Islamic Vocabulary Quiz #2

insaniyya

the virtues of humanity

Allah/Al-Ilah

God

The Qur'an

"The Recitation"

Jahiliyyah

ignorance

Quaraysh

Tribe that governed over Mecca, Muhammad was more into this tribe

Mecca

the holiest and most important city in Islam

Medina/Yathrib

Where Muhammad grows his following after fleeing Mecca

Jamu'ah

Friday, refers to the Friday noon prayer

Tawhid

the oneness of God; foundational principle of Islam's monotheism

Irsa and Mi'raj

two parts of the magical journey Muhammad took from Mecca to Jerusalem taken one night

Hijra

The migration of Muhammad (+followers) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

Laylat al-Mabit

the night Muhammad secretly left mecca to escape assassination attempt (occured during Hijra)

Ahl al-Kitaab

"People of the Book" recognition of other groups w montheistic ideas of God, debate about who qualifies

Muruwwah

"manliness"; set of virtues highly valued in pre-Islamic culture

Kufr

ingratitude, dis/misbelief, unbelief (literally covering or concealing)

Shirk

equating something with God (bad), associating worship of other gods/dieties w Allah

Hanif (pl. Hunafa')

Someone who worshipped only Allah (the God of Ibrahim) in pre-Islamic Arabia; all prophets prior to and including Muhammad are believed to be XXXX

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Salaam

common greeting in Arabic-speaking and Muslim countries

Ar-Rahman

"The Most Beneficent" or "The Most Gracious", one of the 99 names of Allah (Asma ul Husna)

Sharia (or halakha)

Law, literally mean "the way/path"

Imam

1 ) person who leads prayers 2 ) in Shia tradition Imama inhereit a spiritual knowledge kin to prophets (but not)

Rasul (Nabi)

"messenger of god", prophet

Nabi

Prophet or messenger

As-Salamu Alaikum

"peace be upon you" common greeting among Muslims

Wa Alaikum Salaam

"and upon you be peace" Muslim greeting

Ulama (sing. Alim)

Muslim scholars recognized as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law/theology

Yawm al-Qiyamah

"Day of Judgement" (also Day of Resurrection) when Allah will judge all people, central to beliefs about afterlife, accountability, ultimate justice of Allah (symbol of new beginning and eternal consequences)

salah/salat

refers to ritual prayer and worship in Islam, prescribed 5x daily in accordance w specific times of the day, in a clean space, and facing in the direction of Mecca. (5 pillars)

taqwa

God-consciousness; piety, fear of God

sawm

fasting during the month of Ramadan

shahadah

the testimony or witness "I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." (5 pillars)

zakah/zakat

charitable contributions, welfare tax (5 pillars)

sabr

patience, perseverance, steadfast in the face of adversity

shura

consultation

halaal

refers to things identified as permissible in Islam

masjid

the Islamic house of worship; where community salah is performed ('mosque' in english)

dua

supplication or invocation. Asking God for help, guidance or forgiveness. Can be done at anytime, place, language (prayer that isn't ritualized) don't have to perform wudu before

alhamdulillah

"Praise be to God" or "Thanks be to God"

inshallah

"if God wills" or "God willing" used to speak about future events, hopes/desires for the future

mashallah

"God has willed it" used to express admiration or appreciation

mujaddid

renewer of faith (Al Ghazali)

mujahideen

Muslims who fight for their faith or community "holy warriors"

Khadija

wife of Muhammad, wealthy widow who inherited a trading enterprise, and mother of all but one of his 7 children

Abu Talib

Muhammad's uncle who raised him, leader of the Banu Hashim

Muhammad

the Prophet, religious and political leader of Islam, born in Mecca into the Quraysh Tribe

Fatima

wife of Ali, only daughter that outlived her father Muhammad

A'isha

One of Muhammad's 11 wives, solved disputes... plotted against Ali in Battle of Camel (656)

Abu Bakr

1st successor to Muhammad in leadership of Muslim ummah, reign was shortlived, initiated the Ridda wars -- part of Rashidun Caliphate 4 rightly guided caliphs)

Umar

enemy of Muhammad, plotted to kill him, but later converted, remembered for administration, expansion, and justice (Abu Bakr's successor)

Uthman

least well-regarded of the 4 rightly guided caliphs, one of the most rapidly expanding times of Muslim community, didn't have constitution for leadership/community was growing too fast for him to rule over it (successor of Umar)

Ali

well-respected/regarded in both traditions, but more intense association with Shia Islam, believed he should have been first caliph after Muhammad, some think Uthman played a role in his assassination (Successor of Uthman)

Hasan (ibn Ali)

Son of Ali and Fatimah and the older brother of Husayn. (625-670-poisoned by one of his wives)

Husayn (ibn Ali)

Son of Ali and Fatima, 3rd Shia Imam, Martyred at the Battle of Karbala (680) for refusing to pledge allegiance to Umayyad Caliph Yazid, honored during Ashura

Mu'awiya I

After the fitna (civil war) ended with Ali's assassination, caliphate passed to XXXXX, Ali's rival (from the Banu Umayya clan of the Quraysh tribe)

Al-Khwarizmi

Persian scholar in math, astronomy and geography, created algebra! (systemized solving for linear/quadratic eq.)

Ibn Al-Haytham

"father of modern optics", first to articulate a theory of vision that occurs in the brain, his Book for optics was referenced by Galileo, da Vinco, Descartes and more!

Ibn Sina

Persian philosopher and physician (Book of Healing and Canon of Medicine) both became reference texts for centuries in Europe

Ibn Khaldun

Arab North African historian, philosopher and sociologist.. Most famous work is Muqaddimah (lit. "Introduction"), precursor to modern social theory

Al-Ghazali

Persian scholar/philosopher on Islamic theology and thought, referred to as "mujiaddid" (renewer of faith) and given the honorific title of "Hujjat al-Islam" (proof of Islam or authority of Islam)

Shia

the branch of Islam (10-15%) whose members acknowledge Ali and his descendants as the rightful successors of Muhammad

Sunni

believe that Muhammad did not appoint a successor, make up 85-90% of Muslims

Sufi

tasawwuf, an approach to Islam 'Islamic mysticism'

tasawwuf

Sufism, comes from Arabic word for wool/garments that symbolize detachment form worldly posessions

Muharram

1st month of Islamic calendar w/memorial for the martyrdom of Husayn

Ashura

the 10th day of Muharrum that marks the slaughter of Imam Husayn and his family by Umayyad Caliph Yazid I and his army

Ta'ziya

dramatic reenactment of Husayn's death at the Battle of Karbala

latmiya

ritual expressions of grief during Muharram typically involving self-flagellation

dhikr/zikr

"remembrance of God", a form of salah that utilized repetition of sacred phrases

fakir

impoverished/becoming poor to worship God

tariqah (pl. turuq)

organization, Sufis organized through mystical orders of brotherhoods known as XXXX (pl.)

nasheed

Islamic vocal music, sometimes with instrumental accompaniment, usually w/moral/religious themes

sama (alt. sema)

ritual dance

muraqabah

meditation that in practice resembles yoga/Buddhist mediation with stages with Enlightenment/spiritual ascension toward Allah

Al Mahdi

12th Imam (accd. to twelver shia Islam) "Doctrine of Occultation" - belief that XXXX is hidden by God, his life extended, and he will return to bring justice by God's will

Ahl al Bayt

people of the house (of Muhammad)