Derived from the adjective awla (one who is best qualified)...
Derived from the adjective awla (one who is best qualified), it means: the person who is best suited to be the religious and temporal leader of all Muslims.
Mufti: a judge empowered to issue binding legal opinions relevant to the Islamic faith Mujtahid: one who acquires the degree of ijtihad and thus becomes capable of deriving religious decisions on his own Musnad: a compilation of traditions (ahadith) which are consecutively and chronologically traced to their transmitters Mut`a: temporary marriage Mutawatir: consecutively reported, traced by a perfect chronological chain of ascertained narrators of hadith Nafl: also nafila: supererogatory, optional, non-compulsory, highly recommended act of worship Najasa: uncleanness, impurity Noor: divine or celestial light Nubuwwah: the concept of prophethood or the belief in following a prophet Qunoot: supplication performed usually during the second rek`a (see below) Rek`a: prostration (during prayer or a ritual) Rek`at: plural of rek`a (see above) Risala: published collection of religious rulings by a marji` (see above); literal meaning: letter, dissertation Sahaba: (plural) companions of the Holy (P) Sahabi: singular of sahaba (see above) Saheefa: tablet, scroll, parchment, a written document Sahih: literally: authentic, correct, accurate; it is generally used to refer to the collection, group of collections, or book, of verified and authenticated ahadith of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) Saqeefa: a shed, a simply built structure with a roof (saqf) Shahada: martyrdom, testimony Shaykh: also syakh, an honoring title with many meanings; literally, it means an old man; in Islamic theology and philosophy, however, it is used to denote a mentor, professor, or scholar of a high calibre Shari`a: Islam's legislative system Shirk: polytheism, the belief in the existence of partners with God Shura: the principle of mutual consultation, Islam's form of democracy Sufi: an ascetic, a mystic Sunan: plural of sunnah: a highly commended act of worship or way whereby a Muslim seeks nearness to Allah Sura: a chapter of the Holy Qur'an Tabi`i: (singular:) one who accompanied for a good period of time and learned from a sahabi, a companion of the Holy (pbuh); its plural is: tabi`in Tafsir: (singular:) exegesis or explanation of Qur'anic verses; its plural is: tafasir Takbir: the act of glorifying Allah by declaring in an audible voice: "Allaho Akbar!" All_h is Great!