Islam Glossary Flashcards
Adalat
Justice in Shi’a Islam
Adhan
The call to prayer five times a day
Akhirah
The belief in life after death
Al-Kiswah
The black cloth that covers the Ka’aba in Makkah
All-compassionate
All-loving, benevolent, ever forgiving and not vindictive
Al-Qadr
Predestination of the will of Allah; the belief that Allah has decreed everything that is to happen in the universe
Amr-bil-Maroof
Commanding what is just
Beneficence
An act of charity of kindness in an effort to do good for others
Caliph
A successor of Muhammad as the spiritual leader of Islam
Hadith
The teachings of Muhammad
Hafiz
A person who has memorised the Qur’an by heart
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah and the Fifth Pillar of Islam
Haram
Forbidden for Muslims (food, actions, etc.)
Hijab
Head scarf worn by some Muslim women
Hijrah
Muhammad’s escape journey from Makkah to Madinah
Ihram
The white clothing work by pilgrims on hajj in Makkah
Imamate
Leadership
Immanence
The belief that Allah is closer to us that our heartbeat and is involved in the world
Jihad
The greater or lesser striving for the way of Allah
Jumu’ah (Jummah)
Friday prayers where the khutbah is read
Justice
Fairness in society or the right thing to do
Khums
Tax in Shi’a Islam
Khutbah
The name for the sermon on Friday in the mosques
Khatib
The person who delivers the sermon on Fridays - usually the Imam
Madinah
Holy city in Saudi Arabia as the place where Muhammad set up the first Muslim community and the place where Muhammad is buried
Makkah
Holy city of Islam in Saudi Arabia with the great mosque housing the Ka’aba
Makruh
A detestable act
Merciful
To show forgiveness and compassion to those who do wrong
Mihrab
Indented archway in the mosque showing the direction of the Ka’aba
Minbar
The raised platform used by the imam to deliver the Friday sermon
Minaret
Tower on the outside of the mosque used for the call to prayer (adhan)
Mu’addhin
The caller to orayer
Mubah
An action which is neither forbidden nor recommended
Mustahab
Favoured or recommended actions
Nahi Anil Munkar
Forbidding what is evil
Night of Power
The night Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur’an
Omnipotence
The belief that Allah is all-powerful
Predestination
The idea that everything that happens has been decided already by Allah
Psalms
The books written by David (Zabur)
Qiblah
The direction of Makkah
Qurbani
The sacrifice of animals during Eid-ul-Adha
Rak’ah
A sequence of prayer containing actions and reciations
Ramadan
The holy month of fasting for 29/30 days
Risalah
Communication between man and Allah in the form of books, angels and prophets
Salah
Compulsory prayer five times a day and the Second Pillar of Islam
Sawm
Pillar of fasting
Seal of the Prophets
Muhammad the last prophet chosen by Allah and given the Qur’an
Shahadah
Declaration of Faith - to believe in One God and Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah
Shari’ah Law
A legal system which comes from the religious rules of Islam
Shi’a
A Muslim who adheres to the Shi’a branch of Islam; followed by about a tenth of all Muslims
Sunnah
The way of life of Muhammad as an example to follow
Sunni
Muslims who follow the Sunnah, the Way of the Prophet
Surah
The name for chapters in the Qur’an
Tabarra
Expressing hatred towards evil
Tawalla
Expressing love towards good
Tawhid
The belief in the Oneness of Allah and the unity of His being
Transcendence
Allah is outside the world, beyond everything and outside time
Topi
Prayer hat worn by Muslim men
Torah
The revelations given to Musa (Tawrat)
Twelver Shi’a
Part of the Shi’a sect of Islam who believe in the twelve imams as leaders
Ummah
The brotherhood/community of Islam
Usul ad-Din
The foundations of faith in Shi’a Islam
Wajib
Something that is an obligatory duty for a Muslim
Wuzu
The symbolic washing and purification of the mind and body before Salah
Zakah
Alms giving to the poor which benefits the Muslim community
