Islam
Glossary of Key Terms
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Islam Glossary
Adhan
The call to prayer
Al Hijra
Muslim New Years’s Day; commemorates the migration of Muhammad (pbuh)
from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE
Allah
God; the Supreme Being
Allahu Akbar
God is great – often said as a greeting
Amina
Muhammad’s (pbuh) mother
Angel
Messenger from God
Ayatollah
“Sign of God” – religious leader in Shi’a Islam
Bismallah
An invocation used by Muslims before beginning any task or journey
Burka
A shawl worn by women at prayer which covers the head and arms
Chador
Black veil sometimes worn by Muslim women
Dervish
A member of the Sufi religious order
Dhikr
The recitation of the names of God
Eid/Id
A festival – pronounced “Eed”
Eid-ul-Adha
The major festival when pilgrims make their sacrifices tin the valley of Mina
during Hajj (special pilgrimage to Mecca)
Eid-ul-Fitr
The feast of the breaking of the fast. This marks the end of the time of fasting
called Ramadan
Eid Mubarak
A greeting. Arabic for “Happy Festival”
Eidi
Presents given at Muslim festivals
Hadith
Collection of stories about Muhammad’s (pbuh) words and actions
Hajj
Special journey or pilgrimage to Mecca, the most holy place of Islam (one of
the Five Pillars of Islam)
Hajji
Name given to a man who has performed the Hajj (journey to Mecca)
Hajin
Name given to a woman who has performed Hajj
Halal
Meat which is permitted because it has been ritually slaughtered in the name
of God and the blood drained from it.
Haram
Sacred – sanctuary; usually refers to the area around Mecca, Medina and
Jerusalem, the three holy places of Islam. Also used to denote anything which
is prohibited.
Hijra
The prophet Muhammad’s departure from Mecca to go to Medina
Ibadah
Worship
Ihram
Two sheets of white unsewn cloth worn by men on the Hajj
Imam
The prayer leader
Iman
Faith, belief
Islam
Submission to God
Ka’aba
Literally “the cube” – found in the central shrine at Mecca
Khitan
Circumcision
Khutba
The sermon delivered in the mosque during prayer time on Fridays
Kiswa
The black cloth covering the Ka’aba at Mecca
Koran
the Holy Book (sometimes referred to as The Qu’ran)
Mecca
(sometimes Makkah) The city which is the centre of Islam – the most holy of
the three holy places
Medina
The city of the prophet (also Madinah)
Mihrab
A recess in the mosque wall which denotes the direction of prayer, ie facing
towards Mecca
Minaret
Tall tower at the mosque from where the call to prayer is sent out to bring the
faithful to prayer
Misbahah
Prayer beads
Mosque
Holy building for prayer and education
Mount Hira
The mountain outside Mecca where Muhammad (pbuh) received the first
revelation of the Qu’ran from Allah
Muezzin
The person who calls the muslims to prayer
Muhammad
The Holy Prophet (often written with pbuh after his name which refers to
praise be unto him)
Muslim
A follower of Islam – literally “one who surrenders to God”
Night of Power
The night during the month of Ramadan when Allah began to reveal the
Qu’ran to Muhammad (pbuh)
Pbuh
“Praise be unto him” – said every time the name of Muhammad is mentioned
Pillars of Faith
The five essential religious duties for Muslims
Qibla
Marks the direction of prayer
Qu’ran
The sacred book of Islam – revealed word from Allah
Ramadan
The ninth month of the muslim calendar which marks a time of fasting from
dawn to dusk
Ruku
Bowing during prayer
Salat/Salah
Ritual Prayer, observed five times a day (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)
Saum/Sawm
A Fast (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)
Sharia
Islamic Law
Shi’a
An important branch of Islam
Shi’i/Shi’ite
A member of Shi’a Islam
Sufi
An Islamic mystic
Sunni
An important branch of Islam
Sura
A chapter of the Qu’ran
Tawhid
The oneness of God
Topi
Small cap worn by men at prayer
Umma
The community of Muslims
Wudu/Wuzu
Ritual washing before prayer
Zakat/Zakah
The giving of alms to charity (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)