Glossary of Islamic terms - The Washington Post

Glossary of Islamic terms · Allah. The Arabic word for “god.” Hadith · Islam. A monotheistic religion based on the teachings of Muhammad as ... AccessibilityforscreenreaderSkiptomaincontentD.C.,Md.&Va.TheDistrictMarylandVirginiaLocalCrime&PublicSafetyLocalEducationObituariesLocalTransportationWeatherPoliticsGlossaryofIslamictermsByMarkS.LuckieJune11,2011Wanttoknowthedifferencebetweenhajjandhalal?HereisashortglossaryofsomeofthemostcommonlyusedwordsandphrasesinIslamicreligionandculture.AllahTheArabicwordfor“god.”HadithAtraditionalaccountofthingssaidordonebyMuhammadrecordedbyhisfollowers,commonlytaughtasapartofIslamictheology.hajjApilgrimagemadebyMuslimstothecityofMakkah(Mecca),theholiestcityofIslam.EveryMuslimisexpectedtotomakeareligiousjourneytoMeccaiftheyarephysicallyandfinanciallyabletodoso.HajjisoneofthefivepillarsofIslam.halalAtermdescribingsomethingthatislawfulandpermittedinIslam,accordingtoIslamiclaw.OftenusedtodescribedfoodordrinkwhichispermittedforconsumptionunderIslamicdietarylaws.imamPersonorreligiousleaderwholeadsprayersinamosque,arecognizedauthorityonIslamictheology,orapersonofauthoritywithinthecommunity.ForShiiteMuslims,anImam(capitalized)denotesadescendantofMuhammad.IslamAmonotheisticreligionbasedontheteachingsofMuhammadasdetailedintheKoran.KoranThecentralreligioustextofIslambelievedtobethewordofAllahrevealedtoMuhammad.madrassahTheArabicwordforaneducationalinstitutionforanykindoflearning.OftenusedtorefertoanIslamicreligiousschooloraschoolwithcoursesinIslamictheologyandreligiouslaw.mosqueAMuslimplaceofprayerforfollowersofIslam.MuhammadTheArabprophetandfounderofIslamwho,accordingtothereligion,wasthelastmessengerofAllah.MuslimApersonwhobelievesinorpracticestheIslamreligion.RamadanTheninthmonthoftheIslamiccalendar,duringwhichMuslimsfastfromsunrisetosunset.ItcommemoratesthetransmissionoftheKoranbythearchangelGabrieltoMuhammad.SalatTheArabicwordforprayer.Usuallyreferstotheritualprayerperformedfivetimesdailyatspecifictimes;thesecondpillarofIslam.SawmAnArabicwordforfasting;theactoftotalabstinencefromfood,liquidsandsexualrelationshipsfromdawntosunset,foronelunarmonth.ShahadaThedeclarationofbeliefinthesingularityofAllahandtheprophethoodofMohammed;oneofthefivepillarsofIslam.ShariaThelawsofIslamderivedfromtheKoranandfromtheteachingsandexampleofMuhammadthatregulatethespiritualandsecularactionsofMuslims.ShiaThesecondlargestdenominationofIslamafterSunniIslam.ShiaMuslimsbelievethattherightfulsuccessortoMuhammadafterhisdeathwashisson-in-lawAli.SufiAmysticalbranchofIslamthatemphasizesself-denialasameansofcommunionwithgod.sunnahAcollectionofMuhammad’swordsanddeedsduringhislifetime.SunniThelargestbranchofIslam.SunniMuslimsbelievethefirstfoursuccessorstoMuhammadafterhisdeathweretherightfulleadersandnothisson-in-lawAli.suraOneofthesectionsoftheKoran,whicharetraditionallyarrangedinorderofdecreasinglength.TheKorancontains114suras.tafsirInterpretationsoftheKoranbyIslamicscholars;theArabicwordforexegesisorcommentary.tawhidThecentralIslamicdoctrinethatdictatesthereisnoothergodbutAllah.ZakatThegivingofalmsorcontributionstocharityasanactofworship,usuallyabout2.5percentofone’sannualwealthgivenmainlyforthebenefitofthepoorandtheneedy.OneofthefivepillarsofIslam.WeareaparticipantintheAmazonServicesLLCAssociatesProgram,anaffiliateadvertisingprogramdesignedtoprovideameansforustoearnfeesbylinkingtoAmazon.comandaffiliatedsites.SubscribersigninWenoticedyou’reblockingads!Keepsupportinggreatjournalismbyturningoffyouradblocker.Orpurchaseasubscriptionforunlimitedaccesstorealnewsyoucancounton.Try1monthfor$1UnblockadsQuestionsaboutwhyyouareseeingthis?Contactus