ABC Book of Islam
by
Perry Jones
A - Abbasids
The Abbasid Caliphate was the third of the Islamic
Caliphates of the Islamic Empire. It was ruled by the
Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in
Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphs
from all but Al Andalus.
http://blog.shunya.net/shunyas_blog/2009/
10/part-2-the-golden-age-of-islam.html
B - Bedouins
The Bedouin, are a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab
ethnic group (previously nomadic, presently mostly
settled) found throughout most of the desert belt
extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via
the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the Arabia
Desert.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedouin
C - Caliphs
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the
title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic
community ruled by the Shari'ah. The early leaders of
the Muslim nation following Muhammad's death
were called "Khalifat Rasul Allah", the political
successors to the messenger of God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliph
D - Dome of the Rock
The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine which
houses the Foundation Stone, arguably the holiest
spot in Judaism, and is a major landmark located on
the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was completed in
691, making it the oldest extant Islamic building in
the world. Its significance stems from the religious
beliefs regarding the rock at its heart.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm
E – Eating (Fasting)
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from
some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time.
A fast may be total or partial concerning that from
which one fasts, and may be prolonged or intermittent
as to the period of fasting. Takes place during the
month of Ramadan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
F - Five Pillars of Islam
The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the five
duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are
Shahadah (Profession of Faith), Salah (prayers),
Zakah (Giving to the poor and needy), Sawm (Fasting
during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
These five practices are essential to Sunni Islam;
Shi'a Muslims subscribe to eight ritual practices
which substantially overlap with the five Pillars.
Twelvers have five fundamental beliefs which relates
to Aqidah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Pillars_of_
Islam
G – Global Religion
Estimates of the total number of Muslims range from
0.7 to 1.2 billion worldwide and 1.1 to 7 million in
the U.S. 3 About 21% of all people on Earth follow
Islam. The religion is currently in a period of rapid
growth.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/islam.htm
H - Hajj
The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic
month of Dhu al-Hijjah to the holy city of Mecca, and
derives from an ancient Arab practice. Every ablebodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to
Mecca at least once in their lifetime if he or she can
afford it.
I - Islam
Islam is the religion articulated by the Qur’an, a book considered
by its adherents to be the verbatim word of the single
incomparable God, and by the Islamic prophet Muhammad's
demonstrations and real-life examples. The word Islam is
a homograph, having multiple meanings, and a trilateral of the
word salaam, which directly translates as peace. Other
meanings include submission, or the total surrender of oneself
to God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam
J - Jihad
Jihad is an Islamic term, is a religious duty of Muslims.
In Arabic, the word jihād is a noun meaning "struggle." Jihad
appears frequently in the Qur'an and common usage as the
idiomatic expression "striving in the way of Allah. A person
engaged in jihad is called amujahid, the plural is mujahideen.
K – Ka’bah
The Ka’bah is a cuboidal building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is
the most sacred site in Islam. The building predates Islam, and,
according to Islamic tradition, the first building at the site was
built by Abraham. The building has a mosque built around it,
the Masjid al-Haram. All Muslims around the world face the
Kaaba during prayers, no matter where they are.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba
L – Language
Arabic is a Central Semitic language, thus related to and
classified alongside other Semitic languages such
as Hebrew and the Neo-Aramaic languages. In terms of
speakers, Arabic is the largest member of the Semitic language
family. It is spoken by more than 280 million people as a first
language, most of whom live in the Middle East and North
Africa, and by 250 million more as a second language.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_languag
e
M - Muhammad
Muhammad is the founder of the religion of Islam and is regarded
by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God, the last and
the greatest law-bearer in a series of Islamic prophets as taught
by the Qur'an 33:40–40.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad
N – Nigeria
Nigeria is home to a variety of religions which tend to vary
regionally. This situation accentuates regional and ethnic
distinctions and has often been seen as a source of sectarian
conflict amongst the population. The main religions
are Islam, Christianity, and indigenous religions, most notably
Yoruba Orisha or Orisa veneration and Ifá and Igbo Odinani.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria#Religio
n
O – One God
In Islam, Allah is the only real supreme being, all-powerful and
all knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the
universe. Islam puts a heavy emphasis on the
conceptualization of God as strictly singular.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Islam
P - Prayer
Ṣalāt is the name given to the formal prayer of Islam. The prayer
is one of the obligatory rites of the religion, to be performed
five times a day by a practicing Muslim. Its supreme
importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of
the Five Pillars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sutrah.jpg
Q - Qur’an
The Qur’an is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe
the Qur’an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for
mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final
revelation of God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur'an
R – Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the
Islamic month of fasting, in which
participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking,
and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured;
from dawn until sunset.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan
S - Sunni
The branch of Islam that accepts the first four caliphs as rightful
successors of Muhammad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi'a–
Sunni_relations
T – Timur Lenk
Timur Lenk, a 14th century Turco-Mongol conqueror of much of
western and central Asia, thought of himself as a ghazi,
although his wars were also against Muslim states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur
U - Umayyad
The Umayyad house was one of the major clans of the Quraysh
tribe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Calip
hate
V - Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme God in the Vaishnavite tradition
of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among
others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of
God. He is exalted as the highest God in Hindu sacred
texts like the Taittiriya Samhita and the Bhagavad Gita. He is
the Guru Kshethram, representing Bṛhaspati, or Jupiter, in
the Navagraha, or nine cosmic influences.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu
W - Wahhabists
The Saudi Salafi sheiks were convinced that it was their religious
mission to wage Jihad against all other forms of Islam. In 1801
and 1802, the Saudi Wahhabists under Abdul Aziz ibn
Muhammad ibn Saud attacked and captured the
holy Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf in Iraq, massacred the
Shiites and destroyed the tombs of the Shiite Imam
Husayn and Ali bin Abu Talib. In 1802 they overtook Taif. In
1803 and 1804 the Wahhabis overtook Mecca and Medina.
X - Malcolm X
While in prison, Malcolm X became a member of the Nation of
Islam. After his parole in 1952, he became one of the Nation's
leaders and chief spokesmen. For nearly a dozen years, he was
the public face of the Nation of Islam. Tension between
Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, head of the Nation of
Islam, led to Malcolm X's departure from the organization in
March 1964.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
Y-
Z - Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the
teachings ascribed to an individual named Zoroaster, after
whom the religion is named. Along with Hinduism,
Zoroastrianism is considered to be among the oldest religions
in the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism