Posted on 09/20/2001 10:42:19 AM PDT by SLB
- The current terrorist crisis is prompting many Americans to learn more about Islamic culture with its rich and complex social and religious traditions. Here are some key Muslim terms and phrases.
This glossary is based on "Introducing Islam to Non-Muslims" by Hussein Khalid Al-Hussein and Ahmad Hussein Sakr. There are variant spellings for most of these terms:
Allah -The Islamic word for God. Muslims worship the God of Abraham as described in the Book of Genesis and believe they are descended from this patriarch. Islam teaches that Allah is the only God and creator of the universe. Muslims usually offer praises when they speak Allah's name, such as "the merciful, beneficent, wise, the loving God."
Allahu akbar - This is probably the most commonly spoken phrase in the world. Meaning "God is great," most Muslims will say this many times each day, during their frequent prayers, when they express approval and when they are happy.
Al-Qaeda - A phrase meaning "the base," a name given to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. He almost certainly does not use this term himself.
Amir - A leader or commander.
Asr - The obligatory salah, or prayer, said in the afternoon.
Barakallah - When a Muslim expresses thanks, he or she will say this, which means "may the blessings of Allah" be upon you.
Fajr - The obligatory salah, or prayer, said at dawn.
Fatwa - A legal opinion concerning Islamic law.
Fitnah - Civil strife, war, riots.
Ghazi - A Muslim soldier or warrior.
Hajj - One of the five pillars of Islam. It's a holy pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, which every follower is expected to accomplish.
Halal - Something that is lawful and permitted in Islam.
Haraam - The opposite of "halal," it defines something that is unlawful or forbidden under Islam. Several prominent Muslim religious scholars throughout the Middle East have declared the suicide attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to be "haraam" under tenants of their faith.
Hudud - The limits ordained by Allah, including punishment for crimes.
Imam - Anyone who leads congregational prayer, but is not considered infallible. As a religious leader, an Imam (also called an "Amir" or a "Caliph") can be a community and political leader.
Injil - The revelations of Allah transmitted through the Prophet Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus of Nazareth who is revered as one of God's prophets but who is neither worshipped nor considered divine. The term can also be used to describe the books of the Christian New Testament.
Islam - The Arabic word for peace, purity, acceptance and commitment. The word came to summarize Arab feeling for its monotheistic faith. Muslims consider the Western word "Mohammedanism" to be a vulgar, perhaps blasphemous, term since it wrongly suggests deification of their great prophet.
Issha - The obligatory salah, or prayer, said in the evening.
Jihad - A complex concept that most Muslim scholars say is improperly translated by Westerners as "holy war." It is more properly described as a defensive conflict, especially against an unjust regime that represses Islam. Under the faith, warriors are expressly forbidden to harm women, children, the elderly, civilians in general, and spiritual leaders like priests or rabbis.
Ka'bah - The cubical structure in Mecca revered by Muslims as mankind's first house of worship built by Adam and reconstructed first by Abraham and then his son, Ishmael. It is toward this building that every Muslims faces during the five daily prayers.
Koran - The holy book of revelations given by Allah to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
La ilaha illallah - The most important expression in Islam, and part of the first pillar of faith: "There is no lord worthy of worship except Allah."
Maghrib - The obligatory salah, or prayer, said immediately after sunset.
Mu-adhin - A person who calls for the five daily prayers.
Muhammad - The great prophet born in Mecca in 570. He brought a monotheistic faith and political unity to the diverse, pagan tribes of the Arab world. Muhammad is revered as God's final prophet who defined Islam, the last, true religion to be practiced on earth until God brings the Day of Judgment.
Ramadan - The holy month of fasting. It was during this month that the revelation of the Koran began.
Rasul - A messenger of God.
Salah - One of the five pillars of Islam, "salah" is the Arabic word meaning spiritual relationship and communication between God and his creation. Prayers are said five times a day.
Shahadah - One of the five pillars of Islam. A declaration of faith when a person converts to Islam. The convert must say: "I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."
Shari'ah - The canonical laws of Islam.
Sawn - One of the five pillars of Islam, all Muslims must fast from first light until sundown during the holy month of Ramadan, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations.
Sujud - The required position a believer must prostrate himself or herself when making one of the five daily prayers of salah. The worshiper must make certain that the forehead, nose, hands, knees and toes are all touching the floor.
Zakah - One of the five pillars of Islam, this is the act of purification and the giving of alms or charitable contributions to the poor.
Zuhr - The obligatory salah, or prayer, said at noon.
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