Islam

Islam

Surrender or submission to the will of God.

Muslim

One who submits to the will of God.

Qur'an

The primary sacred text of Islam.

Iman

The six major articles of belief in Islam.

Oneness of God

The belief that Allah is transcendent, superpersonal, and genderless.

Angels of God

Beings that do God's will in the world.

Divine decree

The belief that God has a divine destiny for all things.

Umma

The global community of Muslims, transcending race, ethnicity, and language.

Night of Power and Excellence

The night when Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and instructed him to recite God's message.

Hijra

The migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) in 622, marking the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

Sufism

A mystical form of Islam that emphasizes experiencing oneness with Allah.

Shari'a

The divine law derived from the Qur'an and Sunna, governing the lives of Muslims.

Halal

Things that are permissible and beneficial to the body in Islam.

Haram

Things that are harmful to the body, mind, soul, or society.

Jihad

Struggle; can refer to both spiritual struggle and armed struggle for Islam.

Sunna

The traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad, serving as a model for Muslims.

Ali

The fourth caliph of Islam, whose assassination led to a split between Sunni and Shi'a factions.

Caliphates

The political and religious leadership following Muhammad's death, which helped spread Islam.

Khadija

Muhammad's first wife and the first follower of Islam.

Sufi experience

A process where worshippers aim to achieve union with God through various practices.

Veiling

A pre-Islamic practice in Arabia that involves women covering their hair, not universally practiced today.