World Religions Islam Definations

Islam

means surrender or submisson; and is a fast growing religion

Muslim

a follower or believer of islam

Allah

the arabic name for God; its the same God christans believe in

Ka'bah

the sone cubical structure in the courtyard of the Great Mosque of Mecca, believed to have been built by abraham and regarded by muslims as the scared center of the earth

Hijrah

Muhammad's migration from Mecca to (Yathrib) Medina; emigration

Caliphs

the military and political leaders of the Muslim community who succeeded Muhammad after his death

Quran

Islam's primary sacred text, regarded by Muslims as the direct words of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel

Iman

the leader of the friday worship service who directs the prayes and delivers a sermon

calligraphy

most highly regarded and fundemental part of islamic art since there are no dipictions of Muhammad only his words are shared

Surah

A chapter of the Qur'an

Hadith

Traditional records of the deeds of Muhammad, and his quotations, often takes as islamic law

Five pillars of Islam

five acts of worship required of all Muslims

Shahadah (witnessing)

There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God

Salah (prayer)

praying five time a day at: dawn, afternoon, late afternoon, after sunset, and night

Zakah (almsgiving)

Charity and giving to those in need
Expected to give 2.5% of their money after necessities as an offering to Allah. The only expection to this rule is if you are already poor

Sawn (fasting)

fasting during the holy month of Ramadan; no food or drink from dust to dawn

Hajj (pilgrimage)

travel to Mecca at least one time in your life. if you are poor you do not have to go

Muezzin

a man who calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret of a mosque

Ramadan

the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.

Mosque

A Muslim place of worship

What is the root meaning of the name Islam?

The root meaning of Islam means either "surrender" or "submission" to Allah.

Describe the Qu'ran's size and structure, idenitfy its original language.

Originally written in Arabic, the Qur'an is four fifths the size of the New Testament, and divided into 114 chapters; Muslim book of worship.

What is the literal meaning of the term "Qu'ran"?

The word Qur'an translates to "reading" or "recitation".

When and where was Muhammad born?

Muhammad was born in Mecca, the capital of saudi arabia, in AD 570. Born into a leading tribe in the city and was later orphaned.

Briefly describe the Night of the Power and Excellence.

The night of Power and Excellence was the encounter Muhammad had with Angel Gabriel that began his career as a prophet. 610 on Mt. hira

What is the Hijra, and why is it important?

Hijra means emigration and is used by muslims as a system for assigning dates on this event; occurred in 622 and is used to for assigning dates in Islam.

Why is Muhammad referred to as the Seal of the Prophets?

Muhammad is referred to as the Seal of the Prophets since he was the final prophet, finishing what Jesus did not finish; Full precisely and for all time of God

What is the Sunna of the Prophet?

The Sunnah of the Prophet is the way of life designed for muslims and it is based in the practices and teaching of Muhammad. Custom of the Prophet

Why is Allah thought to be genderless?

Allah is considered to be genderless since men and women are human qualities and would limit God's nature.

Identify at least two of Islam's prophets other than Muhammad.

Jesus and Abrahman are two other prophets in Islam besides Muhammad, and even Adam.

Who is Ishmael, and what is his place in Islam?

Ishmael is Abraham's son who moved to Mecca to become the ancestor of the arabic people, a prophet and Muhammad's ancestor, and later constructed the kaaba.

How do Muslims interpret the Fall from perfection in the Garden of Eden?

Muslims believe that human nature is essential good, but people are too capable of forgetting this fact; Forgetfulness

Briefly describe what Muslims expect to happen before and on the Day of Judgment.

Judgement Day will be the day that a Mahdi will be the one to restore all of Islam and finally bring peace on Earth. Jesus is the comes before the day of judgemnet to tell people

What is the Muslim view of the natural world?

Muslim believe that the natural world is good and worthy of reverence; Cosmic Quran

What determines inclusion in the Umma?

The inclusion of Umma is solely based on religion, not anything else.

Identify two modern nations whose government is based on the Shari'a?

Saudi Arabia and Iran are two modern day countries based on the Shari'a law. Divine law to live the word of Islam.

What is the English translation of the Muslim confession of faith?

The English translation of the confession of faith is "There is no god except God. Muhammad is the messenger of God."

Briefly describe the Muslim practice of daily prayer.

5 times a day; early morning, noon, mid afternoon, sunset, and evening. Must have a ritual washing of hands and face and must face towards Mecca. Usually prayers are performed on a prayer rug. On fridays, there are public prayers usually conducted in a mosque lead by an Imam.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and is a time where muslims fast from dawn until sunset.

What is required of Muslims according to the fourth pillar, wealth sharing?

All muslims must contribute 2.5% of the value of items that are meaningful to muslims, only poor people are exempt; Annually

What is the hajj, and what is its religious significance?

Hajj is a pilgrimage and is significant because Allah forgives the sins of all those who make the pilgrimage with reverence.

Summarize two Muslim teachings on the care of the body.

Muslims believe that the body is to be kept clean which means restrictions from eating pork and alcohol since they are not pure.

With regard to Muslim perspectives on women, what are the three specific points of connection commonly cited by Western critics?

The three specific points of connection commonly cited by Western critics are divorce, polygamy, and the wearing of the veil.

Describe the word jihad.

Jihad is sometimes referred to as the sixth pillar of islam, the general struggle to be a devout Muslim; the armed/spirtual struggle.

What was the extent of Islamic expansion one century after Muhammad's death?

Islam was the religion of the entire middle east, persia, North Africa, and almost all of Spain.

What areas of the globe are presently populated with the greatest concentration of Muslims?

The parts of the globe with the most Muslims are the northwestern half of Africa, all of the Middle East, southwestern Asia, South Asia, and Malaysia/Indonesia.

Why does Arabia enjoy a special status in Islam?

Arabia is the location of Muslim sacred sites, and Arabic is the language spoken.

Why have some African Americans argued that Islam is better suited for their community than is Christianity?

Many African believed that Islam is a better religion that Christianity since they did not want to have the same religion as the whites who treated them badly.

What is Sunnism?

Sunnism is essentially a classification of those who follow the Sunnah of Prophet, which is a way of life. 87% of Muslims.

What is the meaning of the term shi'i?

Shi'l means "partisans of Ali". 13% of muslims

Identify at least two modern nations that have a SHi'i majority or a significant Shi'i populaiton.

Kuwait and Afghanistan are prime examples of countries who maintain a Shi'a population.

Briefly describe the figure of the Imam in Shi'ism.

The figure of Imam is believed to have special spiritual insight and is revered as the true earthly authority.

How does Sufism extend the first sentence of Islam's confession of faith?

The Sufi experiences oneness with Allah, and through that experience, gains spiritual fortitude. There is nothing but god, including you

Identify at least two Sufi methods, or disciplines.

Two different Sufi methods or disciplines include chanting, dances, and breathing exercises.