Glossary


Adha:  The call to prayer performed by the muezzin before each of the five daily times of prayer (salat).

A.H.:  (anno hegirae, "After Hijira"). Islamic dating of years, beginning with Muhammad's flight to Medina in 622 AD.

Allah: ("God"). The one true God.

basmala: The Bismi'llah saying, "in the Name of Allah," that invokes a blessing upon an action or undertaking of a Muslim. The full form is bismillahi (ar-)rahmani (ar-)rahim, "in the Name of Allah the merciful the compassionate."

caliph: See " khalif" below.

Five Pillars: (Arabic Arkan al-Islam, "pillars of Islam" or Arkan ud-Din, "pillars of the faith"). The five primary duties of every Muslim: profession of faith (shahada), ritual prayer (salat), fasting during Ramadan (sawm), pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) and charity (zakat). Fulfillment of these duties brings rewards on earth and in the afterlife.

hajj: ("pilgrimage"). Pilgrimage to Mecca required of every able Muslim at least once during his or her life. One of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Hijira: The Prophet's flight to Medina in 622 AD, marking the beginning of the Muslim calendar..

'id: (from Aramaic/Syriac, "festival"). Holiday or festival, of which there are two major ones: 'Id al-Adha and 'Id al-Fitr.

'Id al-Adha: ("Feast of the Sacrifice"). Holiday marking the end of the hajj.

'Id al-Fitr: ("Feast of the Breaking of the Fast"). Holiday celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan.

ihram: White cloth wound around the body during the hajj.

Ishmael: Son of Jewish patriarch Abraham and the maidservant Hagar (Genesis 16). According to both Jewish and Islamic tradition, he is the ancestor of the Arabs.

Islam: ("to surrender"). To surrender to the will of God; the name of the religion founded by Muhammad.

jihad: ("striving"). Holy war; the defense of Islam against its enemies. Sufism focuses on the "greater" jihad against sin in oneself. The term is more commonly used in reference to war unto total destruction of against all non Moslems.

jinn: (from junna, "to be mad, furious, possessed"; singular jinni or genie). Imaginary shape-shifting fiery spirits, especially associated with the desert. Belief in jinn predates Islam, where they were widely believed to be the inspiration of poets and seers. In Islam, they are spiritual beings inferior to angels and devils who will face salvation or damnation along with humans.

jizya: Tax imposed on "People of the Book" living under Muslim rule.

Ka'ba: Cube-shaped monument in Mecca containing a sacred black stone. All Muslim prayer faces the direction (qibla) of the Ka'ba.

khalif: ("deputy, successor"). A political leader of the Muslim community. The most important of these were the four "Rightly-Guided Caliphs" who ruled after the death of Muhammad.

khatib: One who gives the khutbah. The position is appointed by the government in most countries.

khutbah: Sermon delivered on Fridays and special occasions.

kiswa: Cloth that covers the Ka'ba shrine in Mecca.

Muharram: First month in the Islamic calendar. Also the name for al-Hijra, the Islamic new year.

People of the Book: In referring to the Old and New Testaments, Muhammad's designation for Jews and Christians, and sometimes Zoroastrians and Hindus. Because their religions featured scriptures and some aspect of divine revelation, they were not required to convert. However, they were required to pay a special tax (the jiza) for the privilege.

qibla: ("direction"). Direction of the Ka'ba in Mecca, towards which all prayer must face.

Qur'an: ("recitation). The sacred text of Islam, revealed to Muhammad over a 20-year period by the Angel Gabriel.

qurra': ("reciters"). Professional reciters of the Qur'an, who usually have memorized the text. In early Islamic history, qurra' were called upon to elucidate unclear passages in the written text, often resulting in various schools of interpretation among qurra.

Ramadan: The ninth month in the Islamic calendar, for the duration of which Muslims fast during the daylight hours to commemorate the giving of the Qur'an.

salat: ("prayer") Ritual prayer performed five times per day facing the direction (gibla) of Mecca. One of the Five Pillars of Islam.

sawm: ("fasting," also spelled siyam). Religious fasting, especially during the month of Ramadan, which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

sa'y: Ritual of running seven times between two low hills in Mecca during the hajj, representing Hagar's search for water.

shahada: ("testimony" or "witness"). The profession of faith that "There is no god but God and Muhammad is the prophet of God," which is the only requirement for joining the Muslim community. As one of the Five Pillars of Mecca, it must be spoken aloud with full understanding and faith at least once in one's lifetime. It is also included in the call to prayer, most ritual prayers, and is recited at death..

Shari'a: Islamic law, both political and religious.

Sunnah: ("Tradition"). Record of the words and deeds of the Prophet. While not the Word of God on a level with the Qur'an, the Sunnah is regarded as inspired and authoritative..

Sunnis: ("Traditionalists")

surah: A chapter of the Qur'an.

tafsir: Branch of Islamic learning devoted to Qur'anic exegesis (interpretation).

zakat: Almsgiving (one of the Five Pillars of Islam).