Islam Glossary

Question 1

Adalat

Answer 1

Justice in Shi’a Islam

Question 2

Adhan

Answer 2

The call to prayer five times a day

Question 3

Akhirah

Answer 3

The belief in life after death

Question 4

Al-Kiswah

Answer 4

The black cloth that covers the Ka’aba in Makkah

Question 5

All-compassionate

Answer 5

All-loving, benevolent, ever forgiving and not vindictive

Question 6

Al-Qadr

Answer 6

Predestination of the will of Allah; the belief that Allah has decreed everything that is to happen in the universe

Question 7

Amr-bil-Maroof

Answer 7

Commanding what is just

Question 8

Beneficence

Answer 8

An act of charity of kindness in an effort to do good for others

Question 9

Caliph

Answer 9

A successor of Muhammad as the spiritual leader of Islam

Question 10

Hadith

Answer 10

The teachings of Muhammad

Question 11

Hafiz

Answer 11

A person who has memorised the Qur’an by heart

Question 12

Hajj

Answer 12

Pilgrimage to Makkah and the Fifth Pillar of Islam

Question 13

Haram

Answer 13

Forbidden for Muslims (food, actions, etc.)

Question 14

Hijab

Answer 14

Head scarf worn by some Muslim women

Question 15

Hijrah

Answer 15

Muhammad’s escape journey from Makkah to Madinah

Question 16

Ihram

Answer 16

The white clothing work by pilgrims on hajj in Makkah

Question 17

Imamate

Answer 17

Leadership

Question 18

Immanence

Answer 18

The belief that Allah is closer to us that our heartbeat and is involved in the world

Question 19

Jihad

Answer 19

The greater or lesser striving for the way of Allah

Question 20

Jumu’ah (Jummah)

Answer 20

Friday prayers where the khutbah is read

Question 21

Justice

Answer 21

Fairness in society or the right thing to do

Question 22

Khums

Answer 22

Tax in Shi’a Islam

Question 23

Khutbah

Answer 23

The name for the sermon on Friday in the mosques

Question 24

Khatib

Answer 24

The person who delivers the sermon on Fridays - usually the Imam

Question 25

Madinah

Answer 25

Holy city in Saudi Arabia as the place where Muhammad set up the first Muslim community and the place where Muhammad is buried

Question 26

Makkah

Answer 26

Holy city of Islam in Saudi Arabia with the great mosque housing the Ka’aba

Question 27

Makruh

Answer 27

A detestable act

Question 28

Merciful

Answer 28

To show forgiveness and compassion to those who do wrong

Question 29

Mihrab

Answer 29

Indented archway in the mosque showing the direction of the Ka’aba

Question 30

Minbar

Answer 30

The raised platform used by the imam to deliver the Friday sermon

Question 31

Minaret

Answer 31

Tower on the outside of the mosque used for the call to prayer (adhan)

Question 32

Mu’addhin

Answer 32

The caller to orayer

Question 33

Mubah

Answer 33

An action which is neither forbidden nor recommended

Question 34

Mustahab

Answer 34

Favoured or recommended actions

Question 35

Nahi Anil Munkar

Answer 35

Forbidding what is evil

Question 36

Night of Power

Answer 36

The night Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur’an

Question 37

Omnipotence

Answer 37

The belief that Allah is all-powerful

Question 38

Predestination

Answer 38

The idea that everything that happens has been decided already by Allah

Question 39

Psalms

Answer 39

The books written by David (Zabur)

Question 40

Qiblah

Answer 40

The direction of Makkah

Question 41

Qurbani

Answer 41

The sacrifice of animals during Eid-ul-Adha

Question 42

Rak’ah

Answer 42

A sequence of prayer containing actions and reciations

Question 43

Ramadan

Answer 43

The holy month of fasting for 29/30 days

Question 44

Risalah

Answer 44

Communication between man and Allah in the form of books, angels and prophets

Question 45

Salah

Answer 45

Compulsory prayer five times a day and the Second Pillar of Islam

Question 46

Sawm

Answer 46

Pillar of fasting

Question 47

Seal of the Prophets

Answer 47

Muhammad the last prophet chosen by Allah and given the Qur’an

Question 48

Shahadah

Answer 48

Declaration of Faith - to believe in One God and Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah

Question 49

Shari’ah Law

Answer 49

A legal system which comes from the religious rules of Islam

Question 50

Shi’a

Answer 50

A Muslim who adheres to the Shi’a branch of Islam; followed by about a tenth of all Muslims

Question 51

Sunnah

Answer 51

The way of life of Muhammad as an example to follow

Question 52

Sunni

Answer 52

Muslims who follow the Sunnah, the Way of the Prophet

Question 53

Surah

Answer 53

The name for chapters in the Qur’an

Question 54

Tabarra

Answer 54

Expressing hatred towards evil

Question 55

Tawalla

Answer 55

Expressing love towards good

Question 56

Tawhid

Answer 56

The belief in the Oneness of Allah and the unity of His being

Question 57

Transcendence

Answer 57

Allah is outside the world, beyond everything and outside time

Question 58

Topi

Answer 58

Prayer hat worn by Muslim men

Question 59

Torah

Answer 59

The revelations given to Musa (Tawrat)

Question 60

Twelver Shi’a

Answer 60

Part of the Shi’a sect of Islam who believe in the twelve imams as leaders

Question 61

Ummah

Answer 61

The brotherhood/community of Islam

Question 62

Usul ad-Din

Answer 62

The foundations of faith in Shi’a Islam

Question 63

Wajib

Answer 63

Something that is an obligatory duty for a Muslim

Question 64

Wuzu

Answer 64

The symbolic washing and purification of the mind and body before Salah

Question 65

Zakah

Answer 65

Alms giving to the poor which benefits the Muslim community