SIkander

by M. Salahuddin Khan

  Maktab

  Arabic

  Aplace where written work takes place and by implication, anoffice, a primary school, or even a library.The word is very generally applied by context and may even includesimply meaning “desk.”

  MashAllah

  Arabic

  WhateverAllah wills.It acknowledges that any good outcome is the will of Allah and isused to prevent the interpretation of an inflated sense ofpersonal or human responsibility for a positive outcome.

  Masjid

  Arabic

  Literallya place of sajdah(see below), or place of worship. A mosque.

  Maulwi

  Urdu

  Atitle honorific given to an Islamic scholar or ‘alim.

  Maulana

  Urdu

  Literallyour master or lord but referring to a human master or lord, nevera divine one.It appliesto a person of significant religious authority often seen as suchby several generations.

  Meerata(Pashtunwali)

  Pashto

  Acrime of systematic assassination of the male members of a familyfor the specific objective of eliminating lineage and rights ofinheritance.It is met with strong retribution unless a payment of compensationis made. This can be money in the form of what is called Sazor Swara.The Jirgais used to mediate such moves and if the victims’ familyaccepts the Sazor Swara,then the perpetrators are free of all claims.

  Mehr

  Arabic

  TheIslamic concept of a financial right accruing to the bride in amarriage, which becomes obligatory for the groom to pay the bridein the event of a divorce or otherwise upon demand.This stands in contrast to the common practice of jahez,which often results in the groom and/or his family seekingfinancial benefit from the bride and/or her family. Whenexcessive, this is often termed a “bride price.” Inmost mainstream Pakistani Muslim practice, both the mehrand a modest jahezof usually clothing and jewelry are commonplace.

  Mehram

  Arabic

  Arelationship between sexes where marriage would be impermissiblesuch as between father and daughter.Non-mehram relationships are those where a marriage would, on thegrounds of the relationship per se, be permissible. A woman shouldbe veiled before a non-mehram man. A man should avoid prolongedeye contact with a non-mehram woman. The degree to which this ispracticed varies throughout the Islamic world.

  Melmasthia(Pashtunwali)

  Pashto

  Therequired behavior toward anyone whois a guest or who is seekingprotection of another.It is a serious dishonor to allow a protected guest to be harmed.Such guests can often include personal enemies but who havenonetheless requested protection.

  Merebhai!

  Urdu

  Mybrother!A term of warmth and endearment used between good friends. Theword bhaihas a broader reach than the blood-relation “brother”in English. It is also more informal than use of “brother”in English when referring to a fraternity as in an association orsociety.

  Miswaak

  Arabic

  Atwig of the arak, peelu or Salvadora persica tree whose peeledbark reveals a stiff bristly core that is used as a toothbrush.Ithas been used since ancient times. Among Muslims it is significantsince it was used and recommended by the Prophet (pbuh).

  MlaTarr(Pashtunwali)

  Pashto

  Takingup the cause of an injured party usually against an outsider.

  Mubarak

  Arabic

  Tobe blessed or graced.Typically offered to others to say, "May your good news beblessed" as in ‘Eid-Mubarak(A blessed ‘Eid)or Shaadi-Mubarak (May your marriage be blessed). It comes fromthe same root as barakah(grace).

  Mujahid,Mujahideen

  Arabic

  Onewho is striving in any of the four kinds of jihad.Plural form is mujahideen but in a western cultural context aswith Taliban,the plural is often used adjectivally to describe a singularindividual.

  N'zhowr

  Pashto

  Daughter-in-law.

  Naan

  Urdu

  Flatbread baked in a brick oven by placing the dough against the wallsof the oven.

  Nanewatai(Pashtunwali)

  Pashto

  Forgivenessof repentant enemies. Reconciliation.

  NIFA

  Abbr.

  NationalIslamic Front for Afghanistan.One of several prominent mujahideengroups organized to fight communist rule and later Sovietoccupation of Afghanistan.

  Nihari

  Urdu

  Ameat dish usually served at breakfast time and made from beefshanks and spices.

  Nikkah;nikah

  Arabic

  Literallya joining or coming together to make whole. Incommon usage it refers to aMuslim marriage ceremony. The legal form of a Muslim marriage.

  Niyyah

  Arabic

  Anintention.In Islam,all innocence and guilt stem from intent. Niyyah refers to one’sintention. Most sins that occur as inadvertent infractions are notconsidered sins unless the ignorance was unreasonably present.Even so, repentance is a necessary and appropriate response.

  NWFP

  Abbr.

  NorthWest Frontier Province. Oneof four provinces of Pakistan, with capital Peshawar. Recently,amid controversy, it has been renamed to “KhyberPakhtunkhwa.”

  Paan

  Urdu

  Abetel leaf folded up and containing stuffing to be chewed.The stuffing may be of fennel or other forms of flavor, includingtobacco according to tastes.

  Paanshop

  Urdu

  Ashop serving up paansin a variety of formulations.Very common throughout Pakistan and often a focal point for gossipand socializing in a manner analogous to a western bar but usuallyon a much smaller scale.

  Pakhtun

  Pashto

  Sameas Pashtun.A large ethnic group covering mostly eastern Afghanistan and theNorth West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The “kh”form is applicable to northern tribal pronunciations while the“sh” form is normally used in southern parts. Forsimplicity, the narrative sticks with the easier to pronounce “sh”form.

  Pakol

  Pashto

  Awoolencap.Madein the form of a long cylinder with a single open end, whose wallsare rolled up to create a brim that grips the side of the head.

  Paratthha

  Urdu

  Thinbread made by folding butter into the flour dough before rollingit flat for cooking. Thesecond “h” is aspirated and distinct from the “tth”consonant.

  Partition

  English

  Theevent that created Pakistan on August 14th 1947, at the end ofBritish rule over India.The following day, after Pakistan was formed, the modern countryof India was given its own independence.

  Pashto

  Pashto

  Thelanguage of the Pashtuns.

  Pashtun

  Pashto

  Sameas Pakhtun.

  Pashtunwali

  Pashto

  Anelaborate system of tribal law and societal custom.It is codifiedinto several aspects, dealing with property, dispute resolution,treatment of strangers, protection of victims, and many otherareas of law and order. It is generally agreed that this systemhas been in place for over 2,000 years and predates Islamin
Afghanistan.

  Pathan

  Urdu

  Pashtunin Urdu/Hindi.The south Asian name for Pashtun.

  Patthra

  Urdu

  Alow wooden platform stool.Typically it isabout ten centimeters off the floor held up by two short verticalplanks as legs and a top plank as a seating surface.

  Pbuhor (pbuh)

  Abbr.

  PeaceBe Upon Him.Asalutation and prayer asking for the peace and blessings of Allahto be visited upon Muhammad (pbuh), the Holy Prophet of Islam.It is considered rude or ill-mannered to fail to offer such aprayer upon the mention of his name or personage. In the writtenform, it is usually abbreviated thus.

  Pooree

  Urdu

  Athin fried bread often eaten together withhalwa.

  Qamees

  Arabic

  Anupper garment like a shirt or blouse at the top but extendingtypically up to or over the knees.

  Qasr

  Arabic

  Theoffering of one of the normal prayers in a shortened fashion aspermitted when traveling.Customarily the midday prayer and the afternoon prayer can also becombined when they are thus shortened. Likewise, the sunset andnighttime prayers may be combined under the same circumstances.

  Qiyaamah

  Arabic

  Theend of days.The end of the world. The day of Resurrection. The day ofJudgment.

  Qazi;Qadhi

  Arabic

  Ajudge or one who administers matters of justice such as a justiceof the peace might do.This role is the one called upon to conduct marriage ceremonies.

  Qiblah

  Arabic

  Atany point on earth, the direction that would face the Ka'aba inMakkah, Saudi Arabia.

  Qur'an,Holy Qur’an

  Arabic

  Literally,the Recitation.It refersto the directly revealed divine word of God through the medium ofthe Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh)utterances while in a state of receiving revelation. It was morethan a simple intellectual process of explanation. It was rather aprocess of independently placing utterances directly into thelips, tongue and vocal chords of the Prophet (pbuh),while infusing his mind and spirit with the total recall andunderstanding of what had been uttered. The focus on recitationrefers to the medium being most essentially verbal even though thecontent has been captured in written form. It is also why Muslimsattach great significance to reciting the Holy Qur’anand not simply reading it silently.

  Ramadhan;Ramadan; Ramzan

  Arabic

  TheMuslim holy month during which fasting is prescribed for allnon-traveling, non-infirm, non-menstruating Muslims above acertain age.Fasting is from before dawn to sunset. It is the month duringwhich the Holy Qur'anwas first revealed and the revelation requiring fasting is to befound in Surah2, verse 183:“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it wasprescribed to those before you, that you may (learn) Godconsciousness.”Faststhat have been excused for the above reasons are to be made up assoon as conveniently possible as and when the reasons no longerapply. Abstinence during fasting is from all ingestiblesubstances, smoking, drinking, food, and sexual activity.

  RamadhanMubarak

  Arabic

  Wishesof blessings upon another Muslim on the start of and duringRamadhan.

  RFID

  Abbr.

  RadioFrequency Identification Device.A very small microchip that can be incorporated into most productsor product packaging to enable ready signaling of productidentity, location, and other information when the tag isirradiated with usually nearby radio waves.

  Riba

  Arabic

  Literally,an increase. Used exclusively to refer to interest or usury in thefinancial sense.Receipt or payment of riba is considered haraamin Islam,and this position is the basis for all appropriatelyscholar-qualified Islamic finance offerings.

  Rickshaw;Ricksha

  Urdu

  Apowered three-wheeled conveyance with a single seat for the driverand a small bench for two or three passengers at the rear withminimal baggage space.Originally, a two-wheeled cart enabling a human runner totransport up to three passengers short distances by holding twolong pole-like arms at a point neutrally balanced over the largemain wheels of the cart. Subsequently, designs switched totricycles driven by sprocket-and-chain drives and pedals, butstill man-powered. Finally, powered vehicles emerged during the1960s.

  RPG,RPG-7

  Abbr.

  RocketPropelled Grenade.(Version 7 with the added designation). A high explosive device,often involving a shaped charge to generate a high energy focusedjet of gas and liquid metal that pierces armor. It is typicallylaunched from a shoulder-mounted tube, and is effective againstarmored vehicles such as main battle tanks or armored personnelcarriers.

  Sabaz,Sabz

  Urdu

  Green,as in the greenery of vegetation.

  Sabazchai

  Urdu

  Greentea.

  Sahib

  Urdu

  Sir,Mister. Used as an honorific. A mark of respect.

  Sajdah

  Arabic

  Prostrationwith the forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes touching the groundin worship.Forbidden for all Muslims except toward Allah.

  Salaam

  Arabic

  Peace.The peace greeting.From the proto-Semitic tri-consonantal form of “s-l-m,”which means safe or whole without breakage or damage. Theinfinitive form in Arabic is “Islam,”which describes a state more than the effects of the state—inthis case, a state of peaceable acceptance of God’s will andcommand.

  Salaat

  Arabic

  Ritualprayer that must be performed according to guidelines governingritual purity, posture, state of mind, and recitation.

  Salaat-ul-fajr,zuhr, asr, maghrib, isha

  Arabic

  Eachof the prayers of the day are fully described by adding the prefix"salaat-ul-…"in front of the specific prayer as in salaat-ul-maghrib.However, normal usage often drops the prefix.

  Salafism,Salafi

  English

  ASunnisub-sect of Islam.Adherents seek to practice Islamin strict accord with the manner of its practice by the firstthree generations of Muslims—the “salaf.” Itlooks for literal acceptance of scripture and avoids aninterpretive approach.Salafi is one who practices Salafism. Itis oftenassociated with ashunningof modernity insofarasitleads to deviationbut sucha positionin notinherentto Salafism.

  Salafist

  English

  Aterm describing anyof severalmovements seeking political change who are alleged to base theirmotivationson Salafiprinciples.Such groups are said to include al-Qaeda. Virtually no scholarswithin the Salafibranch of Islamendorse the unauthoritative declaration of jihadand the seemingly callous killing involved in terrorism. Neitherdo they pronounce takfiron their fellow Muslims as various Salafist organizations arealleged to do.

  Saz(Pashtunwali)

  Pashto

  Compensationfor causing wrongful death.Offered by those acting on behalfof perpetrator(s)to thesurvivingrelativesof victim(s)via a jirgaand onlyif acceptable, will it absolve the perpetrator. Saz may be in theformof moneyor other thingsof value.It may also be in the form of swara(see below). />
  Shahadah

  Arabic

  Theact of testifying. Describes both the taking of the oath to acceptIslam,and an act of martyrdom.The latter is itself an act of testimony to the true articles offaith. The essential quality of the martyr is neither the deathitself nor the simple commitment to a cause, but the beliefdriving such commitment being complete and without doubt. Amajority of Sunnischolars generally hold that suicidal combat—where thesuicide itself is the instrumentality of the combat—is notordinarily permissible. On the other hand, a certain death butinflicted by the action of opponents, while potentiallydescribable as “suicide,” is permissible. Suicidal (ornon-suicidal) actions that target non-combatants are also notpermissible and there is no theory of collective responsibilityapplicable to an entire population (e.g. including babies) for thewrongdoing of its leaders. There are no documented cases of theProphet Muhammad (pbuh)leading or condoning suicide missions, nor sanctioning the slayingof non-combatants, but there are several cases to the contrary.

  Shaheed

  Arabic

  Amartyr.One who has died in shahadahfighting an unjust opponent or resisting one. Most generally thedeath occurs in the fulfillment of any religious commandment inwhich the effort is driven by strength of faith in Islam.The first shaheed in all Islamwas a woman called Sumayyah bint Khayyat.

  Shalwar