Islamic terms

Five pillars

Essential acts of worship and obedience to Allah taught by Muhammad

Insha’Allah

If God wills it to be so

I’tikaf

Seclusion during sawm

Subhah

String of prayer beads.

Asharism

Believe in free will and predestination.

Adhan

A call to prayer said in Arabic by the mu’adhdhin whilst facing the direction of Makkah.

Tawhid

Oneness of Allah

Sifat

Allah’s foreknowledge; he knows everything in the past, present and future. Does not interfere with free will

Angels

His first being.Immortal, sinless beings created from nur (divine light). No free will and act only according to His command.

Kiraman Katibin

Two angels assigned to every person; one records the good deeds and the others the bad deeds

Adalat

Divine justice

Shirk

Worst sin -putting anything above Allah

Imamate

Authority of Imams

Hanif

Someone who strives to be like Ibrahim -following a monotheistic religion

Kaaba

The building at the centre of Islam’s most important mosque in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The most sacred site in Islam

Day of Judgment

End of time when Allah display justice and send people to hell or heaven

Seal of the prophets (Khatum an-Nabiyyin)

Muhammad’s name

Risalah

Message; referring to the communication between Allah and humans

Kutub

Six books containing collections of hadith compiled by six Sunni Muslims scholars

Al-Qadr

Predestination

Hijrah

Muhammad’s and his followers’ emigration to Madinah to escape persecution in Makkah. Established first ummah in there.

Barzakh

Period of waiting time between a person's death and the day of Judgment

Al-Jannah

Heaven

Jahannam

Hell

Shahadah

Declaration of faith

Salat/Salah

Five daily prayers

Zakat/Zakah

Giving wealth as a tax to the poor

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia

Khums

Annual taxation of 20% of savings. Paid to religious leaders and used to help the poor and needy

Jihad

Striving -important to all Muslims and is one of the 10 obligatory acts of Shi’a

Greater Jihad

Individual’s effort to follow the straight path and follow Allah. Control their own desires and temptations. Wanting to lead a disciplined life

Lesser Jihad

Outward striving -to great a good and fair Muslim society. If it is in the form of war it should be just and fair. It has very strict guidelines

Amr-bil-Maroof

Commanding what is just

Nahi Anil Munkar

Forbidding what is evil

Tawalla

Expressing love towards good

Tabarra

Expressing hatred towards evil

Khutbah

Name of the sermon on Friday mosques. Contains two parts which begins by praising Allah. Focuses on spiritual teachings and contemporary issues

Jummah prayers

Friday prayers where the khutbah is read

Wudu

Symbolic washing and purification of the mind before salah

Niyya

Believer's intention to worship with a pure heart. Linked to Wudu

Qibla

The direction of Mecca

Rak’ah

A sequence of prayers containing actions and recitations

Du’a

Private prayer

Ihram

White robes used during Hajj. Men's garments are two white sheets

Nisab

Minimum amount of wealthy a Muslim must possess before they are eligible to pay Zakat

Sadaqah

Voluntary charity

Ramadan

Month of fasting for all Muslims. Sawm

Ummah

Community

Eid-Ul-Adha

Festival of sacrifice -Ibrahim sacrificing his son

Id-Ul-Fitr

The festival of breaking fast -end of Ramadan

Id-Ul-Ghadeer

Shia’s festival -sermon delivered by Muhammad shortly before his death. He announced Ali as his successor

Ashura

Means tenth. Celebrated on the tenth day of Muharram -first month of the Islamic calendar. Warfare is forbidden. Shi’a mourn Imam Hussein, grandson of Muhammad being martyred. Sunni fast to commemorate Noah leaving the arc and Moses being saved from the Egyptians by God

Malaikah

Belief in Angels

Hadith

Sayings of Muhammad

Sahih

The collection of Muhammad's sayings, the hadith

Quran

The holy book revealed to Muhammad by the Angel Jibril; God’s final revelation to humankind

Shari’a

‘The way to water’; the Islamic legal system

Sunni

Muslims who believe in the successorship to Muhammad of Abu Bakr

Shi’a

Muslims who believe in the Imamate , the successorship of Ali

Six articles of faith

The key beliefs of Sunni Muslims

Usul ad-din

Principles of faith; they key beliefs of Shi’a Muslim

Al wahid

The one who is unique and nothing can compare to him

Khalifah

Successor after Muhammad; representative of Allah on earth

Al-Nubuwwah

Prophethood

Prophet

A person chosen by Allah to teach humans what is right and wrong

Adam

The first prophet and human. He was made with the ground’s dust mixed with water to create clay which then turned into life. He lived in Jannah with Hawwa and was tempted by Iblis to eat from the tree. Allah then forgave them and sent them to live on earth where Allah is merciful. represents repentence

Nabi

Prophet

Rasul

Messenger

Musa

He released the Israeli people from slavery from the Phaoroh. When the Phaoroh didn't want to release the people, Allah sent the 10 plagues upon the Egyptians. Allah separated the Nile so everyone can cross safely and drowned the Egyptians. He received the Torah from Allah. Represents justice

Isma’il

Ibrahim's first son. When he kicked the ground water sprang out. He rebuilt the Kaaba with Ibrahim

Ibrahim

‘Father of prohphets’; his faith was tested and he was willing to sacrifice his son for Allah. Allah rewarded his faith by sacrificing a ram instead. Represents obedience

Isa

He was born to virgin Mary (Maryam). Known for performing many miracles such as healing people. Represents compassion

Dawud

A great warrior who killed the giant Goliath (Jahut). He became king and was given the Zabur. Represents bravery

Iblis

Satan

Laylat-al-Qadr

Night of power

Imam

A person who leads a communal prayer; in Shi'a the title given to Muhammad's successors, appointed by God.

Torah (Tawrat)

Scripture revealed to Musa

Psalms (Zabur)

Scripture revealed to Dawud

Scrolls (Sahifa)

Scripture revealed to Ibrahim and Musa

Gospel (Injil)

Scripture revealed to Isa

Mika’il

Guardian of heaven. Muhammad said that he also sends rain, thunder and lightning to earth commanded by Allah

Jibril

Chief angel; revealed Qur’an to Muhammad. He takes shape of a man but his true form has 600 wings which covers the sky

Izra’il

Angel of death. Takes people's last breath. Seen as pleasant because he is taking them to Paradise

Israfil

Angel of the Day of Judgment. He will blow the trumpet to announce the day. The trumpet is kept by his mouth readied for Allah’s command

Akhirah

Everlasting life after death

Tawf

Circling the Kaaba 7 times

Zamzam

Well provided by God to Hajjra

Jamarat

Three pillars representing the devil

Sa’y

Walking between al-safa and al-marwa 7 times

Tarawih

Voluntary night prayer during Ramadan

Bada

Shi’a belief that Allah can change a persons destiny

Mu’tazilite

Group that believed everyone has free will and is responsible for their actions

Al-Ashari

Group that believes Allah is the cause and controller of everything

Al-Ma’ad

The day of Resurrection

Sajdah

Prostrating

Ruku

Bowing

Tayammum

Shi’a, washing of the soul

Qiyam

Standing

Muezzin

The people who do call to prayer