Islam Advanced Vocab
TERM | MEANING |
Allah | the one and only God in Islam |
Muhammad | the Prophet, considered the final messenger of Allah |
Qur'an | the holy book of Islam; the literal word of Allah revealed to Muhammad |
Shi'a | the minority branch that acknowledges leadership through Ali |
Sufi | a tradition emphasizing mystical devotion to and spiritual love of Allah |
Sunni | the majority branch that chooses leaders by community consensus |
akhirah | the afterlife or life after death |
akhlaq | ethical and moral conduct or behavior |
dhikr | remembrance of Allah through prayer or recitation |
hadith | saying and actions of the Prophet Muhammad |
hajj | a pilgrimage to Mecca to be undertaken at least once in life |
halal | actions or items that are permissible under Islamic law |
haram | actions or items that are forbidden under Islamic law |
hijab | a head covering worn by some women to maintain modesty |
'ibadah | worship or acts of devotion to Allah |
imam | a religious leader or leader of prayer |
iman | faith or belief in Allah and the teachings of Islam |
islam | submission to the will of Allah |
jahannam | hell, or punishment in the afterlife |
jannah | paradise, or reward in the afterlife |
jihad | the struggle to live a righteous life and defend Islam |
kufr | disbelief or rejection of Allah |
masjid | a mosque or place of prayer and worship |
niyyah | the intention behind an action |
risalah | the message or teachings of Islam, Allah's divine guidance to humanity |
salah | the five daily prayers |
sawm | fasting during the month of Ramadan from sunrise to sunset |
shahadah | the declaration of faith in Allah and Muhammad |
shari'ah | the system of Islamic law based on the Qur'an and hadith |
shirk | associating partners with Allah, considered the greatest sin in Islam |
sunnah | the way or example set by the Prophet Muhammad in daily life |
tafsir | interpretation or explanation of the Qur'an |
tawhid | the absolute oneness and uniqueness of Allah |
ummah | the global community of Muslims |
yawm al-din | the Day of Judgment when all are held accountable for their deeds |
zakah | a form of charity or almsgiving intended to support the needy |