Vocabulary for Islam
• Abu Bakr – 573 to 634, Close Companion to prophet Muhammad and
appointed first Caliph after Muhammad’s death in 632.
• Ahmadiyya Islam – Islamic sect started in India that believes that its
founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835–1908) was the Mahdi
(messianic reformer who will restore Islam to a worldwide faith).
• Aisha – 614 to 678, of Abu Bakr and second wife of Muhammad who
is is an important rijal al-Hadith (reporter of hadith).
• Al-Bukhari – 810 to 870, Islamic scholar from Persia (Iran) who
collected hadith now called as Sahih al-Bukhari. Many Sunni Muslims
believe these are the most sahih (authentic) of all hadith.
• al-Ghazali – 1058 to 1111, influential Islamic philosopher, theologian,
and jurist who was also a sufi (Muslim mystic). Born in Persia (Iran),
he taught at the Islamic university in Baghdad.
• Allah – Arabic word for God. God alone is god. God is one and has no
partners or associates. He is creator and judge of the world.
• Battle of Karbala – battle in 680 in Karbala, Iraq between Yazid and
Muhammad’s grandson Hussein in which Husayn and several
Sahabah (Companions of Muhammad) were killed.
• Caliph – successor to Muhammad as autocratic leader of all Muslims.
• chador – outer garment that covers the head and upper body worn
by many Iranian women and female teenagers in public places. A
burka is like a chador but a burka also covers the face. A hijab is more
like a scarf but often in addition to her clothes also covers the
shoulders.
• Faqir – a Sufi ascetic in the Middle East and South Asia who wanders
around poor and spends time in meditation, singing and dancing.
• fatwa – legal opinion or interpretation of Sharia (Islamic law) given
by a mufti (interpreter of Sharia).
• Faqih – a religious legal scholar who has a deep understanding of
Islam, Sharia, and fiqh (jurisprudence).
• Fiqh – knowledge and study of Islamic law
• Five Pillars of Islam –
1. Shahadah: confession of faith: There is no god except God, and
Muhammad is God's Messenger
2. Salat: ritual prayer five times a day
3. Zakat: required charity to the poor and needy.
4. Sawm: fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca.
• hadith – reports about Muhammad said and did that comprise the
Sunnah.
• Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Hijra – flight or immigration from Mecca to Medina in 622 by
Muhammad and the Muhajirun (Muslims who followed Muhammad
from Mecca to Medina).
• Husayn – Muhammad’s grandson, son of Ali and Muhammad’s
daughter, Fatima. Husayn was killed in the battle of Karbala in 680.
• Imam – leader of a masjid and Muslim community who lead worship
and give religious guidance. Shiite Muslims call the supreme leaders
who descended from Muhammad as Imams. Muhammad’s cousin, Ali
ibn Abi Talib, is the fourth Caliph of Sunni but the first Imam of Shia.
• Ismailis – a branch of Shia Islam whose followers believe that Isma'il
ibn Jafar was appointed by Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq to be the next Imam.
Ismailis are also called “Seveners” in distinction to the Twelvers, who
believe Musa al-Kadhim, younger brother of Isma'il, was to be the
next true Imām.
• jihad – religious struggle sometimes interpreted as “holy war”.
• jinn – spiritual beings who often rebel against God. The leader of the
jinn is Iblis (Satan, Shaytan).
• Ka’aba – a cube shaped building in Mecca covered in black curtains.
The Ka’aba is the most shrine and prayer is directed toward it. It is
believed to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael.
• Mahdi – a messianic leader who will appear before the end of the
world to bring the entire world to Islam.
• masjid – place of worship (mosque).
• Mecca – birthplace of Muhammad and holy city of the Ka’aba
• mufti – expert in and interpreter of Sharia.
• Muslim – someone who submits to God.
• Muhammad – prophet of Islam who believed he received messages
from the angel Gabriel.
• Nation of Islam (NOI) – black nationalist religious movement started
by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad. Most of the followers of the Nation
of Islam were led into Sunni Islam by Warith Deen Mohammad son of
NOI leader Elijah Muhammad. Today the Nation of Islam is much
smaller and is led by Louis Farrakhan, a disciple of Malcolm X.
• Ramadan – ninth month of Muslim calendar. Muhammad received
the first of many revelations during Ramadan and taught that
Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan.
• Rashidun caliphs – the first four “rightly guided” Caliphs: Abu Bakr,
Umar ibn al-Khattāb, Uthman ibn Affan, and Ali ibn Abi Talib.
• Sahabah – Companions of Muhammad. Those who saw him, listened
to his teachings, and became Muslims during Muhammad’s lifetime.
• salat – prayer five times a day.
• sawm – fasting during the month of Ramadan.
• Shahada – confession of faith: There is no god except God, and
Muhammad is God's Messenger.
• Shi’a – Sect of Islam mostly in Iran who believe that Ali ibn Abi Talib
should have been the first Caliph. Shia and Sunni Muslims first
started fighting each other during the first fitna (civil war). This war
started in 656 with the Battle of the Camel in Basra, Iraq when forces
loyal to Aisha fought against Ali and then escalated in 657 when
forces loyal to Muawiyah I and fought Ali and his army at the Battle of
Siffin in Syria.
• sufi – mystics who attempt to experience God’s presence through
meditation, music, and dancing.
• Sunnah – the customs of the Muslims believed to be based on the
Hadith.
• Sunni – the largest branch of Muslims.
• tawhid – teaching about God’s unity and oneness.
• Ulama – pious Muslim scholars who believe Muslims should stay true
to the teaching so Muhammad. They repudiate modern innovations
and interpret Sharia by keeping to traditions.
• umma – Muslim community.
• Qu’ran – holy book of Islam
• zakat – required charity to the poor and needy.