April 16, 2024 · updated April 16, 2024

A.H.

(Latin anno hegirae, "After Hijira"). Western abbreviation for the Islamic dating of years, beginning with Muhammad's flight to Medina in 622 CE.

Abbasid

An Islamic dynasty established in 750, when it replaced the Umayyad caliphate. Originally based in Mesopotamia (the Abbasids founded Baghdad in 762), it remained dominant in the Islamic world until the mid-10th century.

adhan

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

Ahmadiyya

An Islamic religious movement founded in India in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (ca. 1839-1908). In 1914 the sect split into two very separate branches, the Qadiyani and Lahori..

Allah

(Arabic, "God"). The name of God in Islam. Allah is the same God revealed (imperfectly) in the Jewish and Christian Bibles.

Ashura

For Sunni Muslims, a minor holiday with voluntary fasting. For Shi'a Muslims, a major holiday commemorating the death of Hussein in 680 CE, with solemn mourning rituals.

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."

creation

In Christian thought, the bringing of the universe into existence out of nothing by God. ..

Eid

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

Eid Al-Adha

("Feast of the Sacrifice"). Islamic holiday marking the end of the hajj.

Eid Al-Fitr

("Feast of the Breaking of the Fast"). Holiday celebrated at the end of the month of Ramadan.

Expansion of Islam

within 12 years, entire Arabian peninsula; within 100 years, Muslim world stretched from the Atlantic to China

fasts

Occasions, usually religious, where the tone is solemn and activities are marked by abstaining from food and drink for all or most of the day or series of days.

Five Pillars of Islam

(Arabic Arkan al-Islam, "pillars of Islam" or Arkan ud-Din, "pillars of the faith"). Fulfillment of these duties brings rewards on earth and in the afterlife..

hajj

("pilgrimmage"). 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 CE, marking the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

ihram

White cloth wound around the body during the hajj.

jihad

("striving"). Holy war; the defense of Islam against its enemies. Sufism focuses on the "greater" jihad against sin in oneself.

jinn

(from junna, "to be mad, furious, possessed"; singular jinni or genie). 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.

Ka'ba

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

kafir

(kafara, "conceal; be ungrateful") One who does not believe in Allah, or in the content of the Qur'an, or in the prophetic status of Muhammad. Unbelief (kufr) is fundamental opposition to God and Islam, and is punished eternally in hell.

khatib

One who gives the khutbah (Friday sermon). The position is appointed by the government in most countries.

kiswa

Cloth that covers the Ka'ba shrine in Mecca.

minarets

Tall, slender towers of a mosque, from which the faithful are called to prayer.

minbars

Pulpits in mosques, having a small stand for the speaker, parapet, canopy, narrow stairs, and usually a gate at the foot of the stairs.

Muharram

First month in the Islamic calendar. Also a name for al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year.

Ottoman

Style and period associated with the reign of the Islamic dynasty that began to rule in Anatolia in 1281 until the promulgation of the Constitution of the Turkish Republic in 1924.

prayer

Reverent petition made to God or another deity.

qibla

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

Qur'an

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.

Ramadan

Religious season in Islam, the ninth month of the Islamic year, marking the time during which the Qu'ran was revealed to the Prophet.

sa'y

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

salat

(Arabic, "prayer") Ritual prayer performed five times per day facing the direction (qibla) of Mecca.

sawm

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

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.

Shari'a

Islamic law, both political and religious.

Shi'a

Minority sect of Islam, distinguished from the more popular Sunni branch. It emerged in early Islamic history as a political faction that supported the rule of Ali, son-in-law of Muhammad and fourth caliph of the Muslim community.

Sufism

Branch of Islam founded on the central tenet that divine love and knowledge can be attained through direct personal union with Allah.

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.

Sunni

Branch of Islam generally considered the more mainstream and traditionalist Islamic sect, constituting the majority of adherents to Islam.

surah

A chapter of the Qur'an.

tafsir

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

taqiya

concealing one's faith under threat of persecution

Umayyad

A period (660-730 CE) during which that the foundations of Islamic society and civilization are considered to have been established; it is named after an aristocratic family of Mecca that ruled the Islamic empire from Syria for over 90 years.

zakat

Almsgiving. One of the Five Pillars of Islam.