I is for Islām, Īmān and Ihsān

‘ibād
servants of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā (s: ‘abd)

‘ibāda
worship of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā (pl: ‘ibādāt: acts of worship)

Iblīs
the proper name for satan, the Jinn who disobeyed Allāh, and was expelled from His Mercy

ibn
son (pl: abnā’)

ibn u’l waqt
The man of each moment. A sūfī who takes things as they come, moment by moment, and does not worry about the future as he totally relies on Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā, content with what He has ordained. At the same time, he tries to do his best in each endeavour, again following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, and relying on Allāh, that He will guide him to what is best

‘ibra
lesson, admonition. The stories of the noble Prophets ‘alayhimussalām have been given in the Qur’ān for us to draw lessons from

ibtidā
beginning

‘Īd u’l Adhā
the feast of sacrifice, the festival celebrating the Hajj (Pilgrimage) on the 10^th of Dhu’l Hijja. It celebrates the preparedness of Nabī Ibrāhīm ‘alayhissalām to sacrifice his son Nabī Ismā‘īl ‘alayhissalām at the Command of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. Allāh accepted Nabī Ibrāhīm’s obedience, and sent Hadrat Jibrīl ‘Alayhissalām who brought a lamb to be sacrificed instead. Muslims all over the world celebrate this universally historic, awesome and unique event every year by sacrificing a lamb or a goat on behalf of themselves, and on behalf of as many family members as they can afford. Some extended families sacrifice as many as 30 sheep or goats. On this occasion, Muslims express their joy with resounding takbīr:

Allāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar
Lā Ilāha Illallāh
Wallāhu Akbar Allāhu Akbar
Wa Lillāhi’l Hamd

Allāh is Most Great, Allāh is Most Great, Allāh is Most Great
None is worthy of worship except Allāh,
and Allāh is Most Great,
Allāh is Most Great,
and for Allāh is the Praise

‘Īd u’l Fitr
the festival that marks the end of fasting in the month of Ramadān on the first day of the following month of Shawwāl

‘Īd Mīlād u’n Nabī
the joyous annual world-wide celebration of the blessed birth of the Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam on 12^th Rabī‘ u’l Awwal. Joining the people in this celebration are the angels and the jinn, the birds and the fish, the camels and the gazelles, the mountains and the soft breeze, and the flowers and their petals. Across every valley and alley can be heard the salāms (greetings of peace) to our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam recited in standing ovation to him:

Yā Nabī Salām ‘Alayka
Yā Rasūl Salām ‘Alayka
Yā Habīb Salām ‘Alayka
Salawātullāh ‘Alayka

O Prophet! Greetings of Peace to you
O Prophetic Messenger! Greetings of peace to you
O Beloved! Greetings of peace to you
May the blessings of Allāh be upon you

‘Īd mubārak
“Blessed ‘Īd!” This is the greeting on the day of ‘Īd

‘idda
waiting period (of four months and ten days for a widow or a divorcee before she can remarry, to ascertain whether or not she is pregnant so as to avoid confusion regarding the paternity of any child born after the new marriage)

idhn
permission

Idhnillāh
Will or Permission of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā

‘iffa
chastity, purity, modesty

ifk
calumny, lie

Ifrād
In this type of Hajj, the intention is made to perform Hajj only, without the 'Umrah

iftār
breaking the fast at sunset

Ihrām
the state of ritual sanctity for Pilgrimage. During this, the pilgrim, wearing two seamless woolen or linen towels or sheets, usually white, neither combs, nor shaves and observes sexual abstinence to please Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā;
garment of the Pilgrim. Women in ihrām wear their usual dress covering themselves, except their hands and face

ihsān
spiritual excellence. Moral excellence with perfect faith and total sincerity in fulfilling the Commandments of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. Ihsān has been defined by Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam as: "To worship Allāh as though you saw Him; for although you do not see Him, yet He sees you."

ihtifāl
celebration

ihtirām
respect, esteem, reverence

ihtiyāt
caution, precautionary measure

i‘jāz al-Qur’ān
“Miraculousness of the Qur’ān”; argument for its inimitability, that it cannot be imitated, that is to say, no human being can reproduce the like of the Qur’ān, not even one verse; that it can only be the Word of Allāh, not of any human. The Qur’ān challenges the non-believers to produce even one sūrah (chapter) resembling it and to this day, they have failed to produce it, nor will they ever be able to do so.
The Holy Qur’ān, the eternal uncreated Word of Allāh was revealed by Allāh through Archangel Jibrīl ‘alayhissalām to Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam over a period of 23 years of his Prophetic mission. We also have the Hadīth (Sayings) of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam over this period which have been compiled separately as Books of Hadīth. We find that the language of the Qur’ān is completely different from the language of Hadīth although the words of the Qur’ān and the words of the Hadīth were uttered by the same blessed tongue of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam. The language of the Hadīth is the language of the most eloquent human being who is the best of Allāh’s creation while the language of the Qur’ān cannot be that of anyone other than Allāh, the Lord of the worlds, the One and Only True God Who is worthy of worship

ijāza
authorization or permission granted by a shaykh to teach Islām in general or to recite specific text(s)

al-ijmā‘
consensus of opinion of Muslim legal experts on some legal detail. Such consensus is considered one of the sources of Islamic law

ikhlās
sincerity, sincere devotion to Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā

al-Ikhlās
The Sincerity. Al-Ikhlās is the name of Sūrah 112 of the Holy Qur’ān which is recommended to be recited at least three times, preferably eleven times before going to bed at night. It consists of four momentous verses about Divine Unity and Pure Islamic Monotheism. Its recitation three times merits the same reward as the recitation of the whole Qur’ān

ikhlās al ‘amal
sincere devotion in performing deeds

ikhtilāf
difference (of opinion); refers to the difference in interpretation of Muslim law which according to a Saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad is a sign of the Mercy of Allāh. These differences do not relate to general principles but to minor matters of detail about the performance of religious duties

ikhtiyār
self-will, personal preference. A Muslim abandons personal preference if it goes against Allāh’s Commands (pl: ikhtiyārāt)

ikrāh
coercion (lā ikrāha fiddīn: There is no coercion in religion)

ikrām
honor; hospitality; generosity

Ilallāhi’l masīr
to Allāh is the end of all the journeys

ilhām
inspiration bestowed by Allāh on his Friends (the awliyā Allāh)

‘Illiyyūn
Register of good deeds (with Allāh); the book where the acts of the righteous are recorded

‘ilm
knowledge. It is obligatory on Muslims, both male and female, to seek knowledge. Muslims have been urged to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. The first madrasa (religious school) is the mother’s lap, so Muslim mothers make every effort to be knowledgeable about Islām, and try to be scrupulously pious (pl: ‘ulūm)

‘ilm al-akhlāq
ethics, the study of morals and good manners

‘ilm al-bātin
internal knowledge, esoteric learning, hidden or "inner learning" about spiritual matters

‘ilm u’l farāid
the law of inheritance

al-‘ilm al-ladunī
knowledge bestowed directly by Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā on His Friends (awliyā’ Allāh) as a gift from Him. Such knowledge might be obtained through true dreams, inner-sight, waking vision, meeting rijāl u’l ghayb (men of the unseen), tajallī (flashes of spiritual light), ilhām (inspiration), kashf (unveiling of spiritual mysteries) or through other means

‘ilm u’n nāfi‘
useful knowledge, which we should always pray for

‘ilm u’t Tawhīd
knowledge of the Unity of Allāh, study of Pure Monotheism, knowledge of the Muslim creed, what Muslims believe in

‘ilm u’t tibb
the science of medicine

‘ilm al-yaqīn
sure and certain knowledge

‘ilm az-zāhir
external knowledge, manifest knowledge (of Muslim law, for example, which is one of the first pre-requisites to begin to be a practicing Muslim)

‘imād
support, pillar (pl: ‘amad)

‘Imād u’d Dīn
The pillar of religion, a title bestowed upon a Muslim shaykh

imām
Muslim leader; the word imām refers to various types of Muslim leaders, for example: the leader of all the Muslims; the leader of a part of the Muslim community; the leader of the congregational prayer and the leading Muslim scholars of each generation (pl: a’imma)

Imām u’l Mursalīn
The leader of all the Prophetic Messengers of Allāh. A title of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam

Imām u’l A‘zam
the greatest Imām, a title of Imām Abū Hanīfa Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu

‘imāma
turban (pl: ‘amā’im)

īmān
true faith (of a Muslim in the religion of Islām), the light of faith that shines in the heart; the conviction that Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā is indeed the only One Who is worthy of worship and that Sayyidinā wa Mawlānā Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam is His Final Prophet

‘Imrān
the father of Prophet Mūsā and Prophet Hārūn, ‘alayhimussalām. Also the name of Sayyidatinā Maryam’s father, ‘alayhimussalām

imsāk
the time when the fast begins before Fajr salāh (dawn prayer)

imtihān
test, examination. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā puts people to trial to test their worth

‘inab
grape. This is one of the bounties which Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā has provided for which we have to be thankful to Him (pl: a‘nāb)

in‘ām
reward, award

‘ināya
His (Allāh’s) providential care, loving concern; solicitude

Injīl
the original scripture that was revealed by Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā to Nabī ‘Īsā ‘alayhissalām (Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him) through Angel Jibrīl ‘alayhissalām

innā Lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji‘ūn
“surely, we are for Allāh and indeed to Him we are returning”, said in consolation when someone passes away or is afflicted by a misfortune

ins
man (pl: unās)

insāf
justice. Muslims should try to follow the example set by our Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam in establishing justice at home, in our community, in our country and internationally

insān
man

al-Insān al-Kāmil
the perfect man, refers to the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafā, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam

in shā’ Allāh
"if Allāh wills," said whenever one refers to the future

iqāma
the call to commence the five times daily obligatory prayer.
Adhān is given to call the Muslims to prayer. Once the Muslims are gathered in the masjid and have performed Sunnah prayers individually, then we have the iqāma which is the call to the congregation to commence the obligatory prayer. It is meritorious to give both the adhān and the iqāma even if one is praying alone at home or at any other place.
The wordings of the iqāma are similar to the wordings of the adhān except that in the iqāma, we add qad qāmati’s salāh (the prayer has commenced) which is recited twice after hayya ‘ala’l falāh (come to success)

iqra’
“Recite!” This was the first word of the Holy Qur’ān to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam by the Archangel Jibrīl ‘alayhissalām. From this, we can fathom the importance of recitation, reading and learning in Islām

iqrār (bi’l-lisān)
verbal declaration (of one’s faith and belief)

iqtisād
moderation, adopting a middle course, being frugal (but not miserly)

‘īr
caravan. O Allāh! Put us in the caravan of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam (syn: rakb)

irāda
aspiration, desire, wish (to follow Allāh's Commands)

al-Irāda
The Intention (of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā)

‘ird
good repute

‘irfān
spiritual insight

irshād
guidance, religious guidance

irth
inheritance, heritage, legacy

‘Ishā’
night prayer, one of the five daily obligatory prayers

ishāra
allusion, symbolism, a hint from the shaykh conveying matters of spiritual significance

‘ishq
love (for Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā and his beloved Prophet Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam)

ishrāq
sunrise

Iskandar
Alexander

islāh
to set things right

islāh u’n nafs
to set oneself right, to improve oneself morally

Islām
a universal religion ordained by Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā for the whole of mankind till the end of time preached by Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam in its final and complete form and preached by Prophets before him. It is a religion of pure monotheism that teaches worship of the One and Only True God, Allāh

ism
name (pl: asmā’)

al-Ism al-A‘zam
the Greatest Name of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. Allāh has ninety-nine Most Beautiful Names of which the greatest is Allāh

Ism al-Dhāt
the Proper Name of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. Allāh has ninety-nine Most Beautiful Names. His Proper Name is Allāh, the rest are Asmā’ u’s-Sifāt (Attributive Names)

‘isma
chastity, purity, Allah’s preservation of the Prophets from wrong-doing

isnād
the chain of authorities who conveyed a Hadīth (Saying) of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam (pl: asānid)

al-Isrā’
the night journey of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, from Makka to Al-Quds (Jerusalem). Al-Mi‘rāj is his heavenly ascension from Masjid al-Aqsā in Jerusalem and his return back to Makka

isrāf
wastefulness (is makrūh or disliked)

Isrāfīl
the angel who will blow the Trumpet on the Day of Judgment to herald it

istaghātha
to call for succour, to call for help

istighfār
begging forgiveness of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. If someone sincerely begs forgiveness of Allāh, Allāh relieves him of all his worries, removes all his difficulties, and provides him with bounties that cannot be counted. If someone recites Astaghfirullāh li’l mu’minīna wa’l mu’mināt (O Allāh! Forgive all the Muslim men and Muslim women) 27 times every day, Allāh answers all his prayers, and he is raised to the level of abdāl which is a high rank of sūfī saints

Istikhāra
asking Allāh to guide one to the right sort of action concerning an important endeavour. A two rak‘a prayer is offered for this purpose with a special du‘ā (supplication)

istilām
to kiss Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone) in the Ka‘ba in Makka

istinjā’
washing the private parts with water after urinating or passing stool

istiqāma
rectitude, steadfastness, standing firm in following Islām at all times

istiqbāl u’l qibla
facing the direction of prayer which is the Ka‘ba in Makka to pray salāh. It is also recommended to face in the direction of the Ka‘ba to recite the Qur’ān

istislām
obedience, obedient submission (to Allāh)

īthār
altruism, giving others preference over oneself. When Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam migrated with his Companions from Makka to Madīna, the Ansār (Helpers) of Madīna gave preference to the Muhājirīn (Emigrants) from Makka over their own-selves

ithm
sin, committing an unlawful deed

i‘tikāf
staying for a prolonged period in the masjid, especially in the last ten days of the month of Ramadān with the intention of worship, as was practiced by the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam

i‘tiqād
firm belief, firm conviction

i‘tizāl
withdrawal or secession, the theology of that deviant group which withdrew from the circle of Shaykh Hasan al-Basrī Rahmatullāhi ‘alayh and who became known as the Mu‘tazila sect

‘itr
perfume. To apply perfume is a Prophetic tradition. A Muslim is expected to be neat, clean, smiling, pleasant, and fragrant, both outwardly and inwardly in the heart

‘itratihi
members of his (Prophet Muhammad’s) Family

‘itq
freeing, emancipation (of a slave). For example, Sayyidinā Abū Bakr as-Siddīq Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu bought the freedom of slaves by paying off their masters (syn: i‘tāq)

itqān
perfection, mastery

ittibā‘
following (the path of Islām, following the Qur’ān and the Sunnah). Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā says in the Holy Qur’ān that if you claim to love Allāh, then you should obey Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, and if you do indeed obey the Prophet, then Allāh will love you

‘Izz u’d dīn
The honour of religion, one of the titles bestowed on spiritual masters, the name or title of a Muslim

‘izza
honour, glory, esteem, strength. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā says in the Holy Qur’ān, verse (63:8) that honour belongs to Him, to His Prophet, Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, and to the Muslims

Al-Fātiha!