Islam key words

Adalat

Justice in Shi’a Islam

Adhan

The call to prayer five times a day.

Akhirah

Belief in life after death.

Al-Kiswah

The black cloth that covers the Ka’aba in Makkah

All-compassionate

All-loving, benevolent, ever forgiving and not vindictive.

Al-Qadr

Predestination of the will of Allah; the belief that Allah has decreed everything that is to happen in the universe

Amr-bil-Maroof

Commanding what is just.

Beneficence

An act of charity or kindness in an effort to do good for others.

Caliph

A successor of Muhammad (pbuh) as the spiritual leader of Islam.

Hadith

The teachings of Muhammad (pbuh).

Hafiz

A person who has memorised the Qur’an by heart

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Makkah and the Fifth Pillar of Islam.

Haram

Forbidden for Muslims (includes food, actions etc.)

Hijab

Head scarf worn by some Muslim women.

Hijrah

Muhammad’s (pbuh) escape journey from Makkah to Madinah.

Ihram

The white clothing worn by pilgrims on hajj in Makkah

Imamate

Imamate Leadership

Immanence

The belief that Allah is closer to us than our heartbeat and is involved in the world.

Jihad

The greater or lesser striving for the way of Allah.

Jumu’ah (Jummah)

Friday prayers where the khutbah is read.

Justice

Fairness in society or the right thing to do.

Khums

Tax in Shi’a Islam

Khutbah

The name for the sermon on Friday in the mosques.

Khatib

The person who delivers the sermon of Fridays – usually the Imam.

Madinah

Holy city in Saudi Arabia as the place where Muhammad (pbuh) set up the first Muslim community and the place where Muhammad (pbuh) is buried.

Makkah

Holy city of Islam in Saudi Arabia with the great mosque housing the Ka’ba

Makruh

A detestable act

Merciful

To show forgiveness and compassion to those who do wrong.

Mihrab

Indented archway in the mosque showing the direction of the Ka’ba.

Minbar

The raised platform used by the imam to deliver the Friday sermon

Minaret

Tower on the outside of the mosque used for the call to prayer (adhan).

Mu’addhin

The caller to prayer.

Mubah

An action which is neither forbidden

Mustahab

Favoured or recommended actions.

Night of Power

The night Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelations of the Qur’an.

Omnipotence

The belief that Allah is all-powerful.

Predestination

The idea that everything that happens has been decided already by Allah.

Psalms

The books written by David (Zabur).

Qiblah

The direction of Makkah.

Qurbani

The sacrifice of animals during Eid-ul-Adha.

Rakah

A sequence of prayer containing actions and recitations.

Ramadan

The holy month of fasting for 29/30 days.

Risalah

Communication between man and Allah in the form of books, angels and prophets

Seal of the Prophets

Muhammad (pbuh) the last prophet chosen by Allah and give the Qur’an.

Shahadah

Declaration of Faith – to believe in One God and Muhammad (pbuh) as the Prophet of Allah.

Shari’ah Law

A legal system which comes from the religious rules of Islam.

Shi’a

A Muslim who adheres to the Shi’a branch of Islam; followed by about a tenth of all Muslims

Sunnah

The way of life of Muhammad (pbuh) as an example to follow.

Sunni

Muslims who follow the Sunnah, the Way of the Prophet.

Surah

The name of the chapters in the Qur’an.

Tabarra

Expressing hatred towards evil.

Tawalla

Expressing love towards good

Tawhid

The belief in the Oneness of Allah and the unity of His being.

Transcendence

Allah is outside the world, beyond everything and outside time.

Topi

Prayer hat worn by Muslim men.

Torah

The revelations given to Musa (Tawrat)

Twelver Shi’a

Part of the Shi’a sect of Islam who believe in the twelve imams as leaders.

Ummah

The brotherhood/ community of Islam.

Usul as-Din

The foundation of faith in Shi’a Islam.