Islam

world religions

Islam

A religion that believes in submission to the will of Allah, founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century.

Adherents

Followers or supporters of a particular faith or ideology; in the context of Islam, it refers to the 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam, considered the literal word of Allah as revealed to Muhammad.

Hadith

A collection of sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, used as a guide for Islamic law and practices.

Shahadah

The declaration of faith in Islam, stating that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that is required once in a lifetime for Muslims who are able.

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan, observed from dawn to sunset.

Zakat

The act of giving a portion of one's wealth to charity, typically 2.5% of savings annually.

Sunni Islam

The largest branch of Islam, making up about 85-90% of Muslims, which emphasizes the community's role in interpreting Islamic teachings.

Shia Islam

The second-largest branch of Islam, comprising about 10-15% of Muslims, which believes leadership should stay within the Prophet’s family.

Eid al-Fitr

The festival marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers, feasts, and charitable acts.

Eid al-Adha

The festival of sacrifice commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

Ramadan

The 9th month of the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.

Islamic calendar

A lunar calendar based on the moon's cycle, causing Islamic months to shift about 10-12 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

Hijrah

The migration of Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.

Allah

The Arabic word for God in Islam.

Mihrab

A niche in the mosque indicating the direction of Mecca (qibla).

Minaret

A tall tower from which the call to prayer is announced.

Sahn

The courtyard of the mosque.

Qubba

A dome, often found in mosque architecture.

Calligraphy

Islamic art often used to decorate mosques, particularly with verses from the Qur'an.

Extremism

An ideology that deviates from mainstream interpretations of a religion, often justifying violence, which is condemned by most religious scholars.

Belief in Predestination

The belief that Allah’s knowledge and will encompass everything in the universe.

Belief in Angels

Beings created by Allah who carry out His commands.

Belief in the Books of Allah

The scriptures revealed to various prophets, including the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Qur'an.

Belief in the Day of Judgment

The belief that all will be resurrected for judgment.

Belief in Prophets

The acceptance of prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, the last prophet.