Teach Middle East Magazine May-June 2017 Issue 5 Volume 4 | Page 39

For Your Information Ramadan Glossary ALLAH God ADHAN (ATHAN, AZAN) Call to prayer ASR Mid-afternoon prayer DHUHUR, DHUHR, ZUHR Midday prayer EID AL ADHA (DAY OF SACRIFICE) A 4 day festival that starts about 70 days after the end of Ramadan, commemorating Ibrahim (Abraham) being ready to sacrifice his son EID AL FITR A festival at the end of Ramadan (the first three days of the month of Shawwal) to celebrate the completion of the month of fasting EID MUBARAK Congratulations at the start of Eid FAJR (DAWN) The first prayer of the day at dawn FAWANEES These are colourful lanterns used to decorate Iftar tents. The tradition originates in Cairo, Egypt when residents walked out to the streets with lamps to welcome a new Fatimid ruler on the 5th day of Ramadan in the 9th century IFTAR The evening meal after sunset to break the daily fast during Ramadan IMAM An Islamic religious leader IMSAK This is the beginning the daily fast. It means the act rather than the time ISHA (ISHA’A, ISHAA) The evening prayer, the fifth and last prayer of the day KABAA (KA’BA, KAABA, KABAH) The black granite building inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, regarded as the holiest place in Islam LAYLAT AL QADR OR LAILAT AL QADR (NIGHT OF POWER) One of the last nights of Ramadan. It marks the anniversary of when the Angel Gabriel revealed the first verses of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) MAGHREB, MAGHRIB Sunset prayer MANARA Minaret QIBLA The direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca (Makkah) QURAN, KORAN The holy book for Islam, which was first revealed during Lailat Al Qadr. Muslims recite the entire Quran during Ramadan RAK’AH (RAKA, RAK’A, RAK’AA, RAKAA This is the cycle of standing, bowing, prostration and recitation that make up a unit of prayer. Each of the five daily prayer sessions consists of 2-4 Rakat (Raka’at) (plural of Rak’ah) RAMADAN KAREEM Ramadan greetings. Kareem is the equivalent to “generous”, more common than RAMADAN MUBARAK Ramadan greetings. Mubarak is equivalent to “blessings” SALAH, SALAT Praying SALAT AL JAMA’A Communal prayers SAWM Abstinence or fasting SUHOOR (SAHOOR) This is the morning meal taken before the sun rises and the start of fasting during Ramadan SHUROOQ Early Morning Prayer SUNNAH, SUNNA The way of the Prophet, meaning to follow his words and actions. Literally can be taken to mean custom, practice, or recommended TARAWEEH PRAYERS Special evening prayers during Ramadan, after Isha, when the Quran is recited WUDU Cleansing of the body when preparing for prayer ZAKAT Giving alms. It is especially important for Muslims to give Zakat during Ramadan Source: http://www.dubaifaqs.com/ramadan-in-dubai.php Class Time | | May - Jun 2017 | 37