Islam Vocabulary
Here are a couple of terms that you might find useful when discussing Islam:
Adhan- the call to prayer
Muezzin- the one who calls people to daily prayers
Allahu Akbar- God is Great.
Ahl al-Kitah- People of the book. These are people who Muslims believe received previous revelations from their God before the Prophet Mohammad. They includes Jews and Christians.
Caliph- successor. For instance after Mohammad died, the next line of new leaders of the Muslim community were called Caliphs.
Fatwa- a religious opinion about Islamic law given by an Islamic scholar. It is not infallible and doesn’t even really apply unless accepted by the community.
Hadith- a collection of actions, speeches, ect of Mohammad’s life, which Muslims use to help live their own lives and to interpret laws or situations which aren’t addressed in the Koran.
Hajj- a pilgrimage, mostly used to refer to a pilgrimage to Mecca which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
Halal- something that is okay in Islam.
Haram- something bad or restricted.
Hijah- a barrier, usually used to refer to the veil worn by Muslim women.
Imam- a leader of prayers, usually a very well educated Muslim man.
Jihad- an effort on behalf of God. The greater form of jihad is war against one’s own sinful nature. Lesser jihad is participating in a war to defend the Muslim community.
Kabah Shrine- the holiest place in Islam. A box like structure that is supposed to have been built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham. It houses a black stone that this though to be a meteor.
Mujahid- one who takes up the cause of jihad.
Qur’an/Koran- the message of God as transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe the same message has been transmitted through other prophets throughout time and that every nation has a prophet.
Ramadan- the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which Muslims fast throughout from sunrise to sunset.
Salat- daily prayers.
Sawm- Fasting
Sharia- “path”, the path Muslims follow to lead a good life. It is also used to refer to declarations of what is right and wrong through interpretation of:
1. The Koran
2. The Sunna
3. analogy to established laws
4. the consensus of Muslims, especially the ulama or learned persons.
Shiites- a group of Muslims who believe Ali should have been the first Caliph (see the section on this under “Frequently asked questions”
Sunnis- Muslims who agree with the appointment of the first Caliph and are followers of Mohammad. (see under “Frequently asked questions” Page)
Shirk- making something equal to God that isn’t, which is considered a huge sin.
Sunna- the words and examples of Mohammad. Collected in the Hadith.
Umma- community. Muslims believe we were all intended to be one umma under God.
Zakat- Charity
Adhan- the call to prayer
Muezzin- the one who calls people to daily prayers
Allahu Akbar- God is Great.
Ahl al-Kitah- People of the book. These are people who Muslims believe received previous revelations from their God before the Prophet Mohammad. They includes Jews and Christians.
Caliph- successor. For instance after Mohammad died, the next line of new leaders of the Muslim community were called Caliphs.
Fatwa- a religious opinion about Islamic law given by an Islamic scholar. It is not infallible and doesn’t even really apply unless accepted by the community.
Hadith- a collection of actions, speeches, ect of Mohammad’s life, which Muslims use to help live their own lives and to interpret laws or situations which aren’t addressed in the Koran.
Hajj- a pilgrimage, mostly used to refer to a pilgrimage to Mecca which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.
Halal- something that is okay in Islam.
Haram- something bad or restricted.
Hijah- a barrier, usually used to refer to the veil worn by Muslim women.
Imam- a leader of prayers, usually a very well educated Muslim man.
Jihad- an effort on behalf of God. The greater form of jihad is war against one’s own sinful nature. Lesser jihad is participating in a war to defend the Muslim community.
Kabah Shrine- the holiest place in Islam. A box like structure that is supposed to have been built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham. It houses a black stone that this though to be a meteor.
Mujahid- one who takes up the cause of jihad.
Qur’an/Koran- the message of God as transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe the same message has been transmitted through other prophets throughout time and that every nation has a prophet.
Ramadan- the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, which Muslims fast throughout from sunrise to sunset.
Salat- daily prayers.
Sawm- Fasting
Sharia- “path”, the path Muslims follow to lead a good life. It is also used to refer to declarations of what is right and wrong through interpretation of:
1. The Koran
2. The Sunna
3. analogy to established laws
4. the consensus of Muslims, especially the ulama or learned persons.
Shiites- a group of Muslims who believe Ali should have been the first Caliph (see the section on this under “Frequently asked questions”
Sunnis- Muslims who agree with the appointment of the first Caliph and are followers of Mohammad. (see under “Frequently asked questions” Page)
Shirk- making something equal to God that isn’t, which is considered a huge sin.
Sunna- the words and examples of Mohammad. Collected in the Hadith.
Umma- community. Muslims believe we were all intended to be one umma under God.
Zakat- Charity