Islam Glossary

Al-Hijra

Migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca in 622 CE (Year 1 AH of the Muslim lunar calendar), where he established the independent Muslim community-state.

Allah

The Arabic word for the one and only true God.

Aqida ul-Islam

The beliefs or creed of Islam.

Ayat

As well as meaning verses in the Qur'an, it has an additional meaning of 'sign' or 'miracle'.

Caliph

Means 'successor'; this entitled the holder of the office to make religious and political decisions for the Muslim community.

Caliphate

The succession to the sovereignty of the Islamic community.

dar al-Islam

'Abode of Peace', Islamic territory; where Muslims are free to practise Islam.

Hadith

The traditional reports of what the Prophet Muhammad did and said. They are second only to the Qur'an in religious importance, although there is not unanimity about the authenticity of every one.

Hajj

Literally 'to set out for a place'; meaning 'pilgrimage', it is the fifth pillar of Islam.

Halal

A term meaning permissible, often applied to food; however, it has a wider meaning that suggests what is permissible under Islamic law and applies to many aspects of life and behaviour.

Haram

That which is forbidden and unlawful, also sinful.

Ijma’

The consensus of Muslim religious scholars (ulama) in a particular generation.

Imam

Prayer leader.

Jihad

'Striving'; related to the concept of effort, struggle or resistance; it is a religious duty.

Jinn

Spirits that can be good or malevolent.

Islamic Jurisprudence (fiqh)

The scholarly interpretation and human understanding of Shari'a

Ka'ba

Literally 'cube'; a building in Mecca believed by Muslims to represent the presence of Allah.

Mecca

City in modern Saudi Arabia where Muhammad lived and received his revelations; spiritual centre of the Muslim world and focus of the Hajj.

Medina

'City of the prophet' is a few hundred kilometres north of Mecca; the prophet Muhammad migrated there in 622 CE.

Mosque

Muslim place of worship.

Polytheism

Worship of many gods.

Qibla

Direction of the Ka'ba at Mecca to which Muslims face when performing their daily prayer rituals.

Qiyas

Comparative analogy - a source of law or legal tools where existing rulings are extended to cover new situations when there is no specific mention in the Qur'an or hadith.

Qur'an

The sacred book of Islam: the word of God revealed to the prophet; the Arabic word for 'recitation' or 'reading'.

Rak'a

Literally means 'bowing'; it is a 'unit of prayer' in which the worshipper recites a number of ritual prayers and invocations while standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar and also the Muslim month of fasting.

Sahih

An Arabic word that means 'valid' and is applied to the hadith reports that have been critically analysed and authenticated.

Shari'a

The moral and legal code of Islam based on the teaching of the Qur'an and the sunna of the Prophet.

Shi'a (Shi'ite)

The second largest Islamic group; those Muslims who believe that Muhammad designated 'Ali and his rightful descendants the true leaders (imams) of the Muslim community.

Shirk

To believe and worship another god or gods alongside the one true God, Allah; the worst and only unpardonable sin in Islam.

Sunna

All the sayings, actions and approvals attributed to Muhammad that have become models to be followed by Muslims.

Sunni

The majority variant of Islam; those Muslims who follow the tradition (sunna) of the Prophet and his companions without acknowledging any innate political privilege to any companion.

Tawhid

The declaration of the unity of God; Allah is the one true God, the sole Creator and Lord of the universe. All divine attributes belong to Allah and all human worship is to be directed to Allah.

Ulama

Religious scholars; specialists in Islamic sciences, particularly jurisprudence, or law.

Umma

Islamic community; refers to the worldwide Muslim community.

Wudu

The means of obtaining ritual cleanliness by washing the exposed parts of the body.

Rusul

Prophets in Islam who convey God's messages.

Akhira

The afterlife in Islamic belief, where individuals are judged by God and rewarded or punished based on their deeds in this world.

Mala’ika

The angels in Islam, created by God from light, who serve various roles, including delivering messages and recording human actions.

Kutub’allah

The holy books of Islam, which include the Quran and other scriptures revealed to prophets.

Qadar

The divine decree or predestination in Islam, representing God's will and knowledge regarding all events and actions in the universe.