Glossary of Muslim Terms

New Muslim Cool: Hamza and Rafiah at their wedding
Rafiah and Hamza at their wedding. Rafiah is wearing a hijab.

dawa - religious outreach

hijab - head covering

imam - religious leader/teacher; prayer leader

inshallah - God willing, similar to "ojala" in Spanish

jihad - struggle

khutba - sermon

mashallah - literally "as God wills it;" colloquial use: "that's the way it goes"

masjid - Muslim community center or mosque

masjid masallah - mosque prayer room

nafs - ego, lower self

nikah - marriage contract

shahada - declaration of faith at moment of conversion, stating the person bears witness that there is no God but God and Muhammad is his messenger

sheikh - elder