Islam

SOR 1 Prelim

Mecca

• City in which Muhammad lived, was born in, and received his revelations from Angel Gabriel.

• Spiritual centre of Islam — the kaaba is located here

Medina

City of the Prophet when he migrated here in 622CE

Sunnah

The prophet Muhammad’s way of life

The exemplary aspects of the prophet

(helpful for guiding Muslim life)

Hadith

Recorded reports about Muhammad’s actions, words and approvals.

(helpful for guiding muslim life)

Role of Muhammad

Prophet of God:

Transmitter of God’s revelation (Qur’an)

Teacher and explainer of God’s revelation

Prophet

An inspired teacher, guide sent by God

Muhammad

The prophet of Islam

Caliphs

Successor; A person who makes religious/political decisions for the Muslim community

List the 4 Caliphs following Muhammad in order

1. Abu Bakr (632-634 CE)

2. Umar (634-644 CE)

3. Uthman (644-656 CE)

4. Ali (656-661 CE)

Ijma

Process where authoritative Muslim jursits come to a consensus about a relgious/ethical issue

Bedouin

Arab desert nomad (member of Arab peoples)

Qur’an

Sacred text of Islam

Ka'bah

Sacred shrine in the city of Mecca

Ummah

Muslim community

Aqida

Islamic doctrine

Sunni Muslims

• Majority group

• Believed the caliph should be chosen through consultation/consensus among Muslim community

Shi’a Muslims

• Smaller community

• Emphasised that the caliph should be within Muhammad’s bloodline and kinship.

Allah

The ‘God’ in Arabic

Hijrah

The year Muhammad left Mecca and migrated to Medina

Mala

Messenger from heaven

Sharia

The moral and legal code of Islam based on the teachings of the Qur’an

Jinn

Spirits that can be good or evil

Age of ignorance

Pre-Islamic society

Hajj

Pilgrimage muslims attempt to take at some point in life

Tawhid

Belief in ONE God, monotheism

Salat

Daily prayer

Shirk

To believe in Gods other than Allah

Malaikah

• Angels (messengers from heaven)

• Genderless, produced by light, have wings, do not eat or drink or reproduce

• Immortal, incapable of sinning, don’t have free will

Role of malaikah

• Guardians (guards throne of Allah in heaven, gates of heaven and hell, protects muslims)

• Messengers (reveal information from Allah to Prophets)

• Record keepers (keep records of people’s thoughts/actions for Allah’s reference on the day of judgement)

Akhira

Afterlife

Jannah

Live good lives → rewarded with Jannah (paradise)

Jahannam

Done bad deeds → sent to Jahannam as punishment

Al-Qadr

Belief that Allah knows everything; past, present and future

Surah

Arabic word for “Chapter” of the Quran

Fiqh (ethics)

Islamic jurisprudence — a systematic organisation that guides Islam’s ethical teachings

Shahada (five pillars)

Declaration of faith

Salat (five pillars)

Ritual daily prayer

(ethics) Fatwa

• an Islamic ruling, when a new matter arises judgements are made by leading religious authorities who issue fatwas.

(ethics) Mufti

A religious scholar who makes fatwa

(ethics) Halal

Permitted

(ethics) Haram

Forbidden

(ethics) Makruh

Disliked but not forbidden

(ethics) Reccommended

Sunnah

Zakat (five pillars)

Almsgiving/charity

Sawm (five pillars)

Fasting during Ramadan

Hajj (five pillars)

Pilgrimage to Mecca