Glossary

The terms this site uses, in plain words. Point at or tab to a badge anywhere on the site to see its meaning; this page has the full list.

These explanations, like every entry, are awaiting review by qualified scholars.

Levels of evidence

Evidence level: The badge on every entry and citation. It shows how strong the evidence behind it is; an entry takes the level of its strongest citation.
Quran: The speech of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Verses here come from the Tanzil text and are referenced by surah and verse number.
Sahih (authentic)Sahih: A hadith reported through a connected chain of upright, precise narrators, without irregularity or hidden defect. The highest grade of hadith.
Hasan (good)Hasan: A hadith that meets the conditions of sahih, except that a narrator’s precision is somewhat lighter. It is accepted as evidence.
Da’if (weak)Da'if: A hadith that falls short of the conditions of hasan, for example through a break in its chain or a weak narrator. It is not used to establish beliefs or rulings.
Mawdu’ (fabricated)Mawdu': A report falsely attributed to the Prophet ﷺ. It is mentioned only to warn against it.
Scholarly opinion: A view held by scholars rather than a direct text. The scholar and the source are named.
Popular, no source: Something widely repeated for which no authentic source is known. It appears here only to make that clear.

Surah: A chapter of the Quran. There are 114.
Ayah: A verse of the Quran. A reference such as 2:255 means surah 2, verse 255.
Basmala: The opening words “In the name of Allah…” written at the start of every surah except the ninth (at-Tawbah). Here it is shown as a header above a surah’s first verse.
Uthmani script: The spelling of the Quran’s text that follows the copies made under the Caliph ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan. The verses on this site use it, from the Tanzil Project.

Hadith: A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved. Every hadith cited here names its collection and number.
Collection: A book of hadith compiled by a scholar, such as Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi or Sunan Abi Dawud. Numbers follow the common editions; for Muslim, that of Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi.
Grade: A hadith scholar’s verdict on whether a narration is authentic. Scholars can differ, so every grader is named next to their verdict.

Dhikr (plural: azkar): Remembrance of Allah in set words of praise and glorification, such as those taught for the morning and the evening.
Du’a: Supplication: calling upon Allah and asking of Him.

Awaiting scholarly review: Every entry is prepared from its sources and then reviewed by qualified scholars before final publication. Until then it carries this notice.