AHAD:FAQ - Jumada-ath-Thani 1424

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Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

                       AHAD - FAQ
                      ============
Here is the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for the AHAD
(A Hadith A Day) mailing list.  It is sent out once a month.
It not only contains questions but also definitions of
commonly used Islamic/Arabic terms.  Both of these will be
updated as and when required.
If you have any questions that you can't find below, mail them to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
This FAQ is mailed to the entire AHAD list once every
month. An HTML version of this FAQ shall appear on the
up-comming AHAD web site.
FAQ Maintainer Azeem Pirani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
FAQ Last Updated on  2nd Jumada-ath-Thani 1424 (1 August 2003)
- What is AHAD

AHAD is an automated electronic mailing list that sends out an
authenticated Hadith (in English) everyday.
- Ok, AHAD stands for A Hadith A Day. Is AHAD an Arabic word
as well?
Yes, it means 'Only'. Al-Ahad (ie. the only) is also one of
the names, and attributes,  of Allah.
- What are Ahadith (plural of Hadith)

Ahadith are the words and deeds of the Holy Prophet Muhammad,
sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam (peace and Allah's blessings be
upon him).
- Who can subscribe to AHAD

AHAD is open to both Muslims and Non-Muslims who wish to learn
more about Islam.
- Are the Ahadith authentic

The Ahadith used will Insha'Allah (Allah willing) all be
authentic and will usually be taken from Saheeh Bukhari or
Saheeh Muslim. These are two of the most authentic sources
of Ahadith. Other sources may also be used.  Either way the
source will always be mentioned at the end of the Hadith.
An authentic Hadith is one which can be correctly attributed
to the prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
- How can I subscribe, or unsubscribe from the list

Just send a message to the following address
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the subject have the following
subscribe        [when subscribing]
or
unsubscribe      [when unsubscribing]
If you're having problems in doing so yourself, as a last
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do so for you.
- Who translates these Ahadith

These Ahadith are taken directly from the English translations
of these collections (ie the collections of Bukhari and Muslim).
If we do happen to take a Hadith which is not from one of these
two then we will make sure the translation is done by people
learned in the Arabic language.
- Can I mail to AHAD

AHAD is a *one* way list. Subscribers can't mail to the list
and hence it is not a discussion list.
- I want my friend/cousin/brother to receive AHAD; what can
    I do?
Just send them a copy of the FAQ, ask them to write to us
([EMAIL PROTECTED]) asking to be added to the list, or visit
our website:   http://list.ahad.org/
- Will it cost me anything

No. Subscription to the list is free. AHAD is a not-for-profit
mailing list. We do not advertise anything on our list nor do
we provide the addresses of our subscribers to advertisers. We
believe that everyone should receive what he or she wishes to.
The list is funded by a few brothers in Pakistan (may Allah
reward them - Aameen).
- What is the size of each mail

There is only one mail from AHAD each day. The size of the
daily message is at most 3 kilobytes but if the Hadith
is long, this may vary. Also, there may be some
Special AHAD Issues, or notices, occasionally.
- I have been receiving some of the Ahadith twice; why?

Usually when you receive a Hadith which looks like something
you have seen before it usually is one which has the same
content but is narrated by different individuals.  You can
check the reference number at the end of the Hadith to verify
this.  On occasion we may mail out a Hadith which has been
sent before as it may pertain to a topic which needs to be
discussed at that point in time.
- I will be going on vacation / my email account will be
    temporarily shut down; what do I do?
To help us out so that we do not have to deal with 'gone
on vacation' notices and bounced messages, please
unsubscribe from the list when anything like this will be
happening.  You can always resubscribe when you return /
get your account back.
- I used to receive the ahadith fine but they suddenly
stopped; why?
This is usually because we may have received a bounced
message from your address and thus we would have removed
it from the list.  When it happens that you have nor
received and messages from AHAD in a few days then please
just subscribe yourself to the list again.
- When will the daily Hadith be mailed

We try to send out the daily Hadith by 2300 hrs Pakistan
Standard Time (i.e.1800 hrs GMT).
- What is the date stated before the Gregorian one

That is the date according to the Islamic calendar (see below).
This is called the Hijriah calendar as it began with the
migration of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)
from Makkah to Madinah.  This journey is known as the Hijrah and
took place in year 622 of the Gregorian calendar.  This date may
vary from place to place as it depends on the actual sighting of
the moon.
- I don't understand something, who can I ask

None of us here are scholars.  What we can do for you is that
if you would send us the question you have then we can forward
it to the people of knowledge.  We can not guarantee anything.
Just send the query to the following address
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- I want to send you a secure message. How do I do that

Use our PGP public key (given below) to send us your message.
For more information on PGP, visit the PGP international
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- How many people receive AHAD

The last time we checked, it was 8995

- Are the AHAD Ahadith archived

Yes.  You can access the archives via our website:
http://list.ahad.org/
- How can I help AHAD

You can help AHAD by
        - putting information about AHAD on your home page
          (send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and we will
          send it to you).
        - sending out information about AHAD on mailing lists
          local to your area.
        - Telling your friends about AHAD and how to subscribe
          to it.
        - Posting the individual ahadith to different
          newsgroups.
        - Unsubscribing from the list when you will be away, so
          that we do not have to deal with unnecessary bounced
          messages.
- Does AHAD have a web site

Yes.  AHAD now has its own website.  This is located at the
following URL
http//list.AHAD.org/

Here you can find basic information about the mailing list as
well as an archive of previous messages.
- So what are the months of the Islamic calendar

The Hijriah Calender
The current year is 1423. The Hijriah calender is
about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calender. The
months change according the the sighting of the moon. An
Islamic month may be as short as 29 days or as long as 30
days (depending on the sighting of the moon) and thus
different areas may have different dates at a given time.
          The months are (in order)
          1 Muharram
          2 Safar
          3 Rabi-ul-Awwal
          4 Rabi-ath-Thani
          5 Jumada-ul-Awwal
          6 Jumada-ath-Thani
          7 Rajab
          8 Sha'ban
          9 Ramadan
          10 Shawwal
          11 Dhul-Qa'da
          12 Dhul-Hijja
- What does this Arabic term mean

Many times you will find that the words used will be in Arabic.
This may occur both in the text of the Hadith or in any of our
messages.  The Quran and Sunnah are both in Arabic.  Thus to
truly understand them we must read them in their original
language. Unfortunately as that is not possible at the present
time we will have to use the translation.  The point is that
the translation will never truly equal the original.  The
benefit of the supplications and other recitations will be
derived when they are recited in Arabic.  As the purpose of
this list is to give people not only access to the authentic
knowledge of Islam but also to what it means, thus we will
provide the translation whenever necessary.  Those terms and
phrases which are used very frequently will be defined in this
FAQ.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah:
      'In the name of Allah and all praise is for Allah and
      blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah'.
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu:
     'Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy, and his blessings.'
Allah:
      This term has no English equivalent.  It is usually
      translated as God.
Rasulillah:
      Messenger of Allah.  Used for the Prophet Muhammad
      (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
Sahabah:
      Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi
      wasallam).
Subhana wa Ta'ala:
      'Glorified and most high'.  This is usually said after
      saying Allah's name.
sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam:
      'Peace and Allah's blessings be upon him'. This is a
      benediction used for the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
      'alaihi wasallam). This must be said.
Radhiallaho anha/anho/anhuma/anhum:
      'Allah is pleased with her/him/them (two persons)/
      them (many people).  This is mentioned after
      mentioning the names of the Sahabah.
Insha'Allah:
      'If Allah wills'.
Subhan Allah:
      To honor Allah from all what (unsuitable things) is
      ascribed to him.
Hadith:
      A saying, action, or approval of the Prophet Muhammad
      (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam). Plural is Ahadith.
Sunnah:
      The way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
      'alaihi wasallam), consisting of his sayings, actions, and
      silent approvals.  The Sunnah is contained in the various
      narrations of Ahadith.
Jannah:
     'Paradise'
Rabb:
      'Lord'. Used to refer to Allah.
Dua'a:
      'Supplication'
Sawm:
      Fasting
Tarawih:
      Optional prayers offered after the Isha prayers on the
      nights of Ramadan.
I'tikaf:
      Seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of worshipping
      Allah only.  The one in this state is not permitted to
      have sexual relations with his wife and is not allowed
      to leave the mosque except for a very short period and
      that is only for very urgent necessity, e.g. to answer
      the call of nature.
Hajj:
      Pilgrimage to Makkah
Jana'iz:
      Funerals
At-Taqsir:
      The abridged or shortened prayers
Al-Maghazi:
      Plural of Maghza, i.e. holy battle; or the location
      where the battle took place; or the deeds and virtues
      of Ghazi (fighters in Allah's cause).
Dhi-Mahram:
      A male whom she cannot marry at all due to the close
      relationship (e.g. her brother, father, grandfather,
      etc.), or her own husband.
Muhrim:
      One who assumes the state of Ihram for the purpose of
      performing the Hajj or Umra.
Ansar:
      Plural of Ansari.  Anyone of the companions of the
      Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) from the
      inhabitants of Madinah who embraced and supported
      Islam and who received and entertained the Muslim
      emigrants who had emigrated from Makkah, and other
      places.
Tafseer:
      An explanation of the meanings of the Quranic verses.
Khumus:
      One-fifth of the war booty to be given in Allah's cause
      to be distributed according to orders in the Qur'an.
Nikah:
      Marriage (wedlock) according to Islamic law.
Tawheed:
      The purely unitarian concept of God, found only in
      Islaam, in which Allah is considered as being uniquely one
      in his essence, qualities and actions.
Adab:
      Good Manners
Siwak:
      A piece of a branch or root of a tree, called Al-Arak,
      that is used as a toothbrush.   Also called a miswak.
Haya:
      This term covers a large number of concepts.  It may mean
      'modesty', 'self-respect', 'bashfulness', 'honor', etc.
      Haya is of two kinds: good and bad.  The good one is to be
      ashamed to commit a crime or a thing which Allah and his
      Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) have forbidden.
      The bad one is to be ashamed to do a thing which Allah and
      his Messenger (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) have ordered to
      do.
Kuniya:
      Calling a man, 'O father of so and so!' or calling a woman
      'O mother of so and so!' This is a custom of the Arabs.   
Musalla:
      A praying place.
Tashmit:
     'Yar-hamuka-l-lah' (May Allah bestow his Mercy on you).
Adhan:
     The call to prayer.
Qadr:
     Divine foreordainment
Riqa'iq:
     Softening of hearts.
Uhud:
     A well known mountain in Al-Madina.  One of the great battles
     of Islamic history took place at its foot.
Mudd:
     A measure of approximately two-thirds of a kilogram.
Sutra:
     An object like a pillar, wall, stick, spear, etc. the height
     of which should not be less than a foot and must be in front
     of a praying person to act as a symbolic barrier between him
     and others.
Janaba:
     A state of sexual impurity.
Junub:
     Being in a state of sexual impurity (Janaba).
Ghazawat:
     Plural of Ghazwah.  A holy battle or fighting in the cause
     of Allah consisting of a large army unit with the Prophet
     (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam) himself leading the army.
Fahish:
     One who talks evil.
Mutafahhish:
     A person who conveys evil talk.
Sabbaba:
     A person who abuses others.
Burd:
     A garment.
Qattat:
     a person who conveys information from someone to another
     with the intention of causing harm and enmity between them.
Libas:
     Dress.
'Anza:
     A small spear.
Rida:
     A sheet covering the upper part of the body.
Izzar:
     A sheet covering the lower part of the body.
Sham:
     A cloak.
Yakhsifan:
     An Eclipse.
Ghuraf:
     Special abodes.
Al-Luqata:
     A lost fallen purse or a thing picked up by somebody.
Khamisa:
    Square garment.
Ghuraf:
    Special abodes.
Mufassal:
    The collection of suras from sura Qaf (sura number 50) till
    sura Nas (sura number 114).
Nawafil:
    Optional practice of worship.
Night of Qadr:
    One of the last ten odd nights of the month of Ramadan.
    Allah describes it as better than one thousand ordinary
    nights and the one who worships Allah in it by praying
    optional prayers and reciting the Holy Quran will receive
    great rewards.
Mazalim:
    Oppression
Ilm:
    Knowledge
Adahi:
    Sacrifices.  Animals sacrificed on Eid-ul-Adha.
Sadaqa:
    A charitable gift
Anbiya:
    Prophets
Salh:
    Peacemaking or Reconciliation
Luqata:
    Lost things picked up
Hadya:
   Gifts
Sharout:
   Conditions
Wasaya:
   Wills and Testaments
Fusuq:
   An evil-doing
Kufr:
   Disbelief
Dibaj:
   A type of pure thick silk cloth
Sundus:
   A type of silk cloth
Mayathir:
   Silk carpets or cushions used on saddles
Isti'zan:
   Asking permission
Jizyah:
   A tax paid by non-Muslims living in a Muslim State.
   Since the non-Muslims are exempt from military service
   and taxes imposed on Muslims, they must pay this tax
   to compensate.  It guarentees them security and
   protection.  If the State cannot protect those who
   paid jizyah, then the amount they paid is returned to
   them.
Umrah:
   This is the lesser pilgrimage which is optional and can
   be performed at any time.
Hajj-Mabrur:
   Hajj performed in accordance with the Prophet's tradition
   without committing sins and accepted by Allah.
Khuffs:
   Leather stockings
Izar:
   A waist sheet for wrapping the lower half of the body.
Miqat:
   The place for assuming Ihram.
Sidr:
   Lote tree
Talbiya:
   Saying "Labbaik, Allahumma Labbaik (O Allah! I am obedient
   to Your Orders, I respond to Your Call).
Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal:
   Antichrist
Al-Kauthar:
   A river in paradise
Wudu:
  Ablution
Tayammum:
  Rubbing the hands and face with earth in place of making wudu
  when water is unavailable.
Ghusl:
  Washing of the whole body after being in a state of janaba.
Salat:
  Prayer
Mawaqit As-Salat:
   Times of prayer
Ayat:
   Verses of the Quran
Suhur:
   The meal taken before dawn while fasting is observed
Hayd:
   Menses
Al-Istisqa:
   Rain prayer
Al-Kusoof:
   Eclipse Prayer
Sujud Al-Quran:
   Prostrations during Recitation of the Quran
At-Taqsir:
   Shortened Prayers
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