Glossary of Islamic terms
11 June 2011
3 Comments
By Mark S. Luckie
Want to know the difference between hajj and halal? Here is a short glossary of some of the most commonly used words and phrases in Islamic religion and culture.
Allah
The Arabic word for “god.”
Hadith
A traditional account of things said or done by Muhammad recorded by his followers, commonly taught as a part of Islamic theology.
hajj
A pilgrimage made by Muslims to the city of Makkah (Mecca), the holiest city of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to to make a religious journey to Mecca if they are physically and financially able to do so. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.
halal
A term describing something that is lawful and permitted in Islam, according to Islamic law. Often used to described food or drink which is permitted for consumption under Islamic dietary laws.
imam
Person or religious leader who leads prayers in a mosque, a recognized authority on Islamic theology, or a person of authority within the community. For Shiite Muslims, an Imam (capitalized) denotes a descendant of Muhammad.
Islam
A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Muhammad as detailed in the Koran.
Koran
The central religious text of Islam believed to be the word of Allah revealed to Muhammad.
madrassah
The Arabic word for an educational institution for any kind of learning. Often used to refer to an Islamic religious school or a school with courses in Islamic theology and religious law.
mosque
A Muslim place of prayer for followers of Islam.
Muhammad
The Arab prophet and founder of Islam who, according to the religion, was the last messenger of Allah.
Muslim
A person who believes in or practices the Islam religion.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It commemorates the transmission of the Koran by the archangel Gabriel to Muhammad.
Salat
The Arabic word for prayer. Usually refers to the ritual prayer performed five times daily at specific times; the second pillar of Islam.
Sawm
An Arabic word for fasting; the act of total abstinence from food, liquids and sexual relationships from dawn to sunset, for one lunar month.
Shahada
The declaration of belief in the singularity of Allah and the prophethood of Mohammed; one of the five pillars of Islam.
Sharia
The laws of Islam derived from the Koran and from the teachings and example of Muhammad that regulate the spiritual and secular actions of Muslims.
Shia
The second largest denomination of Islam after Sunni Islam. Shia Muslims believe that the rightful successor to Muhammad after his death was his son-in-law Ali.
Sufi
A mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes self-denial as a means of communion with god.
sunnah
A collection of Muhammad’s words and deeds during his lifetime.
Sunni
The largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims believe the first four successors to Muhammad after his death were the rightful leaders and not his son-in-law Ali.
sura
One of the sections of the Koran, which are traditionally arranged in order of decreasing length. The Koran contains 114 suras.
tafsir
Interpretations of the Koran by Islamic scholars; the Arabic word for exegesis or commentary.
tawhid
The central Islamic doctrine that dictates there is no other god but Allah.
Zakat
The giving of alms or contributions to charity as an act of worship, usually about 2.5 percent of one’s annual wealth given mainly for the benefit of the poor and the needy. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Original post: Glossary of Islamic terms
hadiths or sunnah…..
Punishments by way of Hadd are of the following forms: death by stoning, amputation of a limb or limbs, flogging by one hundred or eighty strokes. They are prescribed respectively for the following offences: adultery committed by married persons, theft, highway robbery, drunkenness and slander imputing unchastity to women.
Book 017, Number 4191:
‘Ubada b. as-Samit reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Receive (teaching) from me, receive (teaching) from me. Allah has ordained a way for those (women). When an unmarried male commits adultery with an unmarried female (they should receive) one hundred lashes and banishment for one year. And in case of married male committing adultery with a married female, they shall receive one hundred lashes and be stoned to death.
Book 017, Number 4196:
Abu Huraira reported that a person from amongst the Muslims came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) while he was in the mosque. He called him saying: Allah’s Messenger. I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away from him, He (again) came round facing him and said to him: Allah’s Messenger, I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away until he did that four times, and as he testified four times against his own self, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) called him and said: Are you mad? He said: No. He (again) said: Are you married? He said: Yes. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Take him and stone him. Ibn Shihab (one of the narrators) said: One who had heard Jabir b. ‘Abdullah saying this informed me thus: I was one of those who stoned him. We stoned him at the place of prayer (either that of ‘Id or a funeral). When the stones hurt him, he ran away. We caught him in the Harra and stoned him (to death). This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters.
the religion of peace? allah and his prophet are truely merciful???
13 June 2011 at 11:18 pm