Glossary of terms

Abbreviations

(aba) ayyadahullahu Ta‘ala binasrihil-‘Aziz, meaning ‘may Allah the Almighty help him with His powerful support’, is written after the name of the present head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), Khalifatul Masih V.

(as) ‘alaihis-salam, meaning ‘may peace be on him’, is written after the names of Prophets other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa).

(sa) or (saw) sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, meaning ‘may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’, is written after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa).

(ra) Radiyallahu ‘anhu/‘anha/‘anhum, meaning ‘may Allah be pleased with him/with her/with them’, is used with the name of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and those of the Promised Messiah (as).

(rh) Rahimahullahu Ta‘ala, meaning may Allah have mercy on him.

Terms

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at – The Community of Muslims who have accepted the claims of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Community was established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in 1889, and is now under the leadership of his fifth Khalifah – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his help). The Community is also known as Jama‘at-e-Ahmadiyya. A member of the Community is called an Ahmadi Muslim or simply an Ahmadi.

Allah – Allah is the personal name of God in Islam. To show proper reverence to Him, Muslims often add Ta‘ala, translated here as ‘the Exalted’, when saying His Holy name.

Hadith – A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). The plural is ahadith.

Hazrat or Hadhrat – A term of respect used to show honour and reverence for a person of established righteousness and piety. The literal meaning is: His/Her Holiness, Worship, Eminence, etc.

Holy Prophet (sa) – A title used exclusively for the Founder of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (sa).

Khalifah or Caliph is derived from the Arabic word khalifah, which herein means ‘successor’. Khulafa’ is the plural of Khalifah. In many divine revelations someone commissioned by God Almighty is referred to as His Khalifah. In Islamic terminology, the title ‘Khalifa-e-Rashid’ [righteous Khalifah] is applied to each of the first four Khulafa’ who continued the mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). Ahmadi Muslims refer to each successor of the Promised Messiah (as) as Khalifatul-Masih (successor of the Messiah).

Mahdi – Literally means ‘Guided’. A title given to the Reformer of the Latter Days prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). Ahmadi Muslims believe this to be another title of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as).

Promised Messiah (as) – A title given to the Reformer prophesied to appear during the Latter Days, by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (as). Ahmadi Muslims believe this to be Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as).