Islam keywords

• Ablution (wudu)


  Ritual washing before prayer
• Adalat/justice


  Part of the nature of God in Shi'a Islam; the belief that God is fair
• Adam


  One of the prophets of Allah. The father of humankind; built the Ka'aba
• Akhirah (life after death)


  Belief in a new stage of life after death
• Angels


  They are spiritual beings created from elements of light. They gave God's messages to the prophets and watch over humans
• Arafat


  Part of the Hajj pilgrimage. Place where Prophet Muhammad preached his last sermon and pilgrims gather to pray
• Ashura


  Important festival in Shi'a Islam, to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (Muhammad's grandson). Sunni Muslims observe Ashura as a day of repentance for sins in the belief that they will be forgiven
• Authority


  Having power and status. The Qur'an has supreme authority as the word of Allah, this means it must be believed and obeyed
• Beneficence


  Literally 'doing good'. One of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah and belief about his nature, the generosity that Allah shows to humans
• Day of Judgement


  The day when Allah will decide about individual deeds and on reward or punishment
• Fairness


  Belief about the nature of God; refers to Allah's justice. He treats all humans equally and as they deserve
• Fasting


  Not eating or drinking; one of the Five Pillars is Sawm during Ramadan
• The Five Pillars

  • Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm and hajj
• The five roots of Usul ad-Din


  • Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Adalat (justice), prophethood, imamate, resurrection
• Friday prayer/Jummah


  Friday prayers in the mosque, where a sermon (khutbah) is heard
• Giving alms


  Giving alms means giving to those in need, eg money, food, time. A key practice in Islam; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts (Zakah)
• The Gospel


  Holy book /source of authority ; literally 'good news' and it is the good news about Isa (Jesus), who was a prophet of Islam
• Greater jihad


  The personal struggle of every Muslim to live by the teachings of their faith
• Hajj


  One of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts; pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives, unless prevented by problems over wealth or health
• Heaven


  Referred to as Paradise; Allah's reward after death to those who have been faithful to him and who have repented of their sins
• Hell


  It is a place of great suffering after death for those who have rejected the Qur'an's teachings and have led a wicked life. For some it will last forever
• Human accountability


  The belief that everyone must take responsibility for their actions and will be questioned about them on the Day of Judgement
• Human freedom


  Humans have control over their thoughts, feelings and actions
• Human responsibility


  Humans are responsible for most of what they do because they have free will and so will be accountable on the Day of Judgement
• Ibrahim


  One of the prophets of Allah. He rebuilt the Ka'aba
• Id-ul-Adha


  Festival; celebration of the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah
• Id-ul-Fitr


  Festival; celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan and marks the end of fasting
• The imamate


  One of the Five Roots of Usul-ad-Din, 'Leadership.' Shia belief in the twelve imams who succeeded Muhammad as the leaders of Islam
• Immanence


  The belief that God is close to humanity ad involved in the world
• Jibril


  Angel who dictated the Qur'an to Muhammad; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person's deeds
• Jihad


  'To struggle'. The personal or collective struggle against evil
• The Ka'aba


  Part of the Hajj pilgrimage; cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All Muslims face towards it when they pray
• Khums


  One of the Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi'a Islam; practice of alms giving
• Lesser jihad


  This refers to the military struggle to defend Islam. It is carried out according to strict and clear cut rules
• Makkah


  Place of pilgrimage during Hajj; the spiritual centre of Islam
• Mercy


  Belief about the nature of God and one of Allah's 99 Beautiful Names; God's willingness to forgive the sins of those who repent
• Mika'il


  Angel who gives spiritual and material help to humans; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person's deeds
• Mina


  Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims take part in the stoning of pillars
• Mosque


  Muslim place of worship
• Movements (rak'ahs)


  Actions and ritual movements made during salah (prayer) consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration