ISSUE 456: The Qur'an must always be kept clean and tidy and it is haram to make the writing or the pages of the Qur'an najis, and if it is najis, it must be washed with water immediately.

ISSUE 457: If the cover of the Qur'an is made najis, and it is seen as disre­spect to the Qur'an, it must be cleaned with water.

Touching the Script of the Qur'an

ISSUE 458: It is haram to touch the Qur'an by any part of the body for someone who does not have wudhu.

ISSUE 459: In touching the writing of the Qur'an, there is no difference between the ayat and words, rather evne the letters or even vowel points on the letters.

ISSUE 460: There is no difference on what the Qur'an is written on, be it paper, ground or the wall or cloth.

ISSUE 461: There is no difference in how the Qur'an is written, be it by pen or by a computer printer, chalk or other things.

ISSUE 462: Even if the writing of the Qur'an is not in the Qur'an itself, touching it too is haram. So then, if an ayat of the Qur'an is written in a book, rather even if one world is found on a piece of paper, or even half a word from a page of the Qur'an or another book is ripped out, touching this without wudhu is haram.

ISSUE 463: The following instances do not constitute touching the script of the Qur'an, and will not be haram:

                       ·           Touching the script of the Qur'an covered by glass or plastic.

                       ·           Touching the pages of the Qur'an and the cover and around the       writing (margins) - although it is markuh.

                       ·           Touching the translation of the Qur'an in any language, except         the name of Allah in any language. Touching the name of      Allah is haram for one who does not have wudhu, for example   the Persian word ((خدا)), or ((Allah )) in English.

ISSUE 464: Touching the script of the Qur'an for one who is a junub is haram.

ISSUE 465: It is not permitted for a junub to recite one of the 4 ayats that contain a wajib sajdah (as was explained in Rule 111).

 (Taking an Oath )

ISSUE 466: If someone takes an oath by one of the names of Allah, like ((الله)) or ((خدا)), or Allah that he will perform or leave a certain act; for ex­ample one takes an oath that he will pray a two rak'at Saiat, it is wajib for him to perform this action.

ISSUE 467: If, intentionally, one does not act immediately on his oath, he must give a kaffarah (penalty) - the kaffarah for this delay is one of three things:

                       ·           Freeing one slave

                       ·           Feeding ten poor people

                       ·           Clothing ten poor people

And if one is not able to perform any of these three, one must fast for three consecutive days.

ISSUE 468: If a person takes an oath, and his words are true, it is makruh to take that oath, and if he is leing, this oath is haram and is a major sin.

 ( Note)

All of the practical laws of Islam have not been included in this book - rather a good portion of the basic rules of Islam that the youth and young adults will need are not included in this small book. For those who are in need of more of the rules, we ask you to refer to the "Islamic Laws" - the English version of Taudhiul Masail, as published by The World Federation of K.S.IM.C..

والحمد لله اولاً و اخراً

Translation completed on February 3, 1998

 Qum, Islamic Republic of Iran

Saleem Bhimji

 سليم بميجى

(A glossary of terms)

A'lam: The Mujtahid considered most knowledgeable. 'Adil: The just individual 'Aqil-.The sane person Ahkam: Legal rulings, laws. Plural ofHukm.

Ahl ul-Bait: The near relatives of the Holy Prophet (S) mentioned in Qur'an (33:33) as the Ahlul-Bait (AS). They are Imam 'All, Fatimah az-Zahra\ Imam al-Hassan and Imam al-Husayn, peace be upon them all.

Ahlul-Kitab: "People of the scripture" a Qur'anic term used for Christians and Jews.

Ayatullah al-'Uzma: A Grand or senior Ayatullah. 'Ainul Najasat: An actual source of impurity, like blood. Adhan: The Islamic call to prayer.

Baligh: A person reaching the age of legal maturity, a minimum of 10 years for girls and a maximum of 16 years for boys.

Du'a: Supplication, prayer.

Eid: Day of celebration, holiday.

'Eidul-Adha: The holiday commemmorating the Prophet Ibrahim's intended sacrifice of his son, Ismaa' il on the 10* of Zil-Hijjah.

'Eidul-Fitr: The holiday commemmorating the end of the month long fast­ing of the month ofRamadhan on the 1" ofShawwal.

'Eidul-Ghadir: The holiday commemmorating me appointment of Imam 'All (AS) as the successor of the Holy Prophet on the 18th of Zil-Hijjah.

Fajr: Morning time before sunrise.

Faqir: A poor person, meaning one who does not have his yearly expenses on hand nor the means to earn it properly.

Farsakh/Farasikh: A unit of measure equal to approximately 5.4 Kilometers or 3.4 miles.

Fiqh: Islamic law and jurisprudence.

Fitrah: An obligatory charity in the amount of one Saa' of food (3 Kilo-grams/6.6 Pounds) given to the needy on 'Eidul-Fitr.

Furu': A branch, as in a branch of religion, Furoo'ud-Deen, meaning the practical aspects of faith.

Ghasbi: Usurped, taken or used without ownership or proper permission of the owner.

Ghusl: A bath according to Islamic law.

Hajj: Pilgrimage to the Holy Ka'abah in Makkah to perform specific rites and ceremonies.

Halal: Lawful, permissible.

Haram: Those actions which must be avoided, and performing them incur punishment from Allah.

Hijab: Islamic covering for women.

 Hijri: Related to the Islamic calendar.

Ihtiyat Mustahab: A Mujtahid, in addition to expressing his opinion in the form of a fatwa, also attaches an Ihtiyat Mustahab to the ruling. The Mu-qallid can act either according to the fatwa or the Ihtiyat Mustahab, and is not allowed to perform Ruju' to another Mujtahid.

Ihtiyat Wajib: A Mujtahid does not give a fatwa in a particular ruling, rather, he gives an "Ihtiyat Wajib" which means the Muqallid can either act according to this Ihtiyat, or perform Ruju' to another living Mujtahid.

Intiqal: The transfer of an impurity, namely blood, from one person or ani­mal to another person by means of an insect.

Iqamah: Part of the call to prayer recited to announce the actual beginning of the prayer.

Istibra': The process of removing urine and semen from the urinary tract. Also, to quarantine an impurity eating animal until its system becomes clean again.

 Jari: Flowing, as in Maa' ul-Jaari or flowing water.

Jabirah: A bandage, cast, splint and similar things which cover a wound or breakage.

Ka'bah: The House of Allah, the Holy Sanctuary built by the Prophet Ibra-him in Makkah. The place which Muslims pray towards daily and where the pilgrimage (Hajj) is performed.

Kafir: A non-Muslim.

Kafarah: An atonement, usually for the lapse of one's duties or inability to perform a certain obligation.

Khums: An obligatory tax on excess wealth. Kurr: A measurement of volume equal to approximated 102 US Gallons.

Maghrib: The time of sunset.

Mahram: A related person. One who it is not permissible to marry due to blood relation or family affinity.

Maitah: An animal which has died on its own without proper slaughtering.

Makkah: The birth place of the Prophet of Islam (S) and location of the Ka'abah, the direction toward which Muslims pray.

Makruh: Those actions which are better not performed, and if avoided, earn a reward, but if performed, do not accompany a punishment.

Masjid: A Mosque.

Mubah: Those actions whose performance or turning away from are equal;

meaning neither gets a reward, nor punishment.

Mudd: A measurement equivalent to approximately 1.7 Lbs or 3.50 Kilo­grams.

Mudhaf: Mixed water.

Mujtahid: An Islamic jurist capable of independent derivation of legal rul­ings from the Islamic sources of law.

Mukallaf: One deemed as responsible and accountable under Islamic law.

Mustahab: These are actions which are recommended to be performed and earn the person a reward, but turning away from such actions does not incur punishment from Allah.

Mutahhir/Mutahhirat: Something capable of purifying an impure substance, like water.

Mutanajjis: Something which is contaminated by an impurity although not possessing the source of the impurity itself.

Mutlaq Water: Pure Water

Muwalah: Continuity, meaning that actions must be performed with conti­nuity and continuation.

Nafilah/Nawafil: A voluntary prayer.

Najasat/Najasat: An impure substance according to Islamic law, like blood and urine.

Najis: Something containing a Najasah or an impurity.

NadrA vow.

Niyyah: Intention in matters of worship.

Qalil Water: A small quantity of water that is less than a Kurr or 102 US Gallons.

Qiblah: The direction of the Holy Ka'abah, the direction to which Muslims pray.

Qiyam: The standing position in prayer. Qunut: The supplication made in prayer in the 2nd Raka'ah.

Qurbah: The intention to perform a duty only for the sake of Allah, to gain nearness to Him and fulfill one's duty.

Rak'at: One cycle in prayer.

Ramadhan: One of the holy months on the Islamic calendar in which Mus­lims fast during the day time hours.

Rukn: A pillar of prayer. Ruku: The bowing position in prayer.

Sayyid/Sadat: A descendant of the Bani Haashim (the Prophet's family branch of the Quraish tribe). Also, the descendants of the Infallibles.

Sahm: A share, as in the two shares of Khums, Sahm al-Imam and Sahm As-Sadat (the share of the Imam and the share of the descendants of the Prophet).

Sajdah Sahw: Two prostrations that are performed to rectify some inadver­tent mistakes committed during the prayer, like forgetting one prostration.

Salatul-Ayat: The Sign Prayer, an obligatory prayer performed upon the occurrence of eclipses, earthquakes and other extraordinary natural occur­rences.

Salatul-'Asr: Mid-afternoon prayer.

Salatul-'Eid: Prayers of the two high celebrations of'Eid (Ref: 'Eid).

Salatul-Fajr: The morning prayer, also called salatus-Subh.

Salatul-Ihtiyat: The prayer of precaution, performed when one has doubt in the number ofRaka'at performed.

Salitul-'Isha': The evening prayer said after sunset when the sky darkens. Salatul-Jama'at: Congregational prayer. Salatul-Jumu'ah: Friday Prayer.

Salatul-Lail: The late night prayer, usually performed after sleeping and be­fore the morning prayer.

Salatul-Maghrib:The sunset prayer.s Salatul-Mayyit: The prayer for the deceased. Also called Salatul-Amwat.

Salatul-Musafir: The prayer of the traveler, meaning a prayer shortened from four Raka'at to two Raka'at due to traveling.

Salatush-Shafa: Two Raka'at prayer which is part of the eleven Raka'at of the late night prayer (Salatul-Lail).

Salatuz-Zuhr : The noon time prayer.

Salawat: To send salutations and prayers upon the Prophet Muhammad (S) and his family. Recited as: اللهم صل على محمد و آل محمد Also, the plural of

Salah.

Sayyid/Sayyidah: Male/female descendant of one of the twelve A' immah.

Shahid: A Martyr.

Suhur: An early morning meal before beginning the fast at Fajr time.

Sujud: Prostration.

Surah: A chapter of the Holy Qur'an.

Ta'qibat: The actions (du'a, etc..) which follow the prayer. Tahir: Pure according to the Islamic law.

Taqlid: Following a Mujtahid in matters pertaining to the practical laws of Islam.

Tartib: Sequence, proper order. Tasbih: Glorification, praise

Tasbihat Al-Arba': The Zikr recited in the third and fourth Raka'ah of prayer in place of Surah Al-Hamd.

Tashahhud: The recitation of the Shahaadatain in me prayer.

Tayammum: Dry purification used as a substitute of Wudhoo" and Ghusl for specific reasons.

Turbah: Soil, dirt.

"Ulama': Scholars, plural ofAlim. 'Ummah: The Muslims worldwide, the Muslim nation.

Waqf: An Islamic Trust. Wasiyah: A will.

Witr: The one Raka'ah prayer that is part of the late night prayer (Salatui-Lail).

Wudhu: A ritual of purification necessary before prayer and other acts of worship which require purification. Involves washing the face, arms from the elbows to the fingers, wiping the head and feet.

Zakat: An obligatory and, sometimes recommended, charity given on ani­mals, agriculture and gold and silver.

Zakatul-Fitrah: An obligatory charity given to the poor after the month of fasting (Ramadhan).

Zuhr: Noon time or the noon-time prayer (Salatuz-Zuhr).