Glossary


Ja'ala

"He made". Has a different meaning to "Khalaqa ,see Khaliq . Ja'ala implies "turn into", for example:

  1. "Who has made the earth your couch..." (Surah Al-Baqara (2):22).
  2. "Make me a good Muslim and at death count me amongst the believers."


Jahanam

Most commonly understood to mean Hell. In fact, it is one of the levels of Hell. There are seven levels of Hellfire:

  1. Jaheem - the shallowest level of Hell. It is reserved for those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but who ignored His commands.
  2. Jahanam - a deeper level where the idol-worshippers are to be sent on the Day of Judgement.
  3. Sa'ir - is reserved for the worshippers of fire.
  4. Saqar - this is where those who did not believe in Allah will be sent on the Day of Judgement.
  5. Ladha - will be the home of the Jews.
  6. Hawiyah - will be the abode of the Christians.
  7. Hutama - the deepest level of Hellfire. This is where the religious hypocrites will spend eternity. The worst of Allah's creation are the Munafiqeen (Hypocrites), whether they be mankind or Jinn, for they outwardly appear to accept, but inwardly reject, Allah and His Messenger.


Jaheem

The shallowest level of the Nar. It is reserved for those who believed in Allah and His Messenger Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but who ignored His commands. See Jahanam.


Jahliyah

Ignorance. This involves relying on what is other than the truth. This is why the age prior to the advent of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is called Jahiliyah. Many people believed, for example, in Allah, but tried to attain His pleasure through worshipping another medium such as a stone, fire, man, wood, animal, etc., rather than following His guidance which had been revealed to the earlier messengers. The age of Jahiliyah 'ended' when the Final Revelation, the Holy Qur'an, was revealed to mankind and the Jinn. However, it still exists wherever this Last Message from God has not reached. Any deviation from the True Path is no longer considered as Jahiliyah, but as Kufr, for the truth has been distinguished from falsehood.


Jahri

Loud recitation of the Holy Qur'an during Salaat.


Jalbab

this is a long loose fitting garment worn by the Arabs.


Jalut

Goliath. A giant and a commander who led a large army against a small, but very dedicated army under Talut (Saul). Dawood (David), peace be on him, still a young boy then, killed Jalut, thus causing a major defeat to the enemies of Allah. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Baqara (2):249-252.


Jam

Al-Muzdalifa.


Jamaha

To be uncontrollable.


Jame'

Joining two Fard (compulsory) prayers, by praying one immediately after the other, in one space of time. Under certain circumstances (for example, when a person is travelling), it is permitted to join the Fard (compulsory) prayers together:

  1. The Fajr prayer (the first compulsory prayer of the day) is not combined with any other prayer.
  2. The Duhr and 'Asr prayers (the second and third compulsory prayers of the day) may, under certain circumstances, be combined.
  3. The Maghreb and Isha prayers (the fourth and fifth compulsory prayers of the day) may also, under certain circumstances, be combined.
  4. Call only one Adhan, but two Iqamat as-Salat (one for each Salat).
  5. The Duhr, 'Asr and Isha prayers are reduced from four to two Rak' at each when doing travelling prayers during a journey which is longer than 48 miles. This reduction does not occur if the prayers are joined due to extremely bad weather.
Jame' comes in two forms:
  1. Jame' Taqdeem - early combination:
  2. Jame' Takheer - delayed combination:


Jamra

White hot coal. The term used to describe the three pillars built of stone at Mina. Plural: Jimar.


Jamrat al 'aqaba

One of the three stone pillars at Mina. One of the rites of Hajj is to throw pebbles at these stone pillars, which represent Shaitan (Satan). Plural: Jimar.


Jannah

Also spelled as Janna. Paradise. A created abode in the Hereafter for those who believe in the Unity of Allah and in all His Prophets and Messengers, and who follow their way of life. See Mursaleen. Jannah has eight gates around it and each of these eight gates has eleven doors. The names of the eight gates are:

  1. Bab al-Iman.
  2. Bab al-Jihad.
  3. Bab al-Kadhemean al-Gaidh.
  4. Bab ar-Raiyan.
  5. Bab ar-Radiyeen.
  6. Bab as-Sadaqa.
  7. Bab at-Taubah.
  8. Bab as-Salat.
Jannah has not been guaranteed to any human being or Jinn (with the exception of the messengers of Allah) before their deaths, other than the following ten men:
  1. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq.
  2. Umar ibn al-Khattab.
  3. Uthman ibn 'Affan.
  4. Ali ibn Abi Talib.
  5. Sa'ad ibn Abi Waqas.
  6. Abu Ubaida 'Amer ibn al-Jarrah.
  7. Al-Zubair ibn al-'Awam.
  8. Talha ibn Ubaidu'llah.
  9. Abdar-Rahman ibn 'Auf.
  10. Sa'is ibn Zaid.
May Allah be pleased with all of them.


Janaba

The state of a person after sexual discharge, whether intentional or otherwise. A person may not perform Salat or recite or touch the Holy Qur'an until he performs Ghusl or Tayammum. See Ghusl.


Jathiyah (Al)

"The Crouching". Surah 45 of the Holy Qur' an.


Jwej wa Majwej

Cog and Magog. Two evil empires. They are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and Ahadeeth (Bukhari and Muslim) when mentioning some of the scenes just before the final hour. See Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fitan wa Isha rat as-Say'ah. See Holy Qur' an, Al-Anbiyaa (21):96.


Jazakallahu khayran

[Other Commonly Used Spellings: JAZAKALLAHU KHAIRAN,JAZAKALLAH KHAIR,JAZAKALLAHU KHAIR ]
This is a statement of thanks and appreciation to be said to the person who does a favor. Instead of saying "thanks" (Shukran), the Islamic statement of thanks is to say this phrase. Its meaning is: " May Allah reward you for the good." It is understood that human beings can't repay one another enough. Hence, it is better to request Almighty Allah to reward the person who did a favor and to give him the best.


Jibreel, peace be upon him

The Angel Gabriel. Also called Rooh al-Qudus, "The Holy Spirit". His duty was to reveal the Word of Allah Ta'ala to His Anbiaa (Prophets). He is now sent to help the very religious against the temptations of Shaitan (Satan) at the time of death. His epithet is Roohul Amin (The Spirit of Truth) (Ash-Shu'ara (26):193). The AI-Amin is Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Baqara (2):97-98, At-Takwir (81):19-21. See Mursaleen


Jihad

  1. One of the eight gates of Jannah (Paradise). See Jannah.
  2. A holy war in the cause of Allah and His commands. Jihad takes many forms, amongst which are:


Jimar

Plural of Jamra. See Jamra and Jamarat al 'aqaba.


Jinn (Al)

"The Jinn". A race of created beings that are made out of smokeless fire. They are like the Ins (human race) in many ways:

  1. They are born, have children and die. They also have friends and family.
  2. There are Muslims and Kuffar amongst them.
  3. They eat food, but their food consists mainly of bones and stool.
They differ from us in many ways too:
  1. Their lifespan is much longer than ours.
  2. They can see us and sometimes are able to dwell within us.
  3. They need no form of transport.
  4. They need no housing. The Muslims amongst them like to live in the Masajid and pray, but the unbelievers tend to live in the bathrooms of non-religious Ins (human beings). The best way to make sure that they do not intermix with us (i.e. enter our bodies or houses or eat food with us) is to remember Allah constantly and to read the Holy Qur'an as much as possible. Surah 72 of the Holy Qur'an.


Jizya

A tax imposed on non-Muslims who are under Muslim rule.


Judiye

Place where the Ark of the Prophet Nooh (Noah), peace be on him, came to rest. Jabal (Mount) Judiye is in the Turkish district of Bothan, which is situated near the frontiers of Turkey, Syria and Iraq. See Holy Qur'an, Houd (]J):44.


Juhfa (Al)

The place to the north-west of Makka where the people of Shaam put on their Ihram when intending to go on Hajj. See Miqat.


Jum'a (Al)

"Friday". The Muslims' day of gathering together, when all Muslim males must go to the Masjid to hear the Friday Khutba (sermon) and to do the Jum'a Salat (prayer), which is prayed instead of Dhur. Surah 62 of the Holy Qur'an.


Jumada al akhira

The sixth month of the Islamic calendar. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, died on Tuesday, 22nd Jumada al-Akhira, l3AH. See Hijri


Junub

A person in the state of Janaba. See Janaba.


Juz

A part. The Holy Qur'an is divided into thiny parts. A thirtieth part of the Holy Qur'an. Plural: Ajza.