Islam Terms

Question 1

Abbasids

Answer 1

Classical muslim dynasty

Question 2

Abu Bakr

Answer 2

First Caliph; companion of Muhamma

Question 3

al-Ghazali

Answer 3

Thinker who synthesized orthodox and sufism

Question 4

‘Ali

Answer 4

Nephew of Muhammad; Fourth Caliph; Considered Muhammad’s successor by Shi’ites

Question 5

Caliph

Answer 5

“deputy”; leader of Islam

Question 6

Dar al-Islam

Answer 6

Territories of the ummah

Question 7

da’wah

Answer 7

Missionary for Islam

Question 8

dhikr

Answer 8

Spirituality focusing on consciousness of God

Question 9

Five Pillars

Answer 9

Muslim rituals:

1) Shahadah (confession)
2) Salat (prayer)
3) Zakat (alms-giving)
4) Sawm (fasting)
5) Hajj (pilgrimage)

Question 10

Hadith

Answer 10

Tradition of Muhammad

Question 11

Hagar

Answer 11

Wife of Abraham ancestress of Islam

Question 12

Hajj

Answer 12

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Question 13

haram

Answer 13

Forbidden

Question 14

Hidden Imam

Answer 14

Last Imam who disappeared and will return

Question 15

Hijra

Answer 15

Muhammad and followers from Mecca to Medina

Question 16

Husayn

Answer 16

Son on ‘Ali, considered an Imam

Question 17

‘Id

Answer 17

Festival

Question 18

Ihram

Answer 18

Ritual purity in order to enter Mecca on the Hajj

Question 19

ijma’

Answer 19

Consensus among legal scholars

Question 20

ijtihad

Answer 20

Independent legal reasoning

Question 21

imam

Answer 21

Islamic scholar and leader

Question 22

iman

Answer 22

Faith in the truth of Islam

Question 23

Ishmael

Answer 23

Son of Abraham and Hagar; ancestor of the Muslims

Question 24

isnad

Answer 24

chain of transmitter for hadith

Question 25

jihad

Answer 25

striving for religious perfection

Question 26

Judgment Day

Answer 26

When God will judge all

Question 27

Ka’bah

Answer 27

Cube-shaped shrine in Mecca

Question 28

kafir

Answer 28

An unbeliever

Question 29

Khadija

Answer 29

First wife of Muhammad

Question 30

Kharijites

Answer 30

“seceders” moralist sect of Muslims

Question 31

mihrab

Answer 31

wall in the mosque indicating direction to Mecca

Question 32

minbar

Answer 32

pulpit where sermon is given

Question 33

muezzin

Answer 33

caller to prayer

Question 34

Mughal

Answer 34

Muslim dynasty established by the Mongols

Question 35

mulla

Answer 35

Muslim teacher and expounder of the law

Question 36

Mu’tazilites

Answer 36

School that accepted reason for establishing belief

Question 37

Ottoman

Answer 37

caliphate ruling much of the Muslim world

Question 38

qiyas

Answer 38

Analogy in legal argumentation

Question 39

Ramadan

Answer 39

Month where Muslims fast

Question 40

Salat

Answer 40

Required Muslim prayer

Question 41

Sawm

Answer 41

Ramadan fasting

Question 42

Shahadah

Answer 42

Bearing witness to unity of God

Question 43

Shi’ites

Answer 43

Belief that ‘Ali and descendants are the proper successors of Muhammad

Question 44

shirk

Answer 44

Idolatry, association with God

Question 45

Sufi

Answer 45

Follows mystical path of Islam and lifestyle of Muhammad

Question 46

Sunnah

Answer 46

Way of acting

Question 47

Sunnites

Answer 47

Acknowledge the first four caliphs

Question 48

Tawhid

Answer 48

Maintaining Unity of God

Question 49

Twelvers

Answer 49

Shi’ites that believe there are twelve imams (Imamis)

Question 50

‘ulama

Answer 50

Class of religious legal scholars that study and apply it

Question 51

‘Umar

Answer 51

Second Caliph

Question 52

ummah

Answer 52

Community with common religion

Question 53

‘Uthman

Answer 53

Third Caliph

Question 54

Wahhabi

Answer 54

Reform movement

Question 55

Zakat

Answer 55

Alms-giving or wealth-sharing