INDEX: The Cape Malay/Muslim Dictionary (words with ... · PDF fileAjoemat - (talisman/amulet)...

INDEX:

The Cape Muslim's private language:

The Cape Malay/Muslim Dictionary (words with meaning and

explanation):

Some every day Arabic Words used by the Cape Malay / Cape

Muslim:

Sentences with special/unique meaning to the Cape Muslim

The Cape Muslim's private language

I was walking in one of the malls, when I bumped into an old neighbour,

it was great to catch up. After exchanging information about what we

missed out in each other's lives, I invited him to attend a function with

me the following week.

We spoke in Afrikaans and he declined the invitation saying, ” nee man

ek sal nie kan gaan nie, ek gaan na n gaajat, dis mos amie Yusie se

honderd dae, hy het mos in die pwasa gamaningal, in soeboeg se

waktoe, dit was nogal die oggend net na Layla Tul Qadr, hy het net

klaar gesouwe toe bang die bilal, hy gaan neem toe abdas en gaan

maak salaah, in sy sujood kry hy sy ajjal.

Hy het nog die aand tevore saam met one gaan trawie, hy het eindelik

vir ons genooi om by hom te Boeka sodat hy persoonlik vir ons kan inlig

oor sy dogter wat labarang aand gelamba gaan raak.

Hy bly sommer oorkant die masiet, toe kry ons sommer die katel

daar. Sy boeta is mos n toeka-manie, ons het hom toe ** uit-gelê en

sommer vroeg oggend ge-goesl, ek het gese ek wil vir sy kaffang

betaal, ons het toe gesit en batcha daar by hom, Surah Yaseen,

Tabarah en Surah Mulk.

Hy het mos al die jare aan ñ moulit jamaa behoort, toe kom n paar van

die boetas van sy jamaah, die laagoe manne, ek skat so twalf van

hulle, toe batcha hulle sommer gou-gou a gaatam klaar, elkeen twee

joos. Daar was n paar gaafies boetatjies saam met hulle wat meer as

twee joos ge-batcha het.

Nadat hulle die klaar die gaatam ge-batcha het, maak hulle toe

sommer n klein arawaag, , net die **voor werk, n mens Ashrakal mos

nie by n janaza nie.

Weet jy vir wie kry ek ook by die koebus, ek weet nie of jy nog vir Hiemie

onthou nie, hy het nog daai tyd saam met ons slamse skool gegaan, hy

het mos op n kol gedraai, maar Algamdu Lillah, hy het darem weer

gidayat gekry.

Jy moet nogal ñ draai gaan maak by galatie, maar nie nou nie, sy is mos

nog onder Ayda.

Ek wil nou nie gielaaf maak of fietna nie, maar...

Even though this conversation was in Afrikaans, a non -Cape

Muslim , Afrikaans speaking person would not have a clue what

the conversation was all about, while the Cape Muslim do not even

realise that so many words were used that only he/she

understood.

We the Cape Malay (Cape Muslim) people have about four hundred

plus additional Malay and Arabic words in our vocabulary, words

we include in our every day conversation when we speak English or

Afrikaans to each other, and when we turn and speak to a non-Cape

Muslim person, we then unconsciously replace these words with the

English or Afrikaans equivalent.

Below are some of words the Cape Malay (Cape Muslims) have been

using for the last hundred plus years. We managed to compile many

words so far but there are so many more, that is why I need your input

on words I missed, kanala.

Our children or grand children might appreciate it more one day, Insha

Allah.

source: https://alexfam786.wordpress.com/501-2/

The Cape Malay/Muslim Dictionary (words with meaning and

explanation):

NB: These words must and can only be pronounced in Afrikaans, if

it is pronounced in English it completely loses its meaning.

* Words not in use anymore

** Word has special meaning to the Cape Malay.


Adab, Aadaab- (manners, respect and politeness) [Adaab also used to

emphasize the proper way of doing something]

Abdas - (ablution)[see wudu below]

Afdal - (best, preferable, better)[used in the context “is it more afdal to

do something a certain way?”]

Aagirat – (the afterlife) [arabic Aagirah, Akhirah]

Aglaaq, Akhlaaq - (virtue, morality and manners) ["hy het niks aglaaq

nie"]

Ajjal - (the moment of death)[" I got my mother's ajjal"]

Ajoemat - (talisman/amulet) [azeemah mispronounced]

Akeltjies - (additional turns and twists added while pitching when

singing or reciting) [a unique understanding to the Cape Muslims]

Alaamat - (A sign or token)

Alaikom Salaam – (Answer to greeting)[Salaamu Alaikum - actual

greeting] [see assa laamu alaikum below under Arabic words]

Amatie - (paternal aunt)[galatie- maternal aunt]

Amie - (uncle)

Aragam - (the deceased)[Al Margoom mispronounced, see Al Margoom

below under Arabic words][used after naming a deceased person, "my

mama aragam"]

Ariyas - (hair) ["ek sien die ariyas is weer..."]

Asgharies – (Saudi policemen)

Ashrakal - (singing the praises and invoking Allah's blessings upon

prophet Muhammed pbuh.)

Assal - (lineage) [die ouer mense was lief om vir hulle dogters te sê, as

hulle nie tevrede is met hulle dogters se man keuse nie. "ñ mens vat nie

net enige man nie, jy kyk eers sy assal"]

Auwal-Owwal - (from among the first- “this is Mosque is owwal”)

Ayda, iddat - (the period of waiting) [the period of seclusion for the wife

whose husband has just passed on, or the period of seclusion for the

wife after divorce)

Ay-yah - (learning or struggling to read especially the Arabic text)


Banaa Water - (water where qur’anic verses were recited over)

Bang - (the call to prayer) "die bilal bang" [see Athaan below under

Arabic words]

Bappa - (grand-father)

Barakat - (after attending a gadat (see gatdat below) the attendees

receive a "Barakat", a paper bag with cakes and other sweets as well as a

second paper bag with different fruit in it, nowadays people use plates

which are nicely wrapped and tied with a piece of ribbon)[derived from

the Arabic word “barakah”, which means blessing]

Barries - (arabic alphabet diacritical marks)[signs on guroof (see garaf

below) for common pronunciation]

Bayt – (house) [local usage-an apartment in Makkah)

Batcha - (to recite in Arabic)

Bedieners - (for the Cape Muslims - waiters at a wedding reception)

Behangsels - (curtaining and bedding in a wedding couples’ bedroom)

**Bekend maak - (to invite to one's own wedding)["het jy bekend gaan

maak al ?"]

Bieja, Abee, Aboeja, Agoejah - (Father)

Bilal - (a person who calls to prayer) [see Mu-athien below under Arabic

words]

Boeka - (Ramadaan evening supper) [see Iftaar below under Arabic

words]

Boeta - (Oldest Brother), — unique to the Cape Muslims, also used as a

form of respect when addressing an older male person, we say the word

boeta then his name, (boeta Yusuf), similar to "uncle Yusuf".


**Bruidskamer - (bridal chamber)

Chaya - (face) [normally used to refer to an angry expression on

someone's face]

Chivas - (something bad happen to you)

Das - (lecture) [derived from the Arabic word Dars, see Dars below

under Arabic words]

Doekum, Doekun - (a spiritual healer)[normally in a negative sense]

Doep Maal - (baby name giving)

Doenya - this world (earth)

Doenya trouble/trobble - (very big trouble) ["Yaa Allah, as jou pa dié

gaan uitvind, dan is daar doenya trouble/trobble"]

Dua - (personal prayer, supplication)[please make dua for me.(please

pray for me)]

Faam Maak - (to memorize or to become fluent in reading a certain

passage in the Qur'an or Soerat) [**"het jy jou les faam gemaak al ?"]

Faida - (benefit, profit, gain) [used as “there is no faidah in doing

something a certain way”]

Falaka - (a special method of getting a hiding usually by a galiefa for a

major transgression)

Fasaad- (something morally wrong)

Fitna - (gossip)["ek wil nou nie fitna nie, maar..."]

Gadj (Hadj) - (the pilgrimage to Mecca)

Gadj Makbool - (acceptable)

Gadj Mabroor - (accepted)

Galaal, Halaal – (foods that are permissible for Muslims to eat or drink

under Islamic law)

Gaamiel - (pregnant)

Gaatam - (complete recitation of the whole Qur’aan)

Gadat, Gaajat, Ariwaag, wersksloon, werk, thikr - (a special group

supplication, normally commemorating the death of a loved one or

celebrating a birthday, or the birth of a baby etc.)


Galatie - (Aunty maternal)[amatie – paternal aunty]

Galiefa - (Madrassa teacher)

Gamaningal - (died)

Garaam - (forbidden-sinful)

Garaf - (arabic letter) (local plural - garafs) [actual arabic Plural -

Guroof/Huruf]

Gasad - (to envy, or jealousy) [where a person hates to see anyone else

being a bit superior or better off than him or her] ["hy of sy is ñ baie

gasad persoon"]

*Ge-aate - (manners) ["hy het baie lelike ge-aate"]

Goefs - Khuffs - (Leather Socks)

Granah - (eclipse)

**Groet - (this word has special meaning to the Cape Malay – to greet

family and friends before going on Gadj or Umrah)

Groos - (proud)

*Geniepstag - (bitchy,malicious, spiteful)["sy is ñ baie geniepstage kind"]

Gielaaf - (trouble) ["ek wil nou nie gielaaf maak tussen julle nie,

maar..."]{Actual meaning is dispute or quarrel, but locally used as

"trouble"}

Giena, Henna – (a Powder for nails and hair colouring and body art)

Goekum, Hukm - (judging/ruling)["the judgement (hukm) is Allah's

alone"]


Gujjaaj - (plural of Hadjie)[a person who performed the Gadj]

Guntur & Gheelap - (thunder and lightning)

Hadjie - (a male person who performed the hadj) [**Hi - used to be short

for hadjie, "Hi Ali" (hadjie Ali)]

Gajjah, (Hajjah) - (a female person who performed the hadj)

Hoe Faa - (how are you) ["hoe faa nog?"] general answer "Algamdu

lillah". (All praise is due to Allah alone)

Ibaadat - (different "acts of worship") [see Ibaadah below] [the elders

used to say, "any good that you do is a form of Ibaadat".]

**I’m Out - (this word has special meaning to the Cape Malay - to have

monthly periods)- [whilst is this state the mukallaf (mature) female is

exempted from all normally compulsory Islamic obligations]

Ieblies, Shaytaan - (Devil)

Jaahil - (an ignorant person)["don't take notice of him, he is a jaahil !!!"]

Jalang - (to go for a walk)[the word is actually Jalan-“to walk”, Jalang in

the Malay language refers to bad women]

Jalantoe se tyd – (very old)


*Jamang - (toilet)

Jawap - (reply)[term locally used as a request “to recite with in unison”

or to "fully participate"]

Jieke - (The word thikr mispronounced-see thikr below) [ also used when

referring to singing the praises of prophet Mugammad. pbuh.]

Joos – (part) [one of thirty parts into which the Quran is divided] (the

word Juz mispronounced)

Juma-Aat - (Friday prayer) [the word Jum'ah mispronounced]

Kaatel - (bier)

Kaffang, kafan - (linen pieces the dead person is shrouded in)

Kalam - (a wooden pen to point with in soerat or qur’aan)

Kalima Shahadat – (the testimonial word), [is an Islamic creed declaring

belief in the oneness of Allah and the acceptance of Prophet

Muhammed (pbuh) as Allah's (final) prophet] {new reverts have to

believe this and then declare “The kalimah” to be a Muslim}

Kanala - (please) ["do me a fovour kanala"]

Kanala jobbies – (to render a service without charging or expecting to

get paid)

Kaparangs - (wooden clogs)

Kapetel, Kapêtel – (to convey a long message or say something which

is a formality) [om die hele kapêtel af te sê] {eg. the words you use to

invite (oening) to your wedding, or the wedding oath the groom says

when he gets married etc.}

Kappas - (huge cotton wool swabs for ghusl of the deceased)

Karaamat – (a title given to Muslim saintly person)

Kiebla, kieblat, Qiblah – (the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, the

direction that Muslims should face when praying).


Kiefait - (funeral)[arabic - janaza]

*Kiefait klops - (Burial society)

Kierie slam - (give my Salaams at home) [“Sê maar baie kierie slam by die

huis"]

Koebus - (Muslim graveyard)

Koedrat - (Power, All Powerful, All-Able – [“she is much better now with

the koedrat of Allah”]

Koefija - (fez)

Koenote, kenote - (friends in a derogatory sense)

Koples - (madrasa lessons about general Islamic knowledge)

Kramat - (the grave or Mausoleum of a Muslim spiritual person)

Laagoe - (melodious voice / tune)[to recite the Quraan in a melodious

voice / tune]["hy het ñ baie mooi laagoe"]

Lailai – (very outspoken/or short tempered, cheeky) ["kanala, moenie

voor daai vrou se huis speel nie, sy is baie lailai"]

Labarang Gadjie - (the Eid of sacrifice, when sheep are slaughtered) [see

Eid ul Adha below under Arabic words]

Labarang Ramadaan - (Eid, celebrating the end of Ramadaan) [see Eid

ul Fitr below under Arabic words]

Lamba, gelamba - (engaged) [sy het Donderaand gelamba geraak]

Latchoe - (bad luck)

Maaroe - (the person in a relationship with or married to your partner

"after you")

Madasters - (a type of slipper with a tassel)

Magal Bak - (exact origin not known) [a person who eats in private

during the fast, are refer to ” hy eet agter die magal bak" or just "hy eet

agter die bak"]

Malaikats - (angels) [Arabic-mala’ikah mispronounced]

Malboet - (the person who went street to street to announced a death

in a community, was also nicknamed as “pang bad news”, he is now

replaced with the Muslim radio stations)


*Manie, Mandie - (a special bath to purify yourself)[Arabic - Ghusl]

Masiet - (Mosque)

Maskaavi - (Dowry)

Matejale - (different ingredients added to foods)

Mathalan - (for example)

Mayet, Mite - ( body of a deceased person)

Même - (to describe a young female who acts older than she is “sy is ñ

regte même”). [the male version is called an “ou man jongetjie”]

Merang - (a Muslim event where a big variety of foods are served)

Mesang - (tombstone)

Miedourah - (decorative bride’s head gear)

Mielayah - (a big scarf worn by women)

Miesfal - (a less decorative scarf than the “Miedourah”)

Modeering - (a very elaborately beaded and decorated Islamic garb)

Moerieks - (attendees at a mosque)[the word mureed mispronounced]

Moesla, Moeslat – (prayer mat) [the word Musallah mispronounced]

Moulit - (celebration of the birth of the prophet Muhammad pbuh.)[the

word Moulood mispronounced]

Motjie - (wife)

*Motjie Imaam – (The wife of the imam) [this term is hardly used

anymore]

*Motjie kok – (The lady in the community who makes food for

functions) [this term is hardly used anymore]


Mukallaf - (to reach puberty), [when a Muslim child reaches this stage,

all religious obligations now become compulsory and that child becomes

religiously responsible or accountable]

Munaayat - (a special Ramadaan supplication before Taraweeg)[see

Taraweeg under Arabic words below]

Musaafir - (traveller) [but used in the context “as Allah my vergun dan

gaan ek musaafir na die hoë Baitullah {if Allah grants, I am going to

musaafir to the house of Allah. ( going to Makkah) ]

Mustajab - (accepted) (a mustajab dua)

Myang - (incense)

Nifka - (the Islamic legal term for the financial support a husband must

provide for his wife, Islamically the husband is responsible to pay for his

wife's housing, food and clothing) [the Arabic word Nafaqah

mispronounced]

Myang Tessie – (incense holder)

Obat - (medicine, substance which promotes healing) [remedy]

Oeder - (reason or excuse) ["she has an oeder why she is not fasting"]

Oegtie - (my sister)

Oemie - (Mother)

Oenang - (invite)

*Ollie kalollie - (deodorant - eau de cologne)

**Oppie berg - (the 15th day of fasting)- [This word has a special

meaning to the Cape Malay - a person who has fasted the first 15 days

without skipping one day is “oppie berg” (”on the mountain”)]

*Pang, Pankie - (malay man)

Pang ghoeru – (to frequent)[“hy pang ghoeru mos by daai masiet nou”,

he is a mureed of that mosque now]

Parmantag - (cheeky)[(astrand) "ai, maar sy is baie parmantag"]

Poejies - (different words or recitations glorifying Allah)

Porring - (pudding) [aartappel porring, brood porring]

Pwasa - (to fast)

**Jy maak jou Pwasa waterag – (to do something which might lead to

breaking your fast)[“jy maak jou pwasa waterag”]


Qaala - (in Arabic means ‘He said’). [However it is used to refer to a

person who likes to talk, especially about deen (religion) ["he likes to

Qaala"]

Korrebaan, Qurbaan - (the slaughter of animals during the the Eid of

sacrifice, see Eid Ul Adha under Arabic words below.)

Rakams - (islamic portraits)

Rampies - (rampies sny - the cutting up of orange leaves which are then

dipped into sweet smelling oils and tied up in sachets) [these sachets are

then given out during the moulood celebration - see "moulood"above]

Ratieb - (a khaliefah display) - [where people used sharp objects to

pierce or cut themselves without bleeding while reciting in tune with

the beating of drums]

Saaba - (to have patience)[the word Sabr mispronounced]

Saalieg – (Virtuous, Pious, God-Fearing and Devoted)

Sabab - (reason, cause) ["I do not want to be the sabab (cause) of

something" ]

Sadaka, Sadaqah – (voluntary charity)

*Safet - (towel)

Safs - (rows in a mosque)

Sajie - (preparation of food)

Salaam – (a short form of greeting, meaning “peace”)

Salaamat - (safe, free of danger) - to wish someone “a salaamat travel”

Salama Laikom - (short for "As-Salaamu-Alaikum," the Arabic greeting

meaning "Peace be unto you,") Answer to greeting [Wa Alaikum Salaam

"and upon you be peace"]

Saman Werk - (A special type of a group supplication)

Samba - (Demonized)

**Sewe Aande, ** Veertag Dae, **Honderd Dae, **Jaar Getal -

(These words have a special meaning to the Cape Malay – a group

supplication commemorating the seven, fourty, hundred days and year

after the death of a loved one)


Sies - (sies short for sister, but normally used to refer to, or to address

an elderly lady eg. Sies Ragmat)

Slaawat - (money given to someone) – [towards funeral, to person going

on hadj or Umrah, and other similar reasons.]

Slamat - (locally used in the context, “to wish well“) ["Slamat for the

baby or the newest member in your family", "Slamat for your birthday" ,

**Labarang day, "kyk hoe laat is dit, ek moet nog by my hele familie

gaan Slamat sê"]

Slamblier - (to declare an animal halaal for Muslim consumption) [Also

sarcastically used locally, “ñ mêns kan nie sy slamblier eet nie” (“a person

can’t just eat his slamblier”) meaning he is not trustworthy].

Slamse Skool - (Madrasa)

Soeloeg maak - (to make peace)["dit sal soveel beter vir julle wees om

maar liewer Soeloeg maak, al is dit net vir die kinder se onthalwe"]

Soemba -(to swear by...)["ek soemba ek het dit nie gedoen nie']

Soembain, Sumbaign, Sumbain - (to make prayer) [hy sal nou hier

wees, hy soembain gou"]

*Soembain tapyt - ( prayer mat)


Soenat - (circumcise)

Soerat - (beginners book to teach a person to read Arabic)[hy is nog in

die Soerat, maar sal binnekort in die Quraan wees"]

Soewallai Kassam, or just kassam - (to utter an oath or to swear on

something) [Kassam, I won't tell you a word of a lie."]

*Sopang - (pious and humble)["hy is baie Sopang"]

Sorbaan, Sorebaan - (a turban scarf worn by men)

Souwe - (pre-dawn meal during Ramadaan) [ the word “sogoor/sohoor”

mispronounced ]

Swart Maate - (eye pencil)

Tabakkies – (bowlegged)

Talak - (divorce) [ Arabic - Talaaq ]

Tallie, Talqeen – (to guide and encourage or inducing the dying person

to recite the Kalimah: La ilaaha illa llaah, Mugammadur Rasuulullah)

[there is no god but ALLAH and Prophet Mugammad is the messenger

of ALLAH], so that it will be the last thing he or she utters before leaving

this world to meet his or her Creator).

Tamaaf or Maaf - ( excuse me or I’m sorry ) — [normal response is “Allah

maaf”, - which means “Allah forgive”]

Tamat - (well versed)[but used in the context that a learner has recited

the whole the qur’aan], - [also used, “hy is al getamat in iets” to indicate

a person knows a subject or job very well )

Tamang, Tamank – (to limp due to an injury to the hip, leg or foot. Also

someone with one leg shorter than the other or to limp after a foot or

leg injury) [hy loop tamang of hy loop mang, (eindelik mank)]

Tasbie - (rosary)

*Tawetjie - (nice outfit)

Tie - (short for tietie - tie also used in place of aunty "tie Beirah")[see

tietie below]

Tielawat – (recitation or reading the extracts or portions from the Holy

Qur'an) [Tielawat Quraan]

Tietie - (Oldest Sister)

Toeka Manie - (the person who ghoesl(wash) the deceased person)

Toelies - (to write in Arabic)

Top - (thobe)

Toubat Maak - (to repent) [The word "taubah" mispronounced ]

*Tramakasie - (thank you)

Trawie - (special Ramadaan night prayer) [Taraweeg mispronounced]

Twang, Tuan – (a Malay title of respect given to a man, equivalent to sir

or mister

Uit Mantra - (to exorcise)

Umr – (life) [to wish someone a long umr]

Waktoe - (a specific time for a prayer)

Wallaahi - (to swear by Allah)

Zagma - (a huge crowd)

Zina - (unlawfull sexual intercourse/adultery)

If there are any words used by the Cape Muslim community that I did

not mention above or below, please let me know, (the word and their

meaning).

Please note, words used "by Cape Muslims only", not general

CapeTown slang used by everyone.

***********************

Some every Arabic words used all the time in conjunction with above

Malay derived words by the Cape Muslim:

(meanings given is in the context in which we use and understand

it, but open to correction)

Aalim – (Muslim scholar trained in Islam and Islamic law) plural Ulema.

Adab, Aadaab- (manners, respect and politeness)

Aaghirah - (the afterlife)

Abaya - (cloak)

Afwan - (You're welcome)

Aglaaq, Akhlaaq - (virtue, morality and manners)

Algamdu Lillah - (praise be to Allah - also answer to "how are you")

Al Margoom - (literally means one on whom forgiveness and mercy has

been shown)[used before naming a person who has passed on]

Amaanah – (to carry out a “trust”)[I have taken on this amaanah]

Ameen – (may it be so)

Asr - (between midday and sunset prayer)

Astaghfir Allah – (I seek forgiveness from Allah)

Aqeedah - (believe)[refers to matters we believed in, with certainty and

conviction, in our heart and soul]

Aqeeqah - (the Islamic tradition of the sacrifice of an animal on the

occasion of a child's birth)

Aql - (intellect)

Assalaamu Alaikum - (Muslim greeting)[the peace be upon you (plural)]

Awrah - (a term used within Islam which denotes the parts of the body,

{for both men and women}, which must be covered) [Exposing

the awrah is unlawful in Islam and is regarded as sin]

Aayat, Aayah - (a verse)

Athaan - (call to prayer)

Baitullaah - (house of Allah - Makkah/Kaabah)

Bay’ah – (an oath of allegiance to a leader)[to take bay’ah with a

spirirual leader]

Bid’ah – (an innovation in religion)

Bismilla-hirragma-nirra-geem - (In the Name of Allah, the Most

Gracious, the Most Merciful.) [this is the most recited sentence in the

world]

Buraaq, Al-Buraq (literally means. “lightening”) is a steed, described as

a creature from the heavens which transported the Nabi Muhammad

(SAW) from Mecca to Jerusalem and back during the Isra and Mi’raj or

“Night Journey”.

Daleel - (evidence)[proof from the Quraan]

Darajah - (rank, degree, level)

Da'wah (means a 'call' or 'invitation') [to give da'wah]

Deen - (religion)

Doenya - this world (earth)

Dua - (supplication)

Eid-Ul Adga - (the Eid Of sacrifice, when sheep are slaughtered)

Eid-Ul-Fitr - (Eid celebrating the end of Ramadaan)

Eshaa - (late night prayer “1 hour and ten minutes after the maghrieb

prayer)

Fard, Waajieb - (compulsory)

Fasaad- (spreading mischief, moral corruption against God)

Fatwa - (legal opinion of an Islamic scholar)

Fidyah - (religious donations made in Islam when a fast (during the

month of Ramadan) is broken. The donations can be of food, or money,

and it is used to feed those in need)

Fikr - (concern or worry for someone).

Fi sabeel illah – (for the sake of Allah, for Allah’s cause, in Allah’s way)

Fitra - (money to be given to the poor Muslim who fasted to make sure

he/she can also celebrate the end of Ramadaan)

Fiqh – (Islamic laws)

Gaafieth, Haafith - (someone who memorised the Qur'an by

heart)[plural guffaaz, huffaaz]

Gadeeth, Hadeeth - (recorded saying or tradition of the Prophet

Mugammad)

Gadj, Hajj - (pilgrimage to Makkah)

Gadj (Makbool - acceptable) (Mabroor - accepted)

Gak, Haq – (truth)

Galaal, Halaal - (lawful, permitted)

Gamr, Khamr - (wine, liquor, intoxicants)

Garaam, Haraam - (sinful)

Gaid - (menstruation)

Ghayb - (the unseen, unknown)

Ghutbah - (sermon)

Goesl, Ghusl - (special bath to purify yourself)

Gidayah, Hidayah - (guidance from Allah)

Gijaab, Hijab – (cover) [a head covering/scarf worn by Muslim women]

[in Islam, part of decency and modesty]

Gikmah, Hikmah - (wisdom)

Gukum, Hukm - (ruling in the Qur'an or Sunnah)

Hilaal - (Crescent moon)

Ibaadah - (different forms of worship)

Iddah, Iddat - (period of waiting)

Iftaar - (Ramadaan supper)

Igraam, Ihraam - (a sacred state which a Muslim must enter in order to

perform the major pilgrimage {Gadj} or the minor pilgrimage {Umrah})

Igraam, Ihraam clothing (men's and women's garments worn whilst in

the state of Igraam)

Ijtema – (an Islamic congregation organised by the Tableeg

Jamaat where people are encouraged to live the Sunnah and Islamic

way of Life)[see Sunnah and Tableeg Jamaat below]

Ikraam - (to honour)

I'tikaaf - (seclusion in the masjid for the purpose of worship usually

performed during the last 10 days of Ramadan)

Ilm – (knowledge)

Imaan - (faith, belief) [see "taqwa and imaan" below under Arabic words]

Inna lillaahi wa inna alaihi raa ji oon - (To Allah we belong and to Him

is our return)

Insha-Allah - (may Allah accept)

Ishraaq - (the time where dawn (fajr) prayer timing ends)[sunrise in

Arabic]

Islam – (name of religion followed by Muslims) [Islam meaning:

submission to the will of Allah and obedience to His law]

Istigaarah – (to ask Allah for guidance on an issue in your life or before

making a major decision)[to make istigarah, or salaahtul istigaarah]

Istighfar – (the act of seeking forgiveness from Allah) [This act is

generally done by repeating the Arabic words Astagfirullah, meaning "I

seek forgiveness from Allah"]

Istinja - (cleaning away whatever has been passed from the private

parts after using the toilet, with no.1 water or no.2 with first toilet

paper then water)

Iqaamah – (the second and final Call to Prayer)

Jaahil - (an ignorant person)

Jahannam - (hell)

Jamaat - (Assembly)

Jama'ah - (congregation)

Janazah - (funeral)

Jannah - (heaven)

Jazakallah -khayran - (May Allah reward you - with good)

Jum-Ah - (Friday mid-day prayer)

Juz - (part) [one of thirty parts of equal length into which the Quran is

divided]

Kaba'ir – (the greatest of sins)

Kibr - (haughtiness, pride, arrogance)

kafan - (linen pieces the dead person is shrouded in)

Kitaab – (book)[locally an Islamic book][local plural "kitaabies"]

La'nah - (curse)

Laylatul Qadr - (Night of Power) [falls within the last 10 days of

Ramadaan, when Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of

the Qur'an]

Madrasah - (school, university)

Magrieb - (4th prayer of the day, after sunset prayer)

Mahr - (Dowry)

Mahram – (a male whom a woman cannot marry at anytime in her life

whatsoever, a male who is forbidden permanently, forever (i.e. one’s

father, brother or son etc).

Makbarah - (graveyard)

Makrooh – (a disliked or offensive act)[abstaining is recommended]

Mala-ikah - (angels)

Malakul Maut - (angel of death)

Masha-Allah - (as Allah wanted it to be)["oh but is a beautiful baby,

Masha-Allah"]

Masjied - (mosque)[plural masaajid]

Mathab - (school of thought)

Mayet - (the dead body)

Mayseer - (gambling)

Maulana – (one of many titles used for a scholar of Islam)

Miegraab – (is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that

indicates the qibla)[see Qiblah below]

Mimbar - (pulpit)

Minaarat – (a tall, thin tower of a mosque where speakers are mounted

for the call to prayer)

Mu-Athien - (the person who calls to prayer)

Mufassir - (commentator of Quraan)

Munkar & Nakier - (angels in the grave)

Munaafiq - (hypocrite)

Mureed - (attendee in a mosque)

Musdalifa, Mina, Arafah - (Places of significance/worship during Gadj

period in Makkah)

Mushrik - (non believer)

Muslim – (a person who follows the religion of Islam)

Mustahab - (preferred)

Murtad - (one who abandons Islam)

Nabi - (prophet)

Nasiga, Nasiha - (advise)

Nifaas - (bleeding after giving birth)

Nafaqah - (maintenance)

Najis - (anything impure)

Nikaah - (the wedding ceremony)

Niqab - (veil) [ a cloth that covers the face worn by Muslim women in

public areas and in front of non-mahram men][see mahram above]

Niyyat, Niyyah - (intention) [to make niyyat - to make intention]

Noor, Nur - (light)

Qabr - (grave)[plural Quboor]

Qiblah – (the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, the direction that

Muslims should face when praying)

Qira'at –(readings, methods of reciting the Qur'an)

Qissah – (a narrative or story)

Qur'an – (the Islamic sacred book)

Qurbaan - (Sacrifice)

Rak’at – (a single unit of Islamic prayers)[each daily prayer has a

different number of rak’aats, {obligatory units}]

Ramadaan - (the month of fasting)

Rasool - (messenger)

Ribah - (usury, interest)

Riwayat Soerat, Riwayah Surah – (book of Narrations) [in Cape Muslim

context: reciting narrations from the Riwayat Soerat of Prophet

Muhammed pbuh and his progeny]

Roog, rooh - (soul)

Ru-A, Mi-Araaj, Maulood - (special Islamic ceremonies)

Rukoe - (standing in a bent posture during prayer)

Saa-E - ( two small mountains between which muslims travel back and

forth seven times during the ritual pilgrimages of gadj and umrah.)

Sabr - (to have patience)

Sadaka, Zakaah - (moneys to be given to the poor)

Sagaaba, Sahaba - (the companions of prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

Salaah - (prayer)

Salaam - (to greet)

Samaa - (the sky)

Shafi, Ganafi, Maaliki, Hambali - (the four different schools of thought)

Shukran - (thank you)

Shura (consultation) [a consultative council or assembly]

Shageeg, Shaheeh - (Authentic, true)

Shariʻah – (Islamic law)

Sheigh –(an Islamic scholar ) plural Sujoog

Shifaa – (health, a cure) [may Allah grant him shifaa]

Shirk - (Ascribing partners to Allah)

Sifaat - (Allah's attributes)

Silsila - (chain, link, connection) [often used in various senses of lineage.

In particular, it may be translated as "(religious) order" or "spiritual

genealogy" where one Sufi Master transfers his khilfat to his spiritual

descendant]

Suboeg - (morning prayer)

Sugoor - (Ramadaan breakfast)

Sujood - (completely down posture with forehead on ground)

Subganallah – (Glory to Allah)

Sunnah - (deeds and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Sunnah Salaah – (an optional salaah/prayer that can be performed by

Muslims at almost any time of the day. These prayers are performed in

addition to the five daily prayers, which are compulsory for all Muslims)

Surah – (a chapter of the Qur'an) [There are 114 chapters of the Qur'an]

Taaleem –( Education)

Tableegh Jamaat - (a movement that focuses on urging Muslims to live

the Sunnah and Islamic way of Life)

Tafakkur- (to think on a subject deeply, systematically, and in great

detail)

Tagiyat - (sitting position during prayer)

Tahara - (purification)

Tajweed - (rules governing pronunciation during recitation of the

Qur'an)

Takbiera Tul Igraam - (raising of hand to start prayer)[the takbeer at

the beginning of prayer]

Taqabbal Allah - (May Allah accept it)[usually said after completing

prayers at the mosque]

Taqleed – (to follow or to imitate. In Islamic legal terminology it means

to follow)

Takbiera Tul Agraam - (raising of hand to start prayer)

Taqwa& Imaan - (Taqwa=piety __ god-consciousness ) & (Imaan=true

belief in Allah and the articles of faith in Islam _“arkanul

Islam”)Taraweeg - (special night prayer during the month of Ramadaan)

Tasawwuf – (a branch of Islamic knowledge which focuses on the

spiritual development of the Muslim)

Tasbeeg - (a form of thikr {see thikr below} that involves the repetitive

utterances of short sentences in the praise and glorification of Allah)

Taubah - (to repent)

Tawaaf - (circumambulate the Kaaba)Tawgeed - (believe in the oneness

of Allah)

Tawakkul - (perfect trust in God)

Taqdeer- (destiny, fate)

Tayammum – (the Islamic act of dry ablution) [using a purified sand or

dust, which may be performed in place of the ritual washing (wudu or

ghusl – see wudu and ghusl below) if no clean water is readily available

Thikr - (devotional phrases glorifying Allah are repeatedly recited silently

or aloud)(Arabic: remembrance) [plural athkaar]Thoer - (midday prayer)

Thumma ameen - (and then again) ameen

Tonga - (long stick held by Imam when ascending the pulpit)

Ummah – ( a community in a religious sense) [locally understood as the

Islamic community world wide - the Muslim Ummah]

Wa Alaikum Salaam - (muslim answer to greeting)

Wafaat - (death)

Wallee - (Woman's Guardian)

Waleema - (the wedding reception)Waqf – (assets donated for the

purpose of being held in everlasting trust and for continuous social

benefit)

Wasiyat, Wasiyah - (will/ last testament)

Waqt - Time, the time

Wakeel - (legal representative)

Wudu - (ablution)

Yawm Al-Qiyamah – (The Day of Resurrection, Day of Reckoning, Day of

Judgment)

Zakaat - (a form of alms-giving and religious tax in Islam), [Also one of

the Five Pillars of Islam].

Zagma, zahma - (a huge crowd)

Zina - (unlawfull sexual intercourse/adultery)

Ziyarat, Ziyaarah - (visit) [used to refer to a form of pilgrimage to sites

associated with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

***********

Then there so many names of surahs(chapters) and duas(supplications)

we refer to, e.g. Ayah Tul Kursi, surah Yaseen, Faatigah etc..

***********

Also please click on link below for Dictionary of Islamic Terms

http://www.islamicweb.com/begin/dictionary.htm

***********

Please click on link below for typical Muslim names:

http://www.babynology.com/muslim-boynames-a0.html

*************

Please click on link for typical Cape Malay dishes:

http://capemalaycooking.me/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-Malay-Cooking-with-Fatima-

Sydow/349838085151596

**************

A special thanks to my good friend and colleague, Omar Van Der

Schyff who helped me compile these words. Also a very special thanks

to all the readers for your contribution.

Also, please read comment below by Mahdie Hendricks, very

informative.

Sentences with a unique meaning to the Cape Muslim:

(A complete different meaning or understanding to what is written

when used by the Cape Muslims to each other)

Het jy al klaar gemaak al.

Jy moet begin jou voete nat maak.

Sy dra toe.

Sy is toegesteek.

Sy is uit.

Is jy op die berg?

Hy eet agter die bak.

Wanner gaan jy jou skuld inbetaal.

Wanner gaan jy weg.

Het jy niyyat gemaak al?

Het jy gegroet al.

Hoe laat gaan julle uit die huis uit.

Ons is oppad goejajies toe.

Hulle het kom vra.

Hulle kom Vrydag aand inpak.

Wie gaan sy behangsels maak.

Hoe laat gaan julle die bruid afhaal.

Hy het in die deen gekom.

Hy het darem nou giedayat gekry.

Watter dag gaan hulle Maan kyk

Jy moet nou regtig ophou met jou fasaad streke.

Ons het hom uitgelê en ge-ghusl.

Wanneer is sy sewe aande.

Wanneer is jou pa se jaargetal.

Elkeen moet ñ ain batcha.

Ons het ŉ gaatam gebatcha.

Hy is al lankal waffaa doenya

Dis amper waktoe.

Die waqt is amper uit.

Alles het sy waqt.

If I left out sentences with special/unique meaning to the Cape Muslim,

please let me know. Shukran.

INDEX: The Cape Malay/Muslim Dictionary (words with ... · PDF fileAjoemat - (talisman/amulet)...

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