Glossary
Plain-language explanations of terms that matter to the DFW Arab community — from halal and zakat to immigration, healthcare, and daily Islamic life.
Adhan
The Islamic call to prayer, recited aloud (or, in the U.S., typically played inside the mosque or via an app) at the start of each of the five daily prayer times to signal that it is time to pray.
Adjustment of Status
The process that lets someone already in the U.S. (e.g., on a visa) apply to become a permanent resident without having to leave the country and process their green card through a U.S. consulate abroad.
Asylum
Protection granted to someone already in the U.S. (or at a port of entry) who fears persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Approved asylees can later apply for a green card.
Community Health Center
A federally funded clinic that provides primary care on a sliding-fee scale based on income, regardless of insurance status or immigration status. Several serve the DFW Arab and Muslim community with Arabic-speaking staff or interpreters.
Eid al-Adha
The "festival of sacrifice," commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Marked by a congregational prayer and, for those able, the sacrifice of an animal (udhiyah) with the meat shared among family, friends, and those in need — many DFW halal butchers offer udhiyah services around this time.
Eid al-Fitr
The "festival of breaking the fast," marking the end of Ramadan. Celebrated with a special congregational morning prayer, gathering with family and friends, gift-giving, and — in DFW — large community prayer events often held at convention centers or parks to accommodate the crowd.
Green Card
The common name for a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, which allows a non-citizen to live and work permanently in the United States. It must be renewed periodically and can lead to eligibility for naturalization after a required residency period.
Halal
Permissible under Islamic law. In a food context, halal means the item and how it was prepared meet Islamic dietary rules — no pork or pork by-products, no alcohol as an ingredient, and any meat slaughtered according to zabiha requirements.
Halal Certification
A formal certificate from a recognized certifying body confirming that a restaurant, butcher, or food product meets halal standards — covering sourcing, preparation, and handling. Certification isn't legally required to call food halal, but it gives customers independent verification beyond the business's own claim.
Haram
Forbidden under Islamic law — the opposite of halal. Common examples in a food context: pork, alcohol, and meat from animals not slaughtered according to Islamic requirements.
Hijri Calendar
The Islamic lunar calendar, used to determine the dates of Ramadan, Eid, and other religious observances. Because it's roughly 10-11 days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) year, Islamic holidays shift earlier each Gregorian year.
Iftar
The meal that breaks the daily fast at sunset during Ramadan, traditionally started with dates and water. Community iftars — hosted by mosques, businesses, or families — are a major seasonal gathering point in the DFW Arab and Muslim community.
ITIN
Individual Taxpayer Identification Number — a tax processing number issued by the IRS to people who need to file U.S. taxes but aren't eligible for a Social Security Number. Commonly used by non-citizens, and often required to open certain bank accounts or apply for some forms of credit.
Jumu'ah
The obligatory congregational Friday prayer that replaces the dhuhr prayer for Muslim men, held at the mosque with a sermon (khutbah) beforehand. Many DFW employers accommodate a longer Friday midday break for employees attending Jumu'ah.
Medicaid
A joint federal-state health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. Eligibility rules vary by state (Texas has some of the strictest in the country) and by immigration status — worth checking directly rather than assuming eligibility either way.
Murabaha
An Islamic finance structure often used for home or car purchases: instead of lending money at interest, the financier buys the asset and resells it to the client at a disclosed markup, paid back in installments — a riba-free alternative to a conventional loan.
Naturalization
The legal process by which a lawful permanent resident becomes a U.S. citizen, typically after holding a green card for a required number of years, passing a civics and English test, and filing Form N-400.
Nisab
The minimum threshold of wealth a Muslim must own before zakat becomes obligatory, traditionally calculated against the value of gold or silver. Scholars differ on which standard to use, with many contemporary scholars favoring the lower silver standard for cash zakat, as it benefits more of the poor. If your qualifying savings fall below the nisab, you are not required to pay zakat that year.
Preventive Care
Health services aimed at preventing illness before it starts or catching it early — annual checkups, vaccinations, and screenings. Most insurance plans, including ACA marketplace plans, are required to cover a defined list of preventive services at no cost to the patient.
Qibla
The direction Muslims face during prayer, toward the Kaaba in Mecca. From DFW, the qibla points roughly northeast; most mosques and prayer-time apps calculate the exact bearing for a given location.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Hijri calendar, during which observant Muslims fast from dawn to sunset — abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs — as an act of worship, self-discipline, and empathy for those less fortunate. It ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Riba
Interest or usury, prohibited in Islamic finance. This is why Islamic-compliant financial products (mortgages, business loans) use profit-sharing or fee-based structures instead of interest — a common question among DFW Muslims when buying a home or financing a business.
Sadaqah
Voluntary charity given at any time, in any amount, beyond the obligatory zakat. It can be money, goods, or even a kind act — the concept is broader than a financial donation.
Salah
The five daily ritual prayers obligatory for Muslims, performed at prescribed times (fajr, dhuhr, asr, maghrib, isha) facing the Qibla. See AlArab24's Prayer Times page for calculated times specific to your DFW-area city.
Suhoor
The meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan, just before the daily fast begins. Many DFW restaurants and grocers extend their hours during Ramadan specifically to serve suhoor.
Takaful
An Islamic alternative to conventional insurance, based on mutual cooperation: participants contribute to a shared fund used to cover each other's losses, rather than paying premiums to a for-profit insurer collecting interest-based reserves.
Telehealth
Medical consultations conducted remotely by phone or video instead of an in-person visit. Increasingly used for routine follow-ups and mental health counseling, and can lower the language and transportation barriers some community members face.
Wudu
The ritual washing of hands, mouth, face, arms, head, and feet that Muslims perform before salah. Most mosques have dedicated wudu stations; it must be repeated if invalidated (e.g., by using the restroom) before the next prayer.
Zabiha
The Islamic method of slaughtering an animal for meat: a swift cut to the throat by a Muslim invoking the name of God, draining the blood, while the animal is treated humanely. Meat is only halal if it was slaughtered this way — "halal" and "zabiha" aren't interchangeable when it comes to meat specifically.
Zakat
One of the five pillars of Islam: an obligatory annual donation, typically 2.5% of a Muslim's savings and qualifying wealth above the nisab threshold, given to eligible recipients such as the poor and needy. It is distinct from sadaqah, which is voluntary.