Arabic–English Islamic Dictionary
11 terms · Quranic vocabulary, fiqh, aqida, tafsir and Islamic concepts explained in English
Each entry includes the original Arabic script, transliteration, root analysis, theological definition, and Quranic or hadith references — designed to serve both English-speaking learners and scholars.
حَدِيث
Hadith
hadith
Hadith
Hadith are recorded sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. They form Islam's second primary source of law and theology after the Quran. The two most authoritative collections are Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Hadith are classified by chain of transmission (isnad) and text authenticity into sahih (sound), hasan (good), and da'if (weak) categories.
إِسْنَاد
Isnad (Chain of Narration)
isnād
Hadith
Isnad is the chain of transmitters through which a hadith is traced back to the Prophet Muhammad. The reliability of a hadith depends significantly on the strength of its isnad. Islamic scholars developed an unprecedented system of biographical analysis (rijal criticism) to verify each narrator's reliability, character, and memory.
الصَّحَابَة
Sahaba
ṣaḥābah
Seerah · Hadith
The Sahaba (Companions) are those who met the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a state of faith, spent time in his company, and died as believers. They are the primary transmitters of hadith and the living embodiment of Quranic practice. The Quran describes them as those with whom Allah is pleased and who are pleased with Allah (9:100).
About This Dictionary
The Islam Agenda Arabic–English Dictionary is a curated reference for English-speaking Muslims, students of Islamic studies, and anyone seeking to understand the theological vocabulary of the Quran and classical Islamic scholarship. Each entry includes the original Arabic script with diacritics, romanized transliteration, root letters (which unlock the word's family of meanings), grammatical category, and a scholarly definition.
Where applicable, entries note how many times the word — or its root — appears in the Quran, providing an immediate sense of the term's centrality in Islamic thought. Contextual sections include Quranic verse references translated according to Sahih International and hadith citations from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The dictionary is organised into eight disciplines — Fiqh, Aqidah, Tafsir, Hadith, Sufism, Seerah, Worship, and Ethics — reflecting the major branches of Islamic knowledge. Use the filters above to browse by category, or search for a specific term to access its full entry.
What Each Entry Contains
Arabic Script & Root
The word in its original Arabic with vowel marks (tashkeel), its three-letter root, and transliteration into Latin script.
Scholarly Definition
A concise 50–60 word definition optimised for clarity, followed by a detailed explanation drawing on classical and contemporary scholarship.
Quranic & Hadith Context
Key verses from the Quran and prophetic traditions that illustrate how the term is used in its primary sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sources does this dictionary use?
Definitions are drawn from the Quran (Sahih International translation), Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and established works of Islamic jurisprudence and theology. Classical Arabic lexicons such as Lisān al-ʿArab inform root analyses.