pols islam final

Islam

The name of the religion.

Muslim

A person who follows the faith of Islam.

Allah

The primary way of referring to God in Islam.

Mosque

A house of prayers and other related services.

Din

Religion in Arabic.

Shariah

Islamic law (the high path).

Five Pillars of Islam

The basic acts of worship in Islam, which include Shahadah, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, and Hajj.

Shahadah

The proclamation of the faith: 'There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet'.

Salat

Daily prayer, performed five times a day facing Mecca.

Sawn

Fasting from sunrise to sunset for 30 days during the month of Ramadan.

Zakat

Almsgiving, the annual distribution of wealth (about 2%) to the needy.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims must complete at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially capable.

Hadith

The sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sunna

Tradition; the deeds of the Prophet Muhammad.

Niyyah

Intention; the commitment to an act as a Muslim.

Jahiliyya

The term for the society of ignorance in pre-Islamic Arabia.

Ayah

A sign or indication; a verse in the Quran.

Fitnah

Testing, trial, or conflict.

Hijab

A head covering worn in public by Muslim women.

Hijrah

The migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.

Kafir

A non-believer or non-Muslim.

Mahr

A gift from a husband to his soon-to-be wife; a right of the wife.

Mu'min

A Muslim at a deeper spiritual level, more aware of Allah.

Munafiq

A person who shows outwardly that they are a Muslim but rejects Islam inwardly.

Mutah

A temporary marriage in Shia Islam.

Sunnah

Tradition; practice of the Prophet Muhammad.

Surah

Chapters in the Quran.

Tafsir

Commentary on the Quran.

Ummah

The community of Muslims.

Umm Salaam

One of Muhammad's wives, known for her outspoken nature; a widow who converted to Islam.

Abu Bakr

An adviser to Prophet Muhammad and the first caliph.

Aisha

Muhammad's third and youngest wife, believed to be his favorite.

Ali ibn

Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; married to Fatima.

Fatima

Muhammad's daughter, married to Ali.

Hind

A historical figure known for her opposition to Islam before converting.

Kaaba

A sacred cube-shaped structure in Mecca, considered the holiest site in Islam.

Khadija

The first wife of Prophet Muhammad and the first person to convert to Islam.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam, birthplace of Muhammad, and destination for Hajj.

Medina

The second holiest city in Islam where Muhammad migrated after facing persecution in Mecca.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, marked by fasting, prayer, and reflection.

Umar

The second caliph, known for expanding the Islamic empire.

Umayyad

The first Islamic dynasty, ruling from Damascus (661-750 CE).

Uthman

The third caliph, known for compiling the official text of the Quran.

Qur'an

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God.

Quraysh

A powerful tribe in Mecca, Prophet Muhammad's tribe.

Sunnites

The majority of Muslims (90%) who believe the caliph should be elected from the Quraysh tribe.

Shi’ites

A minority of Muslims (10%) who believe the caliph should follow Ali’s lineage.

Polygyny

When a man is married to multiple women.

Polyandry

When a woman is married to multiple men.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

The founder of modern Turkey known for extensive secular reforms.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Leader of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, established the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Ottomans

A historical empire that lasted from the late 13th century until the early 20th century, known for its significant cultural, political, and military influence across Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Abbasids

The dynasty that succeeded the Umayyad dynasty, ruling from 750 to 1258 CE, known for its cultural, intellectual, and economic advancements, and for establishing the capital in Baghdad.