Islam: Master Study List (Our Religions)

A list of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to Islam.

Shahadah

The confession of faith: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger.'

Salat

The canonical prayer performed five times a day in the direction of the Kaaba.

Zakat

Almsgiving or spiritual tithing; the requirement to give 2.5% of accumulated wealth to the poor.

Sawm

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn until sunset.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must perform once in their life if physically and financially able.

Tawhid

The central doctrine of the 'Oneness' or 'Unity' of God; the core of all Islamic belief.

Shari'ah

The 'Divine Law' or 'Path' that governs all aspects of Muslim life (legal, social, and spiritual).

Sunnah

The 'custom' or 'example' of the Prophet Muhammad; the second source of authority after the Quran.

Hadith

The recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.

Inlibration

The theological concept where God's word becomes a Book (the Quran).

Shirk

The sin of associating anything with God; idolatry or polytheism.

Jihad

'Struggle'; includes the 'Lesser Jihad' (physical defense) and 'Greater Jihad' (spiritual struggle against the ego).

Fitrah

The innate, primordial 'nature' of humans to recognize and worship God.

Al-din al-hanif

The 'Primordial Religion'; the original monotheism of Adam and Abraham.

Ummah

The global community of all Muslims, transcending race and geography.

Ulama

The class of religious scholars who interpret the Shari'ah.

Ijtihad

The process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of legal sources.

Fatwa

A legal opinion or decree issued by a qualified religious scholar.

Rasul vs. Nabi

A Rasul (Messenger) brings a new book/law; a Nabi (Prophet) conveys God's message within an existing law.

Barzakh

The intermediary realm or 'isthmus' between death and the day of resurrection.

Fana

The Sufi concept of the 'annihilation' of the ego or self in God.

Tariqah

The 'Spiritual Path' or Sufi Order leading from the outer Law (Shari'ah) to the inner Truth.

Occultation (Ghaybah)

The Shia belief that the 12th Imam is hidden by God and will return as the Mahdi.

The Tree of Religion

Nasr compares Islam to a tree where Tawhid is the roots, Shari'ah is the trunk, and Sufism is the fruit.

The Mountain Peak

All religions lead to the same peak (Ultimate Truth), but follow different paths.