Arabic–English Islamic Dictionary
224 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.
صِرَاط
Quran ×45Sirat (The Path)
sirat
Aqidah · Quran
Sirat has two meanings: the straight path (sirat al-mustaqim) that believers follow in this life, and the bridge over Hell on the Day of Judgment. The opening surah of the Quran, Al-Fatiha, asks Allah: 'Guide us to the straight path.' In eschatology, all humans must cross the bridge over Hell; the righteous will cross swiftly while the sinful will fall.
الصِّرَاط الْمُسْتَقِيم
Quran ×45Al-Sirat al-Mustaqim (The Straight Path)
al-sirat al-mustaqim
Aqidah · Quran
Al-Sirat al-Mustaqim — the straight path — is invoked at least 17 times daily in Al-Fatiha: 'Guide us to the straight path.' It is the path of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous (4:69). Following it requires holding to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the scholarly consensus of the Muslim community. In eschatology, the sirat is also the bridge over Hell that all souls must cross on the Day of Judgment.
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰه
Quran ×41SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah)
subhanallah
Quran · Ethics
SubhanAllah means 'Glory be to Allah' — declaring Allah free from all imperfections, deficiencies, and any likeness to creation. The act of glorification is called tasbih, and the prayer beads used for it share this name. The Prophet said these four words — SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, and Allahu Akbar — are more beloved to him than all that the sun rises upon.
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.