By Puja Gupta
New Delhi, May 25 (IANSlife) Muslims across the globe are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr as this holy month of Ramadan comes to an end. Ramadan signifies the end of the month of fasting (the first day of the month of Shawwal). There are many Ismalic words related to the festival that hold significance. Here’s our version of an A to Z of words, names, concepts which you should know:
A- Allah
Allah is the Arabic word referring to God in Islam. Muslims across the globe offer prayers to Allah on Eid.
B- Bismillah
Bismillah is a phrase in Arabic meaning “in the name of God”. It is also the first word in the Quran, and refers to the Quran’s opening phrase, the ‘Basmala’.
C-Chaand Raat
It is an Urdu word used for the eve of Eid ul-Fitr. It can also mean a night with a new moon for the new Islamic month shawwal. The sighting of the new moon.
E- Eidi
Gifts or cash that is usually given to children by elder relatives and family friends as part of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
F- Fitrah
Fitrah in Ramadan is the charity which is obligatory to give after the sighting of Eid ul Fitr moon. This charity is given by the head of the family on behalf of each family member.
G-Ghafara
Ghafara means “to cover, hide, conceal, forgive, give protection, set the affairs right, suppress the defect”. During Ramadan, amidst the fasting and extra prayers, it’s believed that God further instructs the Muslim through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad that humanity should seek God’s forgiveness from all past indiscretions, and ask that they be protected against future indiscretions.
H-Halal
Halal is a notion that applies to both objects and actions, and means permissible according to Islamic law. It may be most often associated with food and the rules of selecting, slaughtering, and cooking animals.
I-Idgah
Idgah is the open-air enclosure usually in mosques or other areas reserved for Eid prayers offered in the morning of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
K-Khutbah
A talk or sermon delivered in mosques before Friday prayers and special occasions.
L-La-ilaha-illa-llah
La ilah illa Allah in Arabic means no god, except Allah. This implies that there is no deity worthy of worship except the one who created everything, i.e. Allah. Muslims believe that this statement is the purpose of creating humanity.
M-Muhammad
Muhammad was the prophet and founder of Islam. Muslims consider Muhammad as the most important prophet as they believe he was the chosen recipient and messenger of the word of God through the divine revelations. Muslims from all walks of life strive to follow his example.
N-Niyyat
A person’s intention when fasting, is to bring him/herself closer to God.
P-Prophets of Islam
Prophets in Islam are individuals who Muslims believe were sent by God to various communities in order to serve as examples of ideal human behaviour and to spread God’s message on Earth.
R-Ramadan
Ramadan or Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
S-Savaiyan
A sweet dish made of vermicelli which is an Eid-ul-Fitr staple among Muslims across India
T-Takbir
It is a common Islamic Arabic expression, used in various contexts by Muslims; in formal Salah (prayer), in the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer), as an informal expression of faith, in times of distress or joy, or to express resolute determination or defiance and for war cry.
U-Ubudiyah
Ubudiyah or reliance on Allah is an element in the Islamic management – Islam as a whole, which includes the management of self, family, or organisation… The principle of Ubudiyah comprises the elements of Confident with Allah, Trust in Allah, and Sincere in Allah
W-Wudu
Wudu is an Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, in preparation for prayer and worship
Z-zakat
It is the payment made annually under Islamic law on certain kinds of property and used for charitable and religious purposes, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
(Puja Gupta can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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