Islam

shirk

elevate something up w divine qualities

imam

leader of mosque

haram

forbidden

jannah

paradise

umman

community Muhammad created

jahannam

place of punishment

ulama

scholar

yawim al-Qiyamah

day of judgement

yawim al-Ba’th

day of resurrection

fitra

the natural state of human beings

jihad

to struggle

Allah

God

Al-ilah

the God

Tawhid

Oneness of God

Iman

faith, belief

Islam

submission/surrender to Allah

Muslim

one who submits to Allah

Qadim

eternal and uncreated

Jahiliyyah

age of ignorance

Qur'an (al-Qur'an)

the sacred text of Islam

Suwar (sing. surah)

chapters of the Quran

Ayah/ayat

verses within a surah

tafsir

interpretation of meaning of Qur’an

I'jaz

the inimitable, miraculous nature and "otherness" of the Qur'an

Iqra

"recite/read"

Surat al-'Alaq

the surah associated with Muhammad's first revelation

Laylat al-Qadr

night of power; when the first revelation was received

Muhammad (pbuh)

Prophet of Islam

Pbuh

"peace be upon him" saif after mentioning the Prophet

Rasul

messenger (Rasul Allah)=messenger of God

Nabi

prophet

Sirah

prophetic biography of Muhammad

Sunnah

the Prophet's way of life

Hadith (pl. ahadith)

collected sayings of the Prophet

Isnad

chain of transmission

Hijra

migration of Muhammad and his followers from mecca to Medina (Yathrib)

Salah/salat

ritual daily prayer

Du'a(Dua)

supplicatory or spontaneous prayer

Adhan

call to prayer

Mu'azzin

person who performs the adhan

Qibla

direction of prayer (og jerusalem, later changed to mecca)

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca

Bismallah

In the name of God

Sharia

Islamic law

Figh

Islamic jurisprudence

Ijma'

scholarly concensus

kaaba

cubic structure in Mecca

Kiswah

black cloth embroidered with Qur'anic scripture covering the kaaba

Mecca

birthplace of Muhammad and holiest city in Islam

Yathrib (Medina)

city Muhammad migrated to; later called Medina

Isra

Muhammad's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem

Mi'raj

Muhammad's ascension to heaven

Buraq

winged horse that carried Muhammad on the night journey

Mu'min/Mu'minun

believer(s), one who has faith

kufr

disbelief

kafir

non-believer

Hanif (pl. Hunafa)

pre-Islamic monotheists who worshipped the God of Abraham

Ahl al-Kitab

People of the book (Jews and Christians)

Hafiz/Hafiza (pl. hafaz)

one who memorizes the entire Qur'an

Insan

human being

insaniyya

humanity, human virtue

Insan al-Kamil

the perfected or ideal human

Muruwwah

code of virtue, masculinity, integrity, generosity, patience, loyalty

Diyafa

hospitality

hamasa

courage and bravery

asma' al-Husna

the most beautiful names of Allah

Al-Haaq

the truth

Al-Malik

the king

Al-Fattah

the opener, the Resolver

As-Salam

giver of peace

Ar-Rahman

the most gracious (general mercy)

Ar-Rahim

the most merciful (specific mercy)

As-salamu 'alaykum

peace be upon you

wa 'alaykum as-salam

and peace be upon you as well

ahl al-bayt

people of the house

zakah/zakat

charity

sawm

fasting

halal

permissible

shura

consultation

alhamdulillah

Praise to be God

inshallah

If God wills it

mujahideen

fighters in holy war (person who does jihad)

mashallah

God has willed it

• “congratulations”

shahadah

testimony

• 1st pillar

Mujaddid

renewer of faith

Allahu akbar

“God is greater than…” “God is great.”

• religious expressions

• cultural idiosyncrasies

• practical tools in the service of taqwa. 

kharijites

• party of Ali, turned against Ali

• multiple revolts

• assassinated Ali

• exist today as Ibadi

ibadi

modern kharijites

masjid

mosque

sabr

patience, perseverance

taqwa

god-consciousness, piety

hasan (ibn ali)

huseyn

shia

• Ali was the first Imam and divinely appointed leader

• Husan was 2nd Imam

• recognizes Ali as the rightful successor to Muhammad

• before he died he told someone that Ali was going to lead the community

sunni

• recognizes Ali as the 4th rightly guided Caliph

• sunni’s believe that he did not say that he wanted a specific person to lead it, and it was decided by consultation

sufi

islamic mysticism

tasawwuf

arab word for sufism

muharram

• 1st month of Islamic calendar

• Shia Muslims mourn the death of Husayn at the battle of Karbala

ashura

• 10th day in Muharram (1st month of Islamic calender

• holiest day for Shia muslims

ta’ziya