67 Arabic terms,
defined in context.

The ancient Arabian tribe to whom Prophet Hud was sent, known for their immense physical strength and towering constructions. They built monuments on every high place and lived as though they would never die, until a furious wind destroyed them over seven nights and eight days.

The most beautiful of stories — the Quran's own description of the story of Yusuf in Surah Yusuf (12:3). This title indicates that the narrative encompasses the full range of human experience — jealousy, betrayal, temptation, imprisonment, power, and forgiveness — in a perfectly structured arc.

The Hereafter; the eternal life after death, which is the true destination for the believer

The prophet Jeremiah, who witnessed and mourned the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. His story illustrates the anguish of a prophet who sees his warnings fulfilled and his people devastated, yet never loses faith in Allah's ultimate plan.

Slander; fabricating false statements about someone — an even graver sin than backbiting

Miserliness; the unwillingness to spend from what Allah has provided, even when obligated to do so

Good tidings — the announcement to Ibrahim and Sarah of Ishaq's birth, delivered by angelic guests. Sarah laughed in astonishment at receiving a child in old age, and the angels responded 'Do you wonder at the decree of Allah?' establishing that divine blessings exceed human expectation.

The call or invitation to Allah — Nuh's primary mission for 950 years. His da'wah is the most extensively described in the Quran, with Surah Nuh devoted entirely to his methods: calling openly and secretly, by day and by night, with patience that defies human comprehension.

The sacrificed one — a title of honor for Ismail, referring to his willingness to be sacrificed at Allah's command. Though a ram was substituted, the title endures because the true sacrifice was the submission of both father and son's will to Allah.

The traditional sailing vessel of the Indian Ocean, used for trade between East Africa, Arabia, India, and Southeast Asia. Ibn Battuta traveled extensively on dhows, and the shipwreck of his dhow off the Indian coast cost him his possessions and nearly his life, redirecting his journey toward the Maldives.

The present world; literally 'the near/lowly thing' — in Islamic tradition, contrasted with the Hereafter

An individual obligation — religious duties that every Muslim must personally fulfill

A communal obligation — duties that are fulfilled if at least some members of the community perform them

Pharaoh — the title of the tyrant king of Egypt who enslaved the Children of Israel and claimed divinity, declaring 'I am your lord, most high.' His story is the Quran's primary case study of political tyranny, and his drowning in the Red Sea is one of the most dramatically narrated events in scripture.

The ark or ship — the vessel Allah commanded Nuh to build under divine instruction. It was constructed far from any body of water, causing his people to mock him as a madman, yet it became the means of salvation when the flood engulfed the earth.

Backbiting; mentioning a person's faults behind their back in a way they would dislike — even if true

Rancor; a hardened, long-held grudge or ill-will toward another person

Protective jealousy; a praiseworthy form of honour-consciousness that Al-Ghazali distinguishes from sinful envy

Full ritual bath required after major ritual impurity

The annual pilgrimage to Makkah — the original motivation for Ibn Battuta's departure from Tangier at age 21. What began as a religious obligation became the starting point of a thirty-year journey spanning 120,000 kilometers across nearly every Muslim land.

One who inclines away from falsehood toward pure monotheism — the Quranic description of Ibrahim's faith. He arrived at the worship of Allah alone through intellectual reflection, rejecting the stars, moon, and sun as gods before declaring his devotion to the Creator of all things.

Envy; wishing that another person loses a blessing they have received, or resenting that they have it

Wisdom — the quality Allah granted to both Dawud and Sulayman, enabling them to judge between people with justice. Sulayman's wisdom was so renowned that the Queen of Sheba traveled great distances to test him, only to submit to the Lord of all worlds.

Presence of the heart; full inner attention to Allah during prayer

The proper name of the chief devil, derived from the root meaning 'despair of Allah's mercy.' He was among the jinn who worshipped alongside the angels, but his arrogance upon being commanded to prostrate to Adam caused his eternal fall from grace.

Knowledge; in Islamic tradition, it refers primarily to sacred knowledge that leads to God-consciousness and right action

Knowledge from Our presence — the type of knowledge Allah granted al-Khidr, described as direct divine instruction rather than acquired learning. It represents a category of knowledge beyond prophetic law, explaining events through their ultimate, unseen consequences.

Faith; belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree

Goliath — the massive warrior-king who led the Philistine army against the Israelites. His defeat at the hands of the young Dawud, who struck him with a slingstone, became one of history's most enduring symbols of faith triumphing over brute force.

The Arab tribe from Yemen that settled in the valley of Makkah after being drawn by the water of Zamzam. Ismail grew up among them, married from them, and learned Arabic from them, becoming the bridge between Ibrahim's Mesopotamian heritage and the Arab world.

The Word of Allah — a title given to Isa, meaning he was created by Allah's command 'Be' (kun) without a father, just as Adam was created without either parent. This title honors Isa's miraculous origin while affirming that he is a creation of Allah, not a part of the divine.

Vicegerent or successor — the role Allah designated for Adam and his descendants on earth. This term signifies that humanity was created with a sacred trust: to represent divine will, uphold justice, and steward the earth according to Allah's guidance.

The intimate friend of Allah — the unique title given to Ibrahim, the highest form of love between Creator and creation. This title indicates that Allah's love for Ibrahim permeated every aspect of his being, leaving no room for anything other than complete devotion.

The Green One — a mysterious servant of Allah who possessed divinely-granted knowledge of the unseen. His encounter with Musa, narrated in Surah al-Kahf, is one of the most discussed episodes in Quranic scholarship, raising questions about the relationship between apparent evil and hidden good.

Humble attentiveness and reverence in prayer; the inner stillness that makes prayer spiritually alive

The nephew of Ibrahim who was sent as a prophet to the people of Sodom, a civilization that practiced homosexual acts openly and refused all moral guidance. Lut's story represents the ultimate clash between prophetic purity and societal corruption.

A high station — the Quranic description of the rank to which Allah raised Idris. Scholars differ on whether this refers to a physical elevation to the heavens or an exalted spiritual rank, with Ibn Kathir presenting both interpretations from the salaf.

Literally 'owned' — the military slave dynasty that ruled Egypt and Syria during Ibn Battuta's travels. The Mamluk state was one of the most powerful in the Muslim world, and Ibn Battuta's descriptions of their court, architecture, and scholars provide invaluable historical testimony.

The mother of Isa and the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran, with an entire surah bearing her name. Her upbringing in the temple under Zakariyya, her miraculous provision of food, and her exemplary chastity made her the greatest woman in human history according to prophetic tradition.

The way or creed of Ibrahim — the pure monotheistic tradition that the Quran commands the Prophet Muhammad and all believers to follow. It represents worship of Allah alone, free from any association of partners, and is the common thread linking all Abrahamic faiths.

The overturned cities — the Quranic term for the settlements of Lut's people, which Allah literally flipped upside down and then rained upon with stones of baked clay. The physical inversion mirrors the moral inversion the people practiced.

Tale-bearing; carrying words between people to stir up enmity and division

The she-camel — a miraculous sign sent by Allah at the demand of Thamud. This camel emerged from solid rock as proof of Salih's prophethood, and the people were commanded to share their water supply with her. Their decision to hamstring and kill her sealed their destruction.

Prophethood — the divine selection of a human being to receive revelation and guide their people. Idris is considered among the earliest recipients of this trust after Adam and his son Shith, establishing the chain of prophetic guidance.

Journey or travelogue — the Arabic literary genre to which Ibn Battuta's account belongs. More than a simple travel diary, the Rihla is a form of scholarship that records geography, culture, religious practice, and personal encounters, preserving a world that would otherwise be lost to history.

Dream or vision — Yusuf's childhood dream of eleven stars, the sun, and the moon prostrating to him foretold his future prominence. The interpretation of dreams became central to Yusuf's story, from the prisoners' dreams to the king's dream of seven fat and lean cows.

The Holy Spirit — a title for the angel Jibril (Gabriel), who was sent to Maryam in the form of a perfect man to announce the birth of Isa. In Islamic theology, the Holy Spirit is not a divine person but the angel who serves as Allah's instrument of revelation and miraculous intervention.

Patient endurance — the quality Ismail himself promised when he told his father 'You will find me, if Allah wills, among the patient.' His patience was not passive but an active, conscious choice to submit to the most terrifying trial a young person could face.

Generosity; giving freely from what one has, motivated by love of Allah and concern for others

The ritual prayer performed five times daily — the second pillar of Islam

The prophet Samuel, who led the Israelites during their period of decline and anointed Talut (Saul) as their first king at Allah's command. His role as the bridge between the era of judges and the era of kings makes him a pivotal figure in Israelite prophetic history.

The prophet sent to the people of Madyan, known as 'the orator of the prophets' for his eloquent preaching. He called his people to honest trade and fair measurement, linking economic justice directly to worship of Allah.

Truthful one — a title the Quran bestows upon Idris, indicating his absolute sincerity in faith and speech. This rank places him among the highest category of believers, those whose inner reality perfectly matches their outward proclamation of truth.

Prostration — the act of bowing in complete submission. When the angels were commanded to prostrate to Adam, it was not worship of Adam but an acknowledgment of Allah's command and the honor He bestowed upon humanity.

The ruler of the Delhi Sultanate during Ibn Battuta's extended stay in India, known for his extreme generosity and equally extreme cruelty. Ibn Battuta served as his qadi but lived in constant fear, witnessing both lavish gifts and brutal executions in the most unpredictable court he ever encountered.

The plague — the Black Death that devastated the world while Ibn Battuta was in the East. Upon returning westward, he found entire communities decimated, including in Damascus and Cairo, and his account provides one of the few non-European perspectives on the pandemic.

The Ark of the Covenant — the sacred chest containing relics of Musa and Harun, which was returned to the Israelites as a sign confirming Talut's kingship. Its arrival, carried by angels, established that political authority must be grounded in divine legitimacy.

Purification; the state of ritual cleanliness required for prayer and other acts of worship

The oven — the sign Allah gave Nuh that the flood was imminent. When the tannur overflowed with water, Nuh knew to begin loading the ark. Scholars differ on whether this was a literal oven or a metaphor for the earth's surface bursting with water.

Trust in Allah; the spiritual state of relying on Allah as Provider, which Al-Ghazali sees as the antidote to miserliness

The powerful Arabian civilization to whom Prophet Salih was sent, renowned for carving magnificent dwellings into the rock of mountains. Despite their architectural genius, they rejected Salih's message and were destroyed by a thunderous blast that left their carved homes as empty tombs.

Mount Sinai — the mountain where Allah spoke directly to Musa, gave him the Torah, and where Musa asked to see Allah. This mountain represents the pinnacle of divine-human communication, where Musa was granted a closeness no other prophet experienced in the same way.

Ablution; the ritual washing of specific body parts before prayer

Certainty; the highest level of conviction in matters of faith, beyond doubt or wavering

The successor of Musa and the young man who accompanied him on the journey to meet al-Khidr. After Musa's death, Yusha led the Israelites across the Jordan into the Holy Land, fulfilling the promise that had been delayed by forty years of wilderness wandering.

The Psalms — the book of revelation given to Dawud, which he recited with a voice so beautiful that the mountains echoed his praise and the birds gathered to join. It represents the unique fusion of divine scripture with musical devotion.

Asceticism or detachment from the world; not abandoning it, but not being enslaved by its attractions