Islam
110 flashcards by MentisLibrary
The Five Pillars, the Quran and hadith, the schools of law, and fourteen centuries of history from Mecca to the Mughals. A respectful, factual guide to what Muslims believe and practice.
- What does the word Islam mean?
- Submission or surrender, specifically submission to God. A Muslim is one who submits.
- The Five Pillars of Islam
- The declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting in Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
- The shahada
- The declaration that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
- Salah
- The five daily prayers, performed at set times facing Mecca after ritual washing.
- The five daily prayer times
- Fajr before dawn, Dhuhr after midday, Asr in the afternoon, Maghrib just after sunset, and Isha at night.
- Wudu
- The ritual washing of hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, and feet performed before prayer.
- Qibla
- The direction of prayer, toward the Kaaba in Mecca.
- Zakat
- The obligatory annual giving of a portion of one's accumulated wealth to those in need.
- Sadaqa
- Voluntary charity, given freely and at any amount, distinct from the obligatory zakat.
- Sawm
- Fasting, most importantly the daily fast from dawn to sunset throughout the month of Ramadan.
- Ramadan
- The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed with fasting, extra prayer, Quran recitation, and charity.
- Suhoor and iftar
- The predawn meal before the fast begins, and the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
- Who is exempt from fasting in Ramadan?
- Those for whom it would cause harm, including the ill, travelers, the elderly, and pregnant or nursing women, with makeup fasts or charitable compensation where applicable.
- Hajj
- The pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime of Muslims who are physically and financially able.
- Ihram
- The state of ritual consecration entered for pilgrimage, and the simple white garments worn by male pilgrims.
- Tawaf
- Circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise, a central rite of the pilgrimage.
- Sai
- Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, recalling Hagar's search for water for her son Ishmael.
- The standing at Arafat
- The gathering on the plain of Arafat on the ninth of Dhu al-Hijjah, regarded as the essential rite of the hajj.
- Umrah
- The lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, which may be performed at any time of year and does not fulfill the hajj obligation.
- The Kaaba
- The cube shaped structure at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, which Muslims face in prayer.
- The six articles of faith
- Belief in God, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree.
- Tawhid
- The oneness and absolute unity of God, the central doctrine of Islam.
- Shirk
- Associating partners with God, regarded in Islam as the gravest error in belief.
- Allah
- The Arabic word for God, used by Arabic speaking Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike.
- The ninety nine names of God
- A traditional set of descriptive names such as the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Just, and the Forgiving.
- Iman, islam, and ihsan
- Belief, submission, and excellence: an often cited framework describing inner faith, outward practice, and worshipping God as though you see Him.
- Angels in Islam
- Beings created from light who carry out God's commands, including Jibril, who is described as delivering revelation.
- Prophets in Islam
- Muslims hold that God sent messengers to every people, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, with Muhammad as the final one.
- The seal of the prophets
- The title given to Muhammad in the Quran, understood to mean that prophethood concludes with him.
- The Last Day in Islam
- Belief in a day of resurrection and judgment, when deeds are weighed and each person's destination is determined.