What's he chattin' about?

Words used in this issue of the magazine

Awra

The private parts. The body parts that are considered indecent to expose in public. For a man, it is between the navel and the knee, whereas for a woman, all except the face, hands and feet according to some schools of thought.

Fidya

A ransom or compensation paid for rites or acts of worship missed or wrongly performed because of ignorance or ill health.

I’tikaf

To be in seclusion, while fasting, in a mosque, particularly in the last ten days of Ramadan. A Mu’takif is one who is in a state of I’tikaf.

Kaffara

atonement, a prescribed way of making amends for wrong actions, especially missed obligatory actions. For example the Kaffara for deliberately breaking a fast is to free a slave, if this can’t be done then you must fast for 60 days consecutively, and if that can’t be done then you must feed 2 meals each to 60 poor people.

Khutba

A speech, and in particular a standing speech given by the Imam before the Jummah prayer and after the two Eid prayers.

Rayyaan

The Holy Prophet said:

"There is a gate of paradise called Rayyan through which only those will enter on the Day of Judgement who are regular in observing the fast and no one else." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Sahaba

The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This is someone who has seen the Prophet, or talked to him, at least once when the Prophet was alive.

Shirk

The unforgivable wrong action of worshipping something or someone other than Allah or associating something or someone as a partner with Him.

Tajweed

the art of reciting the Qu’ran, giving each consonant its full value.

Tawba

Returning to correct action after error, turning away from wrong action to Allah and asking His forgiveness.

Allah knows Best.