and poetry.
Ommiades - Definition, Etymology, and Historical Significance
Discover the history and significance of the Ommiades (Banū Umaiyah) dynasty in Islamic history, their notable leaders, and the impact they had on the Islamic world. Learn about their rule from A.H. 41 (A.D. 661) to A.H. 132 (A.D. 750), key figures, and eventual downfall.
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
An intergovernmental organization established to promote Islamic solidarity, economic cooperation, and international peace among member states.
Orientalists
Scholars who historically studied classical texts in various Asian languages, focusing on ancient cultures and civilizations.
Orphans (Yatīm)
Explore the term 'yatīm' in Islamic context, its definitions, cultural and legal implications, and its significance as reflected in the Qur’an.
Osama bin Laden
Militant extremist leader and founder of the al-Qaeda network
Osman, Fathi
Egyptian-born academic, writer, and leading Muslim liberal thinker, known for advocating Islamic reform based on democracy and human rights.
Osmania University
Osmania University, founded in 1917 in Hyderabad by Rafat Yar Jung and Jamal al-Din al-Afghani, is one of the oldest and largest institutions of higher learning in India, notable for using Urdu as the medium of instruction.
Pact of Umar
Historical treaty attributed to the second caliph, Umar ibn Khattab, that regulates the activities of non-Muslims under Islamic rule.
Padri Movement
Sumatran revivalist movement (1803–37) associated with religious reform, commercialization of the coffee industry, and resistance to Dutch imperialism.
Pakistan Democratic Alliance
Political coalition in Pakistan formed in 1990, consisting of the Pakistan People's Party and Tahrik-i Nifaz-i Fiqh-i Jafariyyah, opposed by the Islamic Democratic Alliance.
Pakistan Muslim League
Political party that played a pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan and subsequently ruled in various eras.
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
An umbrella organization established in 1964 to represent Palestinian interests and goals of liberation and independence.
Pan-Islamism
Pan-Islamism is an ideology advocating for sociopolitical solidarity among all Muslims.
Pancasila
The core ideology of the Indonesian government incorporating five principles aimed at promoting pluralism and unity.
Partai Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS)
Comprehensive overview and history of the Islamic political party in Malaysia known as the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS)
Partai Muslimin Indonesia (Parmusi)
An Indonesian political party formed in 1960 after the Islamic modernist party Masjumi was banned.
Parti du Peuple Algérien
Political party formed in Algeria in 1937 by Messali al-Hajj, following the dissolution by the French government of the Etoile Nord-Africaine. The party aimed for national independence through spontaneous mass uprisings but was banned in 1945.
Parwez, Ghulam Ahmad
Modernist Islamic thinker known for his rejection of hadith as a source of Islamic law.
Peter the Venerable
Abbot of Cluny who initiated efforts for better Christian understanding of Islam and commissioned the first Latin translation of the Quran.
Pickthall, Muhammad Marmaduke
British translator of the Quran into English and influential figure in early 20th-century Islamic thought.
Pillars of Islam
The five primary obligatory acts of worship and practice in Islam, also known as the arkan al-Islam.
Plato
Greek philosopher whose works influenced Islamic philosophy and were partially translated into Arabic through prominent Islamic scholars.
Plunder (Ghanīmah) in Islam: Definition, Etymology, and Legal Context
Explore the concept of plunder (Ghanīmah) in Islam, its definitions, legal implications, and historical context. Understand how spoils of war are treated under Islamic law and their distribution among the Muslim community.
Pluralism in Islam
The concept of religious inclusiveness in Islam that acknowledges and respects the legitimacy of other faiths.
Pork
Prohibition of pork consumption in Islam
Postmodernism and Islam
Exploration of the intersections between postmodernism and Islam, particularly in the context of hermeneutics and interpretation of religious teachings.
Prayers for the Dead
Explore the concept of prayers for the dead in Islam, based on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Understand their significance, traditions, and the theological basis for these practices.
Privacy of Dwellings - Islamic Teachings and Qur'anic Injunctions
Explore the concept of privacy of dwellings in Islam, as established by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'anic injunctions. Understand the importance of asking permission before entering a house.
Prophethood
The role and significance of prophethood in Islam, encompassing divine communication and moral guidance for humankind.
Punishments of the Grave [ʿAdhābu 'l-Qabr] - Definition, Significance and Perspectives in Islam
An in-depth exploration of the concept of 'ʿAdhābu 'l-Qabr' (Punishments of the Grave) in Islam, its theological underpinnings, descriptions, and its impact on Muslim beliefs and practices.
Qabd (Contraction)
A stage of mystical or spiritual development in Sufism characterized by feelings of constriction and sadness, often in response to the divine attributes of majesty and severity.
Qabr
Understand 'Qabr,' its etymology, Islamic rituals associated with graves, and the cultural significance in the Muslim world. Learn about burial rites, their spiritual importance, and how graves are maintained in Islamic tradition.
Qadar (قدر)
Explore the term 'Qadar' (قدر), its connotations in Islamic theology, and its importance within the context of fate, predestination, and the Qur'anic framework. Understand how Qadar shapes the Muslim worldview.
Qadari Tariqah
Sufi order founded posthumously by followers of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (Gilani), known for its Hanbali legal orientation and widespread influence.
Qadariyyah
Classical Islamic theological school emphasizing human free will and responsibility for actions.
Qadhf
Islamic legal term for slander, defamation, or false accusation, particularly of adultery, punishable by flogging.
Qadi Abd al-Jabbar
Prominent Mutazili theologian and chief justice known for his contributions to Islamic theology and jurisprudence.
Qadīm (قديم)
Understand the term 'Qadīm,' its implications and usage in Islamic context. Explore both its linguistic roots and theological significance.
Qadisiyyah, Battle of
A pivotal 637 CE battle between Arabs and Persians marking the collapse of the Sasanian empire and opening Persia to Arab-Muslim conquest.
Qadiyyah
A legal proceeding, an action in law, a case, a lawsuit, or a legal dispute in Islamic law.
Qahtani, Muhammad al-
Self-declared Mahdi and central figure in the 1979 seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Qajar Dynasty
Turkic tribal dynasty that ruled Iran between 1796 and 1925, known for ending the eighteenth-century civil strife and being succeeded by the Pahlavi dynasty.
Qalam
Explore the term 'Qalam,' its etymological roots, and its profound significance in Islamic thought. Learn about its representation in the Qur'an and its theological implications.
Qalandar
A Persian term for mendicant Sufi mystics unattached to any specific shaykh or order, known for their disheveled appearance and unconventional public demonstrations of devotion.
Qanun
Laws and regulations enacted by a government to supplement Islamic law, originating and taking prominent role under the Ottoman sultans.
Qaramanli Dynasty
Turkish dynasty that ruled Ottoman Tripolitania, Cyrenaica, and Fezzan from 1711 to 1835, noted for its semi-autonomy, pirate patronage, and trade agreements.
Qaramita
A prominent Ismaili Shii group who established a state in the ninth century, later known for their challenge against the Abbasids and significant raids in the Islamic world.
Qarawiyin University
The Qarawiyin University: An Islamic Institution of Higher Learning in Fez, Morocco
Qardawi, Yusuf
Yusuf Qardawi, influential Egyptian Islamic activist and ideologue notable for advocating an Arab-Islamic identity and the reestablishment of a universal caliphate
Qasāmah (قسامة‎) - Definition, Etymology, and Legal Significance in Islam
Understand the concept of Qasāmah in Islamic jurisprudence, its origins, legal implications, and its similarities to laws found in other religious texts. Explore the use of oaths in resolving cases of unsolved murders within a community.
Qasida
A polythematic poem, typically structured as an ode, distinguished by stringent metrical rules and focused on several primary themes.
Qassam, Izz al-Din al-
Syrian Islamic activist who organized armed resistance against Zionist movement and British authorities
Qattāt (قتات)
Explore the term 'Qattāt,' its etymology, implications, and significance in Islamic context. Understand the social and ethical repercussions of tale-bearing and why it is condemned in the Hadith literature.
Qazi Husayn Ahmad
Prominent leader of Jamaat-i Islami in Pakistan (1987-2009), influential in Pakistan's Afghan policy and global Muslim resistance movements
Qiblah
Direction Muslims face during prayer, including architectural and organizational aspects
Qimār
Explore the concept of 'Qimār,' its implications, and its prohibition in Islamic teachings. Learn about the perspectives on games of chance and their impact on the life of Muslims.
Qisas
An Islamic legal concept pertaining to prescribed forms of retribution for murder, manslaughter, and physical injuries.
Qisās (قود)
Explore the concept of Qisās (قود), its implications, and application in Islamic law. Understand how Qisās serves as a form of legal retribution, including the principles and ethical considerations involved.
Qissah
A term in Arabic denoting a 'narrative' or 'story,' rooted in classical and contemporary Arabic literature.
Qiyas
The application of analogical reasoning in Islamic law to deduce legal prescriptions from the Qur'an or Sunnah.
Qiyās (قياس‎)
Understand the concept of Qiyās in Islam, a cardinal principle involving analogical reasoning grounded in Qur'ān, Ḥadīs̤, and Ijmāʿ. Learn its conditions, types, and practical applications.
Qom
Qom is a leading center of Shii theological seminaries and site of Hazrat-i Masumah, a crucial Shii shrine in Iran, also known for its historical, political, and educational significance.
Qubbat al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock)
Muslim shrine erected circa 692 in the Haram al-Sharif, Jerusalem, situated on the site of the rock where, according to Muslim tradition, the Prophet Muhammad ascended during his Mi'raj.
Qudrah (قدرة‎)
Explore the term 'Qudrah,' its etymological roots, theological implications, and significance in Islamic thought. Discover how 'Qudrah' encapsulates the divine attribute of omnipotence and its role in Islamic theology.
QURBĀN (قربان‎)
Explore the term 'QURBĀN (قربان‎),' its meanings, origins, and how it is used in the Islamic religious context. Understand the significance of sacrificial offerings in Islamic tradition and references in the Qur'an.
Qutb
Axis, pivot, or pole in Sufi thought representing the human manifestation of divine consciousness.
Qutb, Muhammad
Important intellectual of the Egyptian Islamic movement and author of influential works in Islamic modernity
Qutb, Sayyid
Overview of Sayyid Qutb's life, his contributions to Islamist thought, and his influential works
Ra'y (Ray)
Ra'y refers to expedient and free reasoning in the field of Islamic law, practiced as a means of exercising ijtihad in the early years of Islam.
Rabb
Rabb - the Lord, master, or owner, often referring to God in Islamic theology.
Rabbani, Burhanuddin
Former president of Afghanistan and leader of the Jamiat-i Islami party.
Rabiah al-Adawiyah
A seminal female mystic who introduced the doctrine of selfless love into Sufism.
Radd (رد)
Radd: To send back or take back; to refute or respond. In Islamic law, it most often refers to taking back a repudiated wife.
Radicalism in Islam
An exploration of radicalism within the Islamic context, highlighting its distinction from mainstream values and its regulation by Islamic law.
Rahmani Tariqah
A suborder of the Khalwati tariqah, rooted in the Kabyle region of Algeria and known for its significant sociopolitical influence.
Rais
Head, leader, or president of a social or political organization; president of a state in an Islamic context.
RAJĪM
Discover the term 'Rajīm,' its etymology, historical background, and importance in Islamic theology and religious practices.
Rajʿah
Rabʿah refers to the anticipated return of a messianic figure in Shi'a Islam, particularly the Hidden Imam, as prophesied in Islamic eschatology.
Rakah
Act of prostration accompanying ritual prayers in Islam
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
Raniri, Nuruddin al-
Seventeenth-century Indian scholar and author influential in the Islamic intellectual tradition in Southeast Asia
Rashti, Sayyid Kazim
A leading Shii Shaykhi figure, succeeding Shaykh Ahmad Ahsai, involved in early Sufism and Shii gnostic debates.
Rasul
Messenger of God, a term used in the Qur'an to refer to Muhammad and other prophets.
Rasūl (رسول‎)
Explore the term 'Rasūl,' its meanings, implications, and how it is used in the Islamic context. Understand the differences between a Rasūl and other types of Prophets.
Raṭl, Riṭl (رطل‎)
Explore the term 'Raṭl, Riṭl (رطل‎),' its definition, usage, and significance in Islamic texts and everyday life, along with its varying weights and measures across different regions.
Rawafid
Derogatory term historically used by Sunnis to describe Shiis who reject the early caliphs.
Rawdah, al-
A significant area within the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, associated with gardens of paradise in hadith literature, as well as an island in the Nile with historical military and residential significance.
Rawzah Khani
Narrative accounts of Imam Husayn's martyrdom, commemorated through recitations and chanting.

Dictionary of Islam

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