Glossary Flashcards
Islam
Arabic word - submission, monotheistic faith.
Muslim
Arabic word - a person who makes submission to Allah.
Umma
Islamic community; the worldwide Muslim community.
Mosque
Islamic place of worship.
Muhammad
Founder and chief prophet of Islam. Qur’an was revealed to him.
Jibril
The angel Jibril (Gabriel) appeared to Muhammad and told him to the recite/read.
Revelation
Gods disclosure of himself and his will to his people.
Allah
The Supreme, Creator, God.
Caliph
Successor of Muhammad as leader of the Islamic community, contemporaries of Muhammad. Three functions -Political administration, Tax collection and religious leadership.
Mecca
Sacred city of Islam and location of the Kaba.
Sunni
Majority of Muslims (90%) - Believe the head of the Muslim community must be the best qualified Arab Muslim. Claim to follow the ‘right path’ of Islam, which for them is the Sunna of the prophet, based on the Qur’an. For Sunni’s all revelation from Allah was complete with Muhammad’s death and is represented by the Qur’an.
Shi’a
Remaining 10% of Muslims - Believe that only descendants of the prophet should be leader, and they keep an official list of those who should have governed the Muslim word. Shi’a hold that divine guidance is still available through these descendants of Muhammad, known as an Imam. Important difference for Shi’a - Allowed to pray three distinct times, not five.
Taqwa
Awareness or consciousness of Allah.
Qur’an
The sacred book of Islam: the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (the collected revelations he received). The Arabic word for ‘recitation’ or ‘reading’.
Hadith
The traditional reports of what the Prophet Muhammad did and/or said. They are second only to the Qur’an in religious importance.
Sunna
All the traditions and practices of Muhammad that have become models to be followed by Muslims; the normal lifestyle of the Prophet that became a unifying bond for all parts of the Islamic Umma.
Ayat
A verse of the Qur’an
Surah
A chapter of the Qur’an
Ethics
The religious reflection on moral beliefs and practices, to clarify what is right and wrong and what humans should or shouldn’t do.
Halal
Permitted or lawful.
Haram
Forbidden, unlawful, sinful.
Ijtihad
Independent reasoning: ethical decision making/interpretation.
Ijma’
The consensus of Muslim religious scholars in a particular generation.
Jurisprudence/Fiqh
The Science of law/interpretation. ‘fiqh’ means knowledge, understanding and comprehension.
Quiyas
Analogies and comparisons with teachings of the qur’an and Hadith
Shari’a
Islamic law based on the Qur’an and Sunna.
Aquida ul-Islam
Beliefs of creed of Islam
Tawhid
article of faith/principal belief
Declaration of unity of God.
- unity of lordship: one god = Allah
- unity of worship: no one has the right to be worshiped but Allah
Shirk
Opposite of Tawhid: to worship another alongside Allah = worst and only unpardonable sin.
Mala’ika
principal belief
Belief in Angels. Each person has two angels to record good and bad deeds for the day of judgment.
Jibril- dictated Qur’an to Muhammad
Mika’il- instructed M with Jibril
Izrafil- sounds the trumpet on day of resurrection
Jinn
Creatures of darkness, angels of Iblis.
Iblis/Shaytan
Satan
Jahannam
Hell, resting place of the wicked.
Rusula
principal belief
Belief in prophets who provided books: Adams, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
Nabi
Prophets who are recognized as messengers of god- Isaiah, Ezekiel.
Rusul
A prophet who has delivered a holy book
Kutubu’llah
principal belief
The books of Allah- the qur’an, sunna/hadith, books of the prophets.
Akhira
principal belief
Afterlife, the good and bad deeds of people will be judged and they will either be sent to paradise or Jahannam.
Al-Qadr
principal belief
Fate and predestination. Allah is all-knowing, has a ‘destiny’ for everyone, in doing allahs will a person can discover their destiny and then choose to follow or reject it (shirk).
Arkan al’Islam
5 pillars of faith
- Shahada
pof
Declaration of faith and most important of 5 pillars.
There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.
- Salat
pof
Obligatory 5 daily prayers (3 for Shi’a) for ever Muslim. Helps them avoid too much attachment to non-essential things.
Qibla
Direction of the Ka’ba at Makka Muslims face during Salat.
Rak’a
Where Muslims recite prayers while standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting during the salat.
- Zakat
pof
Compulsary tax, Muslims par 2.5% of their earnings to the needy (poor, sick, widowed, orphaned) once a year to gain Allahs favour.
- Sawm
pof
Fasting. During the month of Ramadam muslims fast during daylight hours unless sick or unable, before dawn until sunset. (9th month when M received his first revelation)
- Hajj
Annual pilgrimage to Mecca in the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah, at least once in lifetime, includes ritual practises i.e. Twaf (circling Ka’ba 7 times)
Ka’ba
Cube shaped religious shrine in Mecca that contained the tribal gods before Islam.
Jihad
‘To struggle or strive’ in the way of Allah. All muslims required to wage a spiritual Jihad- the struggle against evil.
