Glossary

Dhikr vocabulary crosses Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Persian, and Muslim-diaspora English. This glossary is the reference. Every entry is short, sourced when needed, and links out to a deeper page. Suggest a missing term through feedback.

Dhikrذِكْر

Remembrance of Allah in any form: verbal or in the heart.

The Qur'anic umbrella term (Qur'an 33:41) for remembering Allah through short phrases, Qur'an recitation, or silent contemplation. Every tasbih is a dhikr; not every dhikr is a tasbih.

Dhikr vs tasbih guide →

Zikr

South Asian and Persian spelling of dhikr. Same word, same meaning.

Urdu, Persian, and South Asian transliteration of ذِكْر. Different pronunciation of the Arabic letter dhāl, identical meaning.

Tasbihتَسْبِيح

Glorification of Allah (SubhanAllah); also the string of beads used to count it.

From the root س ب ح (glorify). Refers both to the act of saying SubhanAllah and, colloquially, to the beads.

Tasbih vs misbaha →

Tasbeeh

Common English spelling variant of tasbih.

Spelt tasbeeh, tasbih, tesbih, tasbih. All the same word.

Misbahaمِسْبَحَة

The Arabic name for the bead string. Literally: the thing you glorify with.

Noun of instrument from the same root as tasbih. In the Arab world the object is usually called misbaha; the act is called tasbih.

Sibhaسُبْحَة

Another Arabic name for the bead string, common in North Africa.

Regional variant of misbaha, from the same root.

Tahmidتَحْمِيد

Saying Alhamdulillah (all praise is due to Allah).

A form of dhikr distinct from tasbih. Together with takbir and tahlil it forms the four pillars of short-phrase remembrance.

Takbirتَكْبِير

Saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest).

Recited in prayer, on Eid, at moments of awe. In Tasbih Fatimah it completes the sequence with 34 repetitions.

Tahlilتَهْلِيل

Saying La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah).

The core statement of tawhid. Recited alone or as the first half of the shahada.

Istighfarاِسْتِغْفَار

Seeking forgiveness by saying Astaghfirullah.

The Prophet ﷺ is reported in Sahih Muslim 2702 to have sought forgiveness seventy or a hundred times a day.

Salawatصَلَوَات

Sending prayers upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Recommended in the Qur'an 33:56. Recited especially on Fridays. Multiple wordings exist; the Ibrahimic form is the longest.

Hawqalaحَوْقَلَة

Saying La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

Described in Sahih al-Bukhari 6384 as a treasure from the treasures of Paradise.

Hasbala

Saying Hasbunallahu wa niʿma-l-wakil.

From Qur'an 3:173. Recited in moments of anxiety or reliance on Allah.

Asma ul-Husnaالأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَىٰ

The 99 Beautiful Names of Allah.

The traditional list matches the 99-bead tasbih. Recited as a form of dhikr and used for contemplation.

Tasbih Fatimah

33 SubhanAllah + 33 Alhamdulillah + 34 Allahu Akbar after each prayer.

Named for the practice taught to Fatimah bint Muhammad ﷺ, reported in Sahih Muslim 596 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3705.

Full guide →Open counter →

Wirdوِرْد

A daily portion of adhkar committed to at a fixed time.

Literally a share of water at a spring. Sufi orders prescribe collective wirds; individuals also maintain personal wirds, often built from morning-evening adhkar.

Hizbحِزْب

A portion of Qur'an (one-sixtieth) or a compiled set of prayers.

Also used for compiled du'a collections like Hizb al-Bahr.

Adhkar

Plural of dhikr: specific remembrance formulas.

Books like Hisnul Muslim collect morning-evening adhkar, post-prayer adhkar, and adhkar for specific situations.

Adhkar library →

Duʿaدُعَاء

Personal supplication to Allah.

Distinct from dhikr: du'a is asking, dhikr is remembering. Both are forms of worship.

Sunnah

The Prophet's ﷺ example: his sayings, actions, and tacit approvals.

Alongside the Qur'an, one of the two primary sources of Islamic guidance.

Hadith

A reported saying, action, or approval of the Prophet ﷺ.

Collected in canonical books: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah.

Sahih

Sound: the highest grade of hadith authenticity.

A sahih hadith has an unbroken chain of upright, precise narrators back to the Prophet ﷺ. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are the two most-cited collections.

Hasan

Good: a hadith grade one below sahih.

Still acceptable evidence in practice, though less strong than sahih.

Sunan

Collections of hadith organised by legal topic.

Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sunan Ibn Majah, Jami' at-Tirmidhi.

Qibla

The direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, faced during prayer.

Also faced during many adhkar as a matter of adab (etiquette), though not required.

Wudu

Ritual ablution before prayer.

Not required for dhikr, though many keep it out of preference.

Tawhid

The oneness and uniqueness of Allah.

The central affirmation of Islam. La ilaha illa Allah is its verbal expression.

Tariqa

A Sufi order with a specific chain and wird.

Plural: turuq. Examples include Naqshbandi, Qadiri, Shadhili, Tijani.

Juz

One of the thirty parts of the Qur'an.

Also called para in South Asia. A daily juz completes the Qur'an in one month.

Khatm schedule →

Khatm

A complete recitation of the Qur'an.

A khatm can span any number of days; common cycles are one month (Ramadan), 40 days, or 3 days.

Hifz

Memorisation of the Qur'an.

One who has memorised the entire Qur'an is called a hafiz.

Salat

The five daily obligatory prayers.

Adhkar such as Tasbih Fatimah are recited immediately after each salat.