Islam [terms and concepts]

Abbasids

an important muslim empire that ruled from 750 to 1258 CE

adhan

the call to prayer

aisha

beloved wife of Muhammad who is known from transmitting many hadith

allah

the arabic term for God

Ashura

the tenth day of the month of Muharram, recognized by shi'a muslims as the anniversary of the martyrdom of Husayn

caliph

leader of the muslim community after the death of Muhammad

hadith

literary tradition recording the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad

hajj

the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of islam

hijra

migration of the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina in 662 CE; the islamic calendar dates from this year

Husayn

Grandson of Muhammad who was killed while challenging the Umayyads

Imam

prayer leader

Islam

"submission"; religious tradition based on the Qur'an

jahiliyya

the age of ignorance; refers to the revelation of the Wur'an

Jihad

striving; sometimes the greater jihad is the struggle with one's self to become a better person; the lesser jihad is associated with military conflict in defense of faith

Khadija

Muhammad's beloved first wife

Mecca

the city in which Muhammad was born; place of pilgrimage for Muslims

Medina

the city to which Muhammad and his early followers migrated to escape persecution in Mecca

miraj

Muhammad's Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and from there to heaven, where he met with God

Mosque

place of prayer

muezzin

the person who calls the adhan

Muhammad

the prophet who received the revelation of the Qur'an from God; the final prophet in a long line of prophets sent by God to humanity

Qur'an

the holy text of Muslims; the Word of God as revealed to Muhammad

Ramadan

month in which Muslims must fast daily from dawn until dusk; the fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, the month in which the Qur'an is believed to have been revealed to Muhammad

salat

daily prayers; one of the five pillars of Islam

sawm

mandatory fast during the month of Ramadan; one of the five pillars of Islam

shahadah

the declaration of faith: there is no God but God and muhammad is the messenger of God; first of the five pillars of faith

shari'a

Islamic law

shi'a

one of the two major branches of Islam; believed that Ali should have succeeded as leader of the Muslim community after the death of Muhammad. That is, only and descendants of the Prophet Muhammad should lead the Muslim community

shirk

idolatry; worshiping anything other than God; unforgivable sin in Islam

Sufi

a follower of the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism; focuses on the believer's personal experience of God and goal of union with God

Sunnah

way of life or custom; specifically refers to the example of the life of the Prophet Muhammad; important religious source for Muslims

Sunni

one of the two main branches of Islam; believed that the Muslim community should decide on a successor to lead after the death of Muhammad

surah

chapter of the Qur'an; there are 114 surahs in the Qur'an

tafir

interpretation of or commentary on the Qur'an

Umayyad Dynasty

controversial Muslim dynasty that ruled from 661 to 750 CE

umma

worldwide Muslim community

Zakat

regulated almsgiving; one of the five pillars of Islam