J is for Jannah

ja‘ala
He (Allāh) made, appointed, assigned, established

jā’a
to come. Our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam came to guide the whole of humanity to the Straight Path of Islām till the end of time. Humanity is welcome to accept his guidance and act upon it

jabal
hill, mountain. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā says in the Holy Qur’ān that if the Qur’ān had descended on a mountain, the mountain would have rent itself asunder with the fear of Allāh. But such was the tremendous spiritual stature of our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafā Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam that his heart accepted the Holy Qur’ān (pl: jibāl)

jabal ar-Rahma
the mountain of Mercy in the plain of ‘Arafa where Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam delivered his last sermon (Khutba). To pray near it is Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) and has a special degree of acceptance with Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā

jabal Thawr
mount Thawr near Makka. Prophet Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, and Sayyidinā Abū Bakr as-Siddīq, Rady Allāhu ‘Anhu, hid in a cave in mount Thawr at the start of their migration to Madīna to escape persecution

jabal Uhud
the mountain of Uhud to the north of Madīna which loved Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam and the beloved Prophet Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam loved it too

jadal
argumentation. The Qur’ān specifically prohibits argumentation during Hajj (syn: jidāl)

jadd
paternal or maternal grandfather

jaddah
paternal or maternal grandmother

jadhba
attraction exerted by Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā on His servant (‘abd); rapture, to be captivated (as in the remembrance of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā) (pl: jadhabāt)

jāh
status, honour, glory, fame, prestige, dignity

jāh an-Nabī
the unparalleled honour and dignity of our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam

jahāla
ignorance

Jahannam
hell, a place where sinners will be punished in the Hereafter for their sins

jahbadh
expert, great scholar

jāhil
an ignorant person

jāhiliyya
the pre-Islamic state of ignorance

al-Jahīm
one of the names of hell, blaze

jahr
reciting out loud

jāiz
allowed, permitted in sharī‘ah (sacred Muslim law)

Jalāl
Majesty, Splendour (of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā)

Jalāl u’d dīn
The majesty of religion, the name of a Muslim or a title bestowed on a shaykh (spiritual master), for example: Mawlānā Jalāluddīn Rūmī, Rahmatullāhi ‘alayh

Jalla Jalāluh
Majestic is His (Allāh’s) Majesty

Jālūt
Goliath whom Nabī Dāwūd ‘Alayhissalām killed in battle. More than a billion Muslims celebrate this victory of Nabī Dāwūd ‘Alayhissalām when they recite the relevant verses of the Holy Qur’ān celebrating this victory. And the number of Muslims keeps on increasing. Alhamdu Lillāh: All Praise is for Allāh!

jam‘a bayn salātayn
to pray two prayers together such that one is delayed and the other is in time. Example: while on Pilgrimage, Zuhr and ‘Asr are combined in ‘Arafa at the time of ‘Asr. While on a journey, Zuhr and ‘Asr can be prayed together, and Maghrib and ‘Ishā can be prayed together

jamā‘ah
the Islamic community, congregation

Jamāl
Beauty (of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā)

Jamāl u’d Dīn
the beauty of religion, the name of a Muslim or a title bestowed on a shaykh

jamal
camel

Jamara
(pl: Jamarāt): three Pillars between Muzdalifa and Mina pelted with stones as a rite of the Muslim Pilgrimage. This act symbolizes the total rejection of satan

Jamarat-al-‘Aqaba
the biggest of the three pillars situated in Mina. One of the ceremonies of the Muslim Pilgrimage is to throw pebbles at these pillars which stand as symbols of satan

Jāmi‘
a congregational masjid;
comprehensive, refers to a collection of Sayings of Prophet Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, on all the various subject matters. For example: Sahīh al-Bukhārī is a Jāmi‘

jāmi‘a
university

Jamīl
Beautiful (f: Jamīla)

janāba
major ritual impurity, the state of a person after sexual intercourse or ejaculation. A woman in her period of menstruation or post-natal bleeding is also in a state of janāba. A Muslim in such a state is not allowed to pray salāh, or recite or touch the Qur’ān, or do any kind of worship until he/she performs ghusl (have a bath) or do tayammum, if water is not available

janāza
bier;
funeral at which Muslims pray to Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā to grant the deceased Muslim the highest place in Paradise (pl: janāiz)

jannah
Paradise, Garden of Paradise.
Jannah in the after-life is a place of eternal bliss for believing Muslims. Those people who came before Prophet Muhammad’s mission, believed in Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘āla and believed in the Prophet of their time who had been sent by Allāh, will also enter Paradise by the Grace of Allāh.
According to a Saying of the Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, Paradise lies under the feet of mothers. So, Muslims have to earn Paradise by serving the mother. According to another Saying of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, the father is the door to Paradise. So, Muslims can enter Paradise by serving the father. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā has given many opportunities to Muslims to enter Paradise through His Grace. They have to seize these opportunities.
Muslims yearn for Jannah so that they can be in the company of our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam. Paradise has undreamt of pleasures but the greatest pleasure in Paradise will be to behold the countenance of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā. May Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā admit us to Paradise together with our parents and keep us in the company of the Prophets, the Truthful, the martyrs and the pious, Āmīn (pl: jannāt)

jannatān
two paradises, one here and one in the Hereafter for those who are truly pious Muslims. Life here is a Paradise for those whose only pleasure is the service of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā with musk-scented love for Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam

Jannātu ‘Adn
The Gardens of Eden, one of the names of Paradise

Jannat u’l Firdaws
The Garden of Paradise

Jannat u’l Khuld
The Paradise of Eternity

Jannat u’l Ma’wā
The Garden of Refuge, one of the names of Paradise

Jannat u’n Na‘īm
The Garden of Delight, one of the names of Paradise

Jannat u’s Sifāt
the Paradise of qualities, the Paradise of the heart, the heart becomes a Paradise from acquiring noble qualities

Jannat u’l wirātha
the Paradise of inheritance, inheriting the Sunnah (lifestyle) of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam; the Paradise of morality

janūb
south

jasad
body. The body has to be kept ritually pure at all times (pl: ajsād; syn: jism; pl: ajsām)

jawāb
answer

jawhar
substance, gem, jewel (pl: jawāhir)

jaww
air, atmosphere, weather (syn: hawā’)

jaysh
army, armed forces (pl: juyūsh)

jaysh al-Muslimīn
the army of the Muslims. May Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā help and give victory to the Muslim armies wherever and whenever they fight the non-believers, Āmīn (pl: juyūsh al-Muslimīn)

jayyid
outstanding, excellent

jazā
award, recompense from Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā (for good deeds)

Jazākallāh
“May Allāh reward you”, said when thanking someone

jazīrat u’l ‘Arab
the Arabian peninsula

Jibrīl ‘Alayhissalām
the Archangel Gabriel, peace be upon him, who brought the revelation of holy scriptures to the Prophets, ‘alayhimussalām. He brought the Tawrāt to Nabī Mūsā, the Zabūr to Nabī Dāwūd, the Injīl to Nabī ‘Īsā, and the Qur’ān to Nabī Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā be upon them all; also referred to as Jibrāīl ‘alayhissalām

jihād
battle against non-Muslims; combat for the sake of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā, to fight bravely and courageously against the oppression and persecution of non-believers, to root out their oppression and to establish peace, truth and Islamic justice as exemplified by the Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam who himself fought in nineteen battles against non-believers. He and his Companions were warriors by day and ‘ābidīn (worshippers of Allāh) by night who always yearned for martyrdom. May Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā give the highest place in Paradise to all the Muslim martyrs, Āmīn.
Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā says in the Holy Qur’ān that ten Muslims can defeat a hundred non-believers in battle, and a hundred Muslims can defeat a thousand non-believers. Allāhu Akbar! May Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā defeat all the enemies of Islām, give victory to the Muslims, heal the wounds of the Muslims, bestow peace and tranquility on all the Muslims, increase the Muslims in piety, and give success to Muslims, here and in the Hereafter, Āmīn.
The battle commands of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam to his army commanders were: not to cheat; not to break trust; not to plunder; not to wrong anyone; not to kill the children, the women and the old; not to destroy fruit trees and fertile lands; not to kill sheep and cattle; to be faithful to the agreements made; and to respect those in hermitages and in convents.
Since the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, whenever the Muslims have waged Jihād, whether the Muslims have won or have had a set-back, Islām has always spread more and more to all parts of the world.
Capitalists threaten one Muslim country after another that they will bomb it back to the Stone Age. They carpet bomb Muslim countries at the instigation of the Israeli lobby, indulging in a senseless slaughter of innocent civilians, yet they strut around pretending to be saintly. They drop bombs on Muslim babies and proudly proclaim to the rest of the world that they are carrying out “creative destruction”. They butcher Muslim babies and yet have the cheek to interview Muslim leaders to ask them whether Islām condones violence.
Capitalists are the greatest producers and distributors of weapons of mass destruction yet they want humanity to believe that they stand for peace. Possessing hundreds of nuclear bombs, capitalists boast that they can destroy the whole world at the press of a button. They mock at the Biblical teaching of “turn the other cheek” as they go around spreading fear, hatred and violence for which they are condemned the world over.
After they have invaded and occupied a Muslim country, they say they will promote nudity and booze there. “Dream on, capitalists”, say Muslims, as they sharpen their swords and drive them out with the help of Allah.
Soon the capitalists realize that they cannot possibly annihilate all the Muslims because compared to the number of Muslims they kill, many times more Muslims are born everyday. It becomes very obvious to ordinary people in the west that capitalists have completely abandoned the worship of God and totally taken to the worship of the dollar. Ordinary people who seek justice see themselves caught up with forces beyond their control.
Soon all the ordinary people all over the world begin to accept Islām in hundreds and thousands, and hundreds of thousands as capitalism is revealed to be corrupt to the core and morally bankrupt. Love for Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā and for our Beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam continuously enters the hearts of more and more people as they go on to achieve everlasting salvation. Āmīn. Al-Fātiha!

jihād al-akbar
the greater battle against carnal desires, passions and ignorance; also called Jihād an-nafs

jihād al-asghar
the lesser battle against non-believers

jilbāb
long loose-fitting woman’s dress that covers the whole body and lends dignity (pl: jalābīb)

Jinn
unseen beings created by Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā from smokeless fire, who inhabit the earth together with mankind. There are both good and bad jinns. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā created both mankind and jinn to worship Him and Him alone

jīrān
neighbours. In Islām, residents of forty houses surrounding one’s home are considered to be neighbours. The rights of the neighbour have to be fulfilled. Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam emphasized the rights of neighbours to such an extent that his Companions Rady Allāhu ‘Anhum thought that neighbours might also be made heirs in inheritance (s: jār) (jiwār: neighbourhood)

jīrān Rasūlillāh
the neighbours of Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam, those who live surrounding his masjid in Madīna

jizya
a very small nominal annual protection tax levied on non-Muslims under the protection of Muslim rule. It is one dīnār (about 4 grams of gold) per person per year. The elderly, the women, the children and the poor are exempt from it. Non-Muslims under Muslim rule pay the jizya and are exempt from military duty. Muslims pay zakāh (poor-due) which non-Muslims don’t and military duty is compulsory on the Muslims. None of the Muslim countries presently levy the jizya

jubba
an elegant long loose robe with full sleeves, a cloak worn by a shaykh (spiritual master), imām (prayer leader), as well as their disciples

jubn
cowardice. May Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā instill courage, valour, chivalry and magnanimity in all the Muslims, Āmīn

jūd wa’l karam
bountifulness and generosity (of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam)

juhd
exertion, striving (in the way of Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta‘ālā)

Jūj wa Ma’jūj
two large communities, which will appear before the end of time and wreak havoc on earth

julūs
sitting in ritual prayer

Jumu‘a
Friday, also the Friday congregational prayer at noon. We have been exhorted to recite more salawāt (invocations of blessings) on Prophet Muhammad Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa Sallam on Friday. If we have time, we should also recite Sūrah al-Kahf before Salātu’l Jumu‘a

jund
legion, army, troop (pl: junūd)

juz’
part, one-thirtieth part of the Holy Qur’ān. We are encouraged to recite at least one juz of the Qur’ān everyday

Al-Fātiha!