Islamic Beliefs and Practices: Key Concepts and Festivals

Day of Judgement

The day when Allah will decide about individual deeds and on reward or punishment.

Beneficence

Literally 'doing good'. One of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah and belief about his nature, the generosity that Allah shows to humans.

Authority

Having power and status. The Qur'an has supreme authority as the word of Allah, this means it must be believed and obeyed.

Ashura

Important festival in Shi'a Islam, to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (Muhammad's grandson). Sunni Muslims observe Ashura as a day of repentance for sins in the belief that they will be forgiven.

Arafat

Part of the Hajj pilgrimage. Place where Prophet Muhammad preached his last sermon and pilgrims gather to pray.

Angels

They are spiritual beings created from elements of light. They gave God's messages to the prophets and watch over humans.

Akhirah (life after death)

Belief in a new stage of life after death.

Adam

One of the prophets of Allah. The father of humankind; built the Ka'aba.

Adalat/justice

Part of the nature of God in Shi'a Islam; the belief that God is fair.

Ablution (wudu)

Ritual washing before prayer.

Fairness

Belief about the nature of God; refers to Allah's justice. He treats all humans equally and as they deserve.

Fasting

Not eating or drinking; one of the Five Pillars is Sawm during Ramadan.

The Five Pillars

Important duties for Sunni Muslims which support the main principles of Islam. Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm and hajj.

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

The foundations of the faith in Shi'a Islam; five key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Adalat (justice), prophethood, imamate, resurrection.

Friday prayer/Jummah

Friday prayers in the mosque, where a sermon (khutbah) is heard.

Giving alms

Giving alms means giving to those in need, eg money, food, time. A key practice in Islam; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts (Zakah).

The Gospel

Holy book /source of authority; literally 'good news' and it is the good news about Isa (Jesus), who was a prophet of Islam.

Greater jihad

The personal struggle of every Muslim to live by the teachings of their faith.

Hajj

One of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts; pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives, unless prevented by problems over wealth or health.

Heaven

Referred to as Paradise; Allah's reward after death to those who have been faithful to him and who have repented of their sins.

Hell

It is a place of great suffering after death for those who have rejected the Qur'an's teachings and have led a wicked life. For some it will last forever.

Human accountability

The belief that everyone must take responsibility for their actions and will be questioned about them on the Day of Judgement.

Human freedom

Humans have control over their thoughts, feelings and actions.

Human responsibility

Humans are responsible for most of what they do because they have free will and so will be accountable on the Day of Judgement.

Ibrahim

One of the prophets of Allah. He rebuilt the Ka'aba.

Id-ul-Adha

Festival; celebration of the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.

Id-ul-Fitr

Festival; celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan and marks the end of fasting.

The imamate

One of the Five Roots of Usul-ad-Din, 'Leadership.' Shia belief in the twelve imams who succeeded Muhammad as the leaders of Islam.

Immanence

The belief that God is close to humanity and involved in the world.

Jibril

Angel who dictated the Qur'an to Muhammad; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person's deeds.

Jihad

'To struggle'.

The Ka'aba

Part of the Hajj pilgrimage; cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All Muslims face towards it when they pray.

Khums

One of the Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi'a Islam; practice of alms giving.

Lesser jihad

This refers to the military struggle to defend Islam. It is carried out according to strict and clear cut rules.

Makkah

Place of pilgrimage during Hajj; the spiritual centre of Islam.

Mercy

Belief about the nature of God and one of Allah's 99 Beautiful Names; God's willingness to forgive the sins of those who repent.

Mika'il

Angel who gives spiritual and material help to humans; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person's deeds.

Mina

Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims take part in the stoning of pillars.

Mosque

Muslim place of worship.

Movements (rak'ahs)

Actions and ritual movements made during salah (prayer) consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration.

Muzdalifah

Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims hold a night prayer and rest after the Stand on Mount Arafat.

Muhammad

The last and greatest of the prophets. He received the Qur'an and his Sunnah and Hadiths are also important sources of authority.

The Night of Power

The night on which Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur'an.

Omnipotence

All-powerful; belief about the nature of God and one of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion.

The Psalms

Holy book/source of authority; sacred prayers and poems written by King Dawud (David), a prophet of Allah.

The Qur'an

Holy Book and most important source of authority in Islam. It was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is the final revelation of God to humankind.

Ramadan

Month during which Muslims fast (sawm) from dawn to sunset.

Recitations

Part of the practice of salah (prayer); the reciting of verses from the Qur'an.

Resurrection

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; belief that after death, all people will be raised from the dead to face judgement.

Risalah (Prophethood)

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; belief in the prophets as messengers sent by God to communicate to people.

Salah

Prayer; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts.

Sawm

Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts.

The Scrolls of Abraham

Holy book/source of authority; individual revelations to Ibrahim that were written on parchment but have perished.

The Shahadah

Muslim declaration of faith; one of the Five Pillars in Sunni Islam.

Shi'a Islam

Muslims who believe in the Imamate, successorship of Ali.

Six articles of faith

The foundations of the faith in Sunni Islam; six key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Angels, Holy Books, Prophethood, Akhirah, Predestination.

Sunni Islam

Muslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.

Tawhid (the Oneness of God)

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; the oneness and unity of Allah.

The Ten Obligatory Acts

These are requirements for Shi'a Muslims. They include salah, sawm, zakah, hajj and jihad (duties also for Sunni Muslims) but the final five are not part of the Sunni tradition - khums, encouraging good, discouraging wrong, showing love for God and people, disassociation with enemies of God.

The Torah

Holy book/source of authority; given by God to the prophet Musa (Moses) on Mount Sinai.

Zakah

One of the Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts; giving alms.