Introducing Islam

Muslim

A follower of Islam.

Islam

Submission to God.

Allah

The Arabic name for God, seen as the eternal creator of everything.

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam that contains the revelations received by Muhammad from Allah.

Hijrah

The migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Madinah, marking the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

Five Pillars of Islam

The framework of a Muslim's life, comprising Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage).

Shahada

The declaration of faith in Islam, stating there is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger.

Salat

The mandatory prayers performed five times a day in Islam.

Zakat

Charitable giving, typically about 2.5% of a Muslim's savings to support the poor.

Sawm

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, from dawn until sunset.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must undertake at least once in their lifetime.

Surah

Chapters in the Qur’an, of which there are 114.

Hadith

A collection of sayings and teachings of Muhammad used to guide Muslim practice.

Wudu

The ritual washing performed before prayer in Islam.

Sunni

The largest branch of Islam, comprising about 85% of Muslims worldwide.

Shi’ah

A branch of Islam that believes Ali was chosen as Muhammad's rightful successor.

Sufi

A mystical philosophy in Islam focusing on developing spirituality to discover the reality of Allah.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by fasting from dawn to sunset.

Eid-al-Fitr

The festival marking the end of Ramadan, known as the 'festival of breaking the fast'.

Eid-al-Adha

The 'festival of sacrifice' that commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.

Halal

Food that is permitted or lawful according to Islamic law.

Haram

Actions that are forbidden in Islam, such as consuming alcohol or pork.

Mihrab

The niche in the mosque indicating the direction of prayer.

Minaret

A tall tower attached to a mosque from which the call to prayer is announced.

Islamophobia

Prejudice or discrimination against Islam and Muslims.

Qibla Wall

The wall in a mosque that faces Mecca, indicating the direction to pray.