key terms

• Wudu (Ablution)

  Ritual washing before prayer
• Adalat (Justice)

  Belief in the fair nature of God in Shi'a Islam
• Adam

  One of Allah's prophets, father of mankind, built the Ka'aba
• Akhirah


  Belief in life after death
• Angels

  Spiritual beings created from elements of light, gave God's messages to prophets and watch over humans
• Arafat

  • Part of the Hajj pilgrimage, where Muhammed preached his last sermon and where pilgrims gather to pray
• Ashura

  • Important Shia festival to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (Muhammed'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, zakat, sawm and hajj
• Friday prayer/Jummah

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

  Giving to those in need, e.g. 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


  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 and 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
• Muzdalifah

  • Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims hold a night prayer and rest after the Stand on Mount Arafat