Islam

Allah

The name of God in Islam.

Caliphs

Title given to one of the 4 [Rightly Guided] leaders of Islam immediately following Muhammad.

Eid al-Fitr

The feast of the Breaking of the Fast at the end of Ramadan.

Halal

Permitted acts in Islam.

Haram

Forbidden acts in Islam.

Ijma

Consensus of scholars and religious leaders in Islamic law.

Imam

Leader of the Muslim community and mosque.

Makkah/Mecca

Sacred city and site of the annual pilgrimage [Hajj].

Qiyas

Analogies and comparisons with teachings of the Qur'an and Hadith.

Shariah

Islamic law derived from the Qur'an and Hadith.

Shi'a

Large minority of Muslims who believe Muhammad appointed his son-in-law, Ali, as his successor.

Sunni

Majority of Muslims; supported the succession to Muhammad by election.

Torah

First five books of the Old Testament; first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures; Pentateuch; Law.

Muhammad

The Prophet of Islam, born in 570 CE in Mecca.

Khadijah

Muhammad's first wife, a businesswoman who supported him.

Angel Jibril

The angel who revealed Allah's words to Muhammad.

Qur'an

Islam's sacred scripture, compiled from Muhammad's revelations.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Sunni and Shi'a

Two main branches of Islam with differing beliefs about leadership succession after Muhammad.

Taqwa

Constant awareness and consciousness of Allah's will in a Muslim's life.

Fiqh

Islamic jurisprudence, the process of deriving rules from the Qur'an and Hadith.

Five Pillars

The fundamental acts of worship in Islam, including Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.

Shahada

The declaration of faith in Islam, stating the oneness of God and Muhammad as His prophet.

Salat

The ritual prayer performed five times a day by Muslims.

Zakat

Almsgiving, a requirement to share wealth with the less fortunate, typically 2.5% of income.

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk.

Mubah

Actions that are permissible but not recommended in Islamic law.