Miss Macdonald's AQA GCSE RS Islam keywords

Ablution

Ritual washing in islam. The Arabic term is wudu.

Adalat

The concept of justice in Shi'a Islam

Adam

One of the prophets of Allah. The father of humankind who built the ka'aba.

Allah

The Islamic name for God, meaning 'the One'

Akhirah

Belief in life after death

Angels

Spiritual beings created by Allah from elements of light. Gave Allah's messages to the prophets and watch over humanity.

Arafat

A plain near Makkah where Muslims gather during the Hajj to stand before God in prayer and worship.

Ashura

Important festival in Shi'a Islam, on 10th Muharram, remembering the martyrdom of Hussain. For Sunnis it is a day for repentance of sins.

Authority

The Qur'an has supreme authority, as the direct word of Allah.

Beneficence

'Doing good'. One of the 99 names of Allah, referring to the generosity Allah shows to humans.

Day of Judgement

The day at the end of the world when Allah will decide on good and bad deeds and their rewards and punishments.

Fairness

This refers to Allah's justice, treaing all humans equally and as they deserve.

Fasting

Not eating or drinking. Refers to saw, the 4th pillar. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

Five Pillars

Observed by Sunni Muslims to develop good character, attitude and behaviour. Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj.

Five Roots of Usul ad-Din

The foundations of faith in Shi'a Islam. Tawhid, Adalat, Nubuwwah (prophethood), imamate (leadership) and qiyamah (day of judgement).

Friday prayer

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

Giving alms

Zakah, the third pillar of Islam. Giving to those in need, e.g. money, food, time.

Gospel

Means 'good news', in this case about Prophet Isa (Jesus), written down by his disciples.

Greater Jihad

The duty of every Muslim to lead a good life, staying faithful to the teachings of Islam

Hajj

Annual pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims should do once in their lifetime, unless prevented by health or wealth. The 5th of the five pillars.

Heaven

Often referred to as Jannah or Paradise. Allah's reward after death to those who have been faithful.

Hell

Jahannam. A place of great suffering after death for those who have rejected the Qur'an and its teachings. May 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

Celebration of the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah. Happens at the end of hajj.

Id-ul-Fitr

A celebration at the end of Ramadan to mark the end of fasting

Imamate

Refers to leadership in Shi'a Islam and to the twelve imams who succeeded Muhammad as the leaders of Islam

Immanence

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

Islam

The name of the religion followed by Muslims

To surrender to the will of Allah

Peace

Jibril

The most important of the angels who spoke with many prophets. Jibril dictated the Qur'an to Muhammad. On judgement day he will help to weigh a persons deeds

Jihad

'To struggle', It refers to the effort made to obey Allah

Jummah

Weekly communal salah performed after midday (zuhr prayer) on a Friday

Justice

Bringing about what is right, fair, according to the law or making up for a wrong that has been committed.

Ka'aba

Black-covered cube shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All Muslims face towards it when they pray. The first house built to worship God on earth.

Khums

The practice in Shi'a Islam of paying an additional 20% tax on annual surplus income, given to the poor and religious leaders

Lesser jihad

The military struggle to defend Islam. Carried out according to strict and set rules.

Life after death

Akhirah. Muslims believe that death is not the end.

Makkah

The city where Muhammad was born. The spiritual centre of Islam, in Saudi Arabia.

Mercy

One of Allah's 99 names. Refers to Allah's willingness to forgive the sins of those who repent.

Mika'il

One of the most important angels who gives material and spiritual help to humans. On judgement day he will help to weigh a persons deeds.

Mina

Place visited on hajj, where the stoning of the 3 jamarats (Pillars) takes place

Mosque

Muslim place of worship, properly called 'masjid' - place of prostration

Muslim

One who has submitted to the will of Allah and has accepted Islam

Muzdalifah

Place where pilgrims on hajj hold a night prayer and rest, after the Stand on Mount Arafat

Muhammad

The last and greatest prophet of Allah. Je received the Qur'an and his sunnah and hadiths are also important sources of authority

Night of Power

The name for the night on which Muhammed received the first revelation of the Qur'an

Omnipotence

One of the 99 names of Allah referring to Allah's ability to do anything

Oneness of God

Tawhid. It refers to the unity of Allah. Islam is a monotheistic religion.

Pilgrimage

A journey made for religious reasons

Predestination

The idea that everything that happens has been decided already by Allah

Prophethood

Risalah, a channel of communication with Allah, including Adam, Ibrahim and Muhammed (pbut)

Psalms

Sacred prayers/poems written by King Dawud, who was a prophet of Allah

Qur'an

Holy Book revealed by the Prophet Muhammed by the angel Jibril. Allah's final revelation to humankind

Rak'ahs

Actions made during salah consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration

Ramadan

Month during which fasting from dawn to sunset is demanded (ninth month of the Islamic calendar)

Recitations

Acts of reciting from memory the texts of the Qur'an

Resurrection

After death, all people will be raised from the dead to face Allah's judgement. This is a physical resurrection.

Revelation

Allah shows his nature and his will to believers through the words of the Qur'an

Risalah

Prophethood. The channel of communication between Allah and humanity.

Salah

Prayer to and worship of Allah, performed under the conditions set by Prophet Muhammed - five times a day. The 2nd of the five pillars.

Sawm

Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan; sex and smoking are banned when the believer is engaged in this. The 4th of the 5 pillars.

Scrolls of Abraham

Individual revelations to Ibrahim that are now lost.

Shahadah

Muslim declaration of faith. First pillar for Sunni Muslims. For Shi'a it is not a separate pillar and has two additional statements

Shi'a Islam

Muslims who believe in the Imamah, successorship, of Ali

Surah

A division or chapter of the Qur'an. There are 114.

Sunni Islam

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

Tawhid

The oneness and unity of Allah. Monotheism.

Ten Obligatory Acts

Requirements for Shi'a Muslims - including salah, sawm, zakah, hajj and jihad plus 5 unique to shi'a

Torah

Book given by Allah to Musa (moses) who was a prophet of Allah.

Wudu

Ablution. Ritual washing performed before salad and also when purification is needed

Zakah

3rd of the 5 pillars. Giving alms to purify the wealth of those who give it and to help others.