---
title: "Glossary of Quran & Islamic Terms"
description: "Plain-English definitions of the Quran, Tajweed, and Islamic-studies terms used across our courses."
last_updated: "2026-06-21"
---

# Glossary of Quran & Islamic Terms

> Plain-English definitions of the Quran, Tajweed, and Islamic-studies terms used across our courses.

A reference for the 20 specialised terms that appear throughout The Noor ul Quran Academy courses — from Noorani Qaida and Nazra to Tajweed, Hifz, and Makhraj.

### Noorani Qaida (القاعدة النورانية)

A foundational primer that teaches the Arabic letters, their sounds, and how they join — the first step toward reading the Quran.

### Nazra (الناظرة)

Reciting the Quran fluently by looking directly at the Mushaf (the written text), as opposed to from memory.

### Hifz (الحفظ)

The memorisation of the entire Quran. A person who completes it is called a Hafiz (male) or Hafiza (female).

### Tajweed (التجويد)

The science of the rules governing the correct pronunciation and articulation of every letter during Quran recitation.

### Makhraj (المخرج)

The precise point of articulation in the mouth or throat from which an Arabic letter's sound originates (plural: Makharij).

### Ijazah (الإجازة)

A formal certification authorising a person to teach Quran recitation, backed by an unbroken chain of transmission (Sanad) traced to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

### Tafseer (التفسير)

Scholarly exegesis and explanation of the meanings of the Quran, including the context and lessons of each passage.

### Tarjuma (Translation) (الترجمة)

The rendering of the Quran's meaning, often word-by-word, into another language to aid understanding.

### Mushaf (المصحف)

The physical, written copy of the Quran from which a reader recites during Nazra.

### Harakat (الحركات)

The short-vowel diacritical marks (Fatha, Kasra, Damma) placed above or below Arabic letters to indicate their vowel sounds.

### Ghunnah (الغنة)

A nasal sound produced through the nose, applied in specific Tajweed rules for the letters Noon and Meem.

### Madd (المد)

The rule of elongating (lengthening) the sound of certain vowels for a defined number of counts during recitation.

### Qalqalah (القلقلة)

An echoing or bouncing sound produced on certain letters (ق ط ب ج د) when they carry a sukoon (no vowel).

### Sabaq, Sabqi & Manzil

The three pillars of a Hifz routine: Sabaq (new memorisation), Sabqi (recent revision), and Manzil (long-term revision of older portions).

### Salah (الصلاة)

The formal Islamic prayer performed five times a day, with prescribed postures, recitations, and conditions.

### Wudu (الوضوء)

The ritual washing (ablution) performed to attain a state of purity required before prayer and Quran recitation.

### Adhkar (Azkar) (الأذكار)

Words of remembrance and short supplications recited regularly, such as the morning and evening Adhkar.

### Seerah (السيرة)

The study of the life, biography, and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

### Hadith (الحديث)

A recorded saying, action, or approval of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, forming a primary source of Islamic guidance.

### Nahw & Sarf

The two core branches of Arabic grammar: Nahw (syntax — how words form sentences) and Sarf (morphology — how words are derived and inflected).

## Explore

- [Home](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/index.md) — overview of the academy
- [Courses](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/courses.md) — all 13 one-to-one programs
- [Pricing](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/pricing.md) — monthly plans and what's included
- [Teachers](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/teachers.md) — our Ijazah-certified instructors
- [How It Works](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/how-it-works.md) — from sign-up to first lesson
- [About](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/about.md) — our story and teaching philosophy
- [Glossary](https://thenoorulquranacademy.com/pages/glossary.md) — Quran & Islamic terms explained

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