Islamic Terms and Concepts: A Comprehensive Glossary, Quizzes of World Religions

Download Islamic Terms and Concepts: A Comprehensive Glossary and more Quizzes World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 caliph DEFINITION 1 From the Arabic khalifah ("one who represents or acts on behalf of another"); the prophet's successor as the head of the Muslim community; the position became institutionalized in the form of the caliphate, which lasted from 632 to 1924 TERM 2 dhikr DEFINITION 2 "Remembering" God's name; chanted in Sufi devotional exercises, sometimes while devotees dance in a circle TERM 3 dhimmis DEFINITION 3 "Protected people": non-Muslim religious minorities (specifically Jews and Christians, as "People of the Book") accorded tolerated status in Islamic society TERM 4 faqir DEFINITION 4 A Sufi ascetic, from the Arabic word for "poor"; the corresponding Persian word is darvish TERM 5 Fatihah DEFINITION 5 The short opening surah of the Qur'an, recited at least 17 times every day TERM 6 fatwa DEFINITION 6 A ruling issued by a traditional religio-legal authority TERM 7 fiqh DEFINITION 7 Jurisprudence, or the theoretical principles underpinning the specific regulations contained in the shari'ah TERM 8 hadith DEFINITION 8 The body of texts reporting Muhammad's words and example, taken by Muslims as a foundation for conduct and doctrine; a hadith is an individual unit of the literature TERM 9 hajj DEFINITION 9 The annual pilgrimage to Mecca TERM 10 halal DEFINITION 10 Ritually acceptable; most often used in the context of slaughter of animals for meat; also refers generally to Muslim dietary regulations TERM 21 jihad DEFINITION 21 Struggle in defense of the faith; some are military, waged in response to threats to the community's security or welfare; others are spiritual, waged to improve moral conduct in society TERM 22 jinn DEFINITION 22 Spirits or demons TERM 23 kufr DEFINITION 23 Rejecting belief; implies lack of gratitude for God's grace TERM 24 Mahdi DEFINITION 24 The Shi'i twelfth imam, understood in his role as the "rightly guided one" who will emerge from hiding at some unspecified future date to restore righteousness and order to the world TERM 25 mi'raj DEFINITION 25 The Prophet's miraculous journey to heaven TERM 26 mu'adhdhin DEFINITION 26 The person who calls people to prayer TERM 27 qiblah DEFINITION 27 The direction of prayer, marked in mosques by a niche inside the wall nearest Mecca TERM 28 Ramadan DEFINITION 28 The month throughout which Muslims fast during daylight hours TERM 29 sadaqah DEFINITION 29 Alms given voluntarily, in addition to the required zakat TERM 30 salat DEFINITION 30 The prescribed daily prayers, said five times during the day TERM 31 shahadah DEFINITION 31 The Muslim profession of faith in God as the only god, and in Muhammad as God's prophet TERM 32 shari'ah DEFINITION 32 The specific regulations of Islamic law TERM 33 shaykh DEFINITION 33 The Arabic term for a senior master, especially in the context of Sufism TERM 34 Shi'is DEFINITION 34 Muslims who trace succession to the Prophet's authority through imams in the lineages of 'Ali; the smaller of the two main divisions of Islam, accounting for about one-sixth of all Muslims today TERM 35 sunnah DEFINITION 35 The "life-example" of Muhammad's words and deeds, based mainly on the Hadith literature; the primary source of guidance for Muslims