Origin and Spread of Islam

Islam flashcards!!

Islam

The religion of the Muslims; a monotheistic faith as revealed by Allah to the prophet Muhammad

Muslim

A follower of the Islamic religion

Muhammad

A man born around 570 C.E., the prophet who received Allah’s truths

Allah

God of Islam; name in Arabic

Qur’an (Koran)

The holy book of Muslims

Mosque

A Muslim house of worship

imam

Religious leader of Islam (ex: priest, rabbi)

Sunnah

The example that Muhammad set for Muslims about how to live through his words and actions

Hadith

written accounts that provided evidence of Muhammad’s Sunnah

Makkah (Mecca)

1st holiest city to the Muslims; city where Muhammad was born

Medina (“City of the Prophet”)

2nd holiest city; where Muhammad established a Muslim community after his escape from Mecca; Muhammad’s body is here in the Prophet’s Mosque (green dome)

Jerusalem

3rd holiest city to Islam; where Muhammad ascended to heaven to meet with the prophets and Allah (called The Night Journey)

Ka’bah

a small shrine built by Abraham in Mecca; Muslims holiest site; believed to be the house of God (direction to which Muslims pray & where they make their pilgrimage to)

Five Pillars of Islam

the most basic acts of worship for Muslims (declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca)

Ramadan

the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims are required to fast

Hajj

pilgrimage or journey to Mecca; to be performed once in a Muslim’s lifetime to honor Abraham’s journey to see Hagar and son Ishmael

shari’ah

the code of Islamic laws

Jihad

the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin and enemies of Islam

caliph

the main Muslim civil and religious rulers after Muhammad

caliphate

area ruled by the caliph

Umayyads

leaders of Muslim empire after the first four caliphs; based in city of Damascus in Syria

Sunni

Muslims who accept the rule of the Umayyad caliphs (majority of Muslims today)

Shia

Muslims who believe the descendents of Ali should rule (majority in Iran/Iraq)

Abu Talib

Muhammad’s Uncle

Khadijah

Muhammad’s Wife

Abu Bakr

Muhammad’s close friend; Flees with him to Medina from Mecca

Jibril (Angel Gabriel)

The angel who revealed the word of Allah to Muhammad

Oasis

Scattered springs in the desert that provide water and fertile soil

Arabian Peninsula

also called Arabia, is the homeland of the Arab people and where Islam began