Islam Quiz 3 Flashcards
(23 cards)
Shari’a
God’s “ordaining of the Way” or in Arabic “way to the watering hole.” In Islam, God’s teaching and legislation (the law of Islam)
Fiqh
Literally “understanding” but has come to mean Islamic jurisprudence (philosophy of law)
Sunna
The custom of the Prophet, known through the literary form of hadith, “report” of something Muhammad said or did
Hadith
“Report” of something the Prophet said or did
Caliph
“succesor, deputy” The title applied to the political leaders who succeded the Prophet
Rihla
“journey” Classical Arabic term of a quest, with connotations of a voyage undertaken for the sake of divine knowledge of Islam
Sahih
“sound” a singular narration conveyed by a trustworthy, completely competent person, either in his ability to memorize or to preserve what he wrote
Bukhari
Muhammad Ismail al-Bukhari: An important author of a sound collection of hadith in the 9th century
Imam
“Leader” of the salat-prayer service. Shi’ites revere them as exalted leaders
Isnad
The chain of transmitters supporting a hadith
Matn
The meaning or main story of a hadith
Fatwa
An Islamic legal opinion, rendered by a mufti, one expert in Islamic jurisprudence
Jahilliya
The “Age of ignorance” in pre-Islamic Arabia
Ayatollah
“Sign of God” a Shi’ite title of honor for the foremost religous scholars in contemporary Iran
Niyya
Right “intention” required before performing the salat and other rites
Wajib
Legally required
Mubah
“permissible” denoting an action as neither forbidden nor recommended, and so religiously neutral
Haram
“forbidden” That which has been definitively forbidden by God
ahl al-kitab
“people of the book” meaning the Jews and Christians from an Islamic perspective
Dimmi
a historical term referring to non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic state.
Jizya
A special tax exerted on “people of the dhimma” or non-muslims
Taqwa
Reverential fear of God
Fitra
Humankind’s original, sound state, as taught by the Qur’an
