key terms - islam

muslim

one who has submitted to the will of god and has accepted islam

tawhid

the oneness and unity of god

supremacy

a supreme power or authority; a quality of god

allah

the arabic name for god

islam

the name of the religion followed by muslims; to surrender to the will of god; peace

monotheistic

a religion that believes there is only one god

quran

the holy book revealed to muhammad by the angel jibril; god’s final revelation to humankind

sunnah

the teaching and deeds of muhammad

Sunni

muslims who believe in the successorship to muhammad of abu bakr, umar, uthman and ali

Shia

muslim who believe in the Imamate, the successorship of ali

immanent

the idea that god is present in and involved with life on earth and in the universe

transcendent

the idea that god is beyond and outside life on earth and the universe

omnipotent

almighty, having unlimited power

beneficent

benelovent, all loving, all good

merciful

the quality of god that shows compassion or forgiveness to humans, even though he has the power to punish them

fairness

the idea that god treats people fairly and impartially without favour or discrimination

justice

the idea that god is just and fair and judges human actions, rewarding the good and punishing the bad

angels

spiritual beings believed to act as messengers of god

day of judgement

a time when the world will end and every soul will be judged by god and either rewarded or punished

predestination

the idea that god knows or determines everything that will happen in the universe

akhirah

everlasting life after death

resurrection

rising from the dead or returning to life

barzakh

‘a barrier’ a period of waiting for the day of judgement

prophet

a person who proclaims the message of god

risalah

the belief that prophets are an important channel of communication between god and humans

prophethood

when god makes someone a prophet to communicate his message to people

iblis (satan)

a spiritual being created from fire, who was thrown out of paradise for refusing to bow to adamka

ka’aba

the black, cube-shaped building in the centre of the grand mosque in makkah; the holiest place in islam

id-ul-adha

a muslim festival that celebrates the prophet ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for god

hajj

hajj the annual pilgrimage to makkahh that every muslim should try to make at least once in their life

caliph

person considered to be a political and religious successor to the prophet muhammad, and the leader of the sunni muslim community

imam

1. a person who leads the communal prayer

2. in shi’a islam, the title given to ali and his successors

imamate

the divine appointment of the imams

torah

the five books revealed by god to moses

psalms

a holy book revealed by god to david

gospel

a holy book revealed by god to jesus

scrolls of abraham

a holy book revealed by god to abraham