Islam Unit 1 Test: Terms 22-35

Mosque (masjid)

Definition:

• place of prostration to God

• Place for congregational prayer and assembly, esp. for required group prayers on Fridays

Significance:

• connected to tombs and shrines for important rulers and holy people

• All entering → take off shoes, wash themselves to prepare

• Sometimes separate area for women to pray

Imam

Definition:

• “leader”

• Leader of prayer in a mosque

Significance:

• spiritual leaders → guide followers through the Qur’an and Sunnah

• Fridays → imam gives khutba (sermon) while standing on a minbar (pedestal)

• Shia Islam → Twelve Imams = infallible → hold authoritative interpretations and are essential guardians of Sharia

Umma

Definition:

• “community”

• Global community bound by faith in Allah

Significance:

• established in Medina after Hijra 

• Muhammad died, and succeeded (caliph) by Abu Bakr

  • Shia Muslims believed Ali (son-in-law) was rightful successor 

• Constitution of Medina = collection of documents with early information sources about umma 

Caliph

Definition:

• “successor”

• Leader of the umma after Muhammad

Significance:

• both religious and political leader → not a prophet or divinely inspired

• Sunni Muslims: Abu Bakr and 3 immediate successors = “rightly guided caliphs”

• Shia → legitimate caliph = lineal descendant of Muhammad

  • Ali and descendants = Imams (not caliphs)

Sunni

Definition:

• “custom”

• Largest branch of Islam → followers adhere to Muhammad’s example (sunnah)

Significance:

• recognize 6 “sound” books of Hadith → contain words and deeds attributed to Muhammad

• Al-Bukhara = most important book

• ~85% of world’s Muslims = Sunni

Shi’i

Definition:

• “partisan”

• Branch of Islam established by Ali’s followers → believe Ali is rightful successor to Muhammad (instead of Abu Bakr)

Significance:

• long-lasting religious disagreements between Sunni and Shi’i who succeeds Muhammad

  • Sunni → Muhammad left it to the community → they selected Abu Bakr

  • Shi’i → Muhammad personally selected Ali

• believe Imams were divinely inspired → can correctly interpret the Qur’an and hadith

Sufi

Definition:

• “wool”

• One who follows mystical Islamic traditions

Significance:

• seek union with Allah through fana (extinction of the self)

• believe Muhammad = forerunner and exemplar for spiritual and moral excellence 

Jihad

Definition:

• “Struggle”

• concept of struggling in God’s path → includes personal, spiritual, and military efforts to uphold faith and justice 

Significance:

• greater jihad = struggle against one’s desires and evil inclinations to live virtuously 

  • Focus on personal and communal efforts → engage in good deeds (uphold moral values, preaching)

• Lesser jihad = “jihad of the sword,” religiously-sanctioned armed violence

  • Defend against aggression and oppression

Sharia

Definition:

• “path”

• Fundamental religious laws based on Qur’an, hadiths, and judgments of experts

Significance:

• Historically, an important Muslim ruler’s duty is to uphold Sharia

• Ulama (legal experts) study and teach it

• Important parts of Sharia law: daily prayers, alms giving, fasting, and pilgrimage

Akhlaq

Definition:

• “disposition”

• Islamic ethics guiding how to behave and treat others

Significance:

• emphasizes values like kindness, patience, and humility

• Essential to practice good akhlaq in daily life → reflects faith

• Muhammad = best example of Akhlaq → Muslims follow his model

Zakat

Definition:

• “that which purifies”

• One of 5 Pillars of Islam

• Mandatory tax of 2.5% annual wealth to charity

Significance:

• recipients = poor, new Muslims, or organizations spreading Islam

• Early Muslim world: up to individual → Modern-day: few countries implement zakat into government

• Way to purify the soul → get rid of undeserved earnings, give to those in need

Halal

Definition:

• “lawful”

• Anything, esp. food, considered permissible in Sharia (Islamic law)

Significance:

• Animals are slaughtered in a certain manner

• eat Halal certified meat

• Allah rewards Muslims for doing and eating what is halal

Haram

Definition:

• “forbidden”

• Anything forbidden by Sharia (Islamic law)

Significance:

• includes ritual, family, and dietary laws

• Ex: pork, alcohol, murder

• Allah punishes Muslims who do haram

• Also describes sacred spaces (ex: Ka’ba) b/c violence is forbidden there

Hijab

Definition:

• “cover”

• Head covering worn by women → sign of faith and modesty

Significance:

• Required by Sharia (Islamic law)

• Different countries → different types of head coverings

• Symbol for cultural and religious pride for many

• Form of liberation from societal pressures