Test 4, Islam Flashcards
(20 cards)
Qu’ran
The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
Meaning - recitations
Arabic
The language of the Qur’an and the sacred language of Islam.
Allah
The Arabic word for God.
Muhammad
The final prophet in Islam, who received the revelation of the Qur’an.
Five Pillars
The five core practices in Islam — Shahada (faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
Ramadan
The holy month of fasting from dawn to sunset, commemorating the first revelation of the Qur’an.
Hijrah
Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE; marks the start of the Islamic calendar.
Hajj
The pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims must attempt at least once if able.
Jihad
Means “struggle”; can refer to the inner spiritual struggle or a just war in defense of Islam.
Mosque
A place of worship for Muslims.
Mecca
The holiest city in Islam, birthplace of Muhammad and site of the Kaaba.
Medina
The city where Muhammad and his followers fled during the Hijrah; a sacred city in Islam.
Kaaba
The cube-shaped shrine in Mecca, considered the most sacred site in Islam.
Shi’a
A branch of Islam that believes leadership should have stayed within Muhammad’s family, beginning with Ali.
Sunni
The largest branch of Islam, which believes in elected leadership (caliphs) after Muhammad.
Abu Bakr
The first caliph and close companion of Muhammad; accepted by Sunnis as rightful leader after Muhammad.
Ali
Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; regarded by Shi’a Muslims as the rightful first caliph.
Revelation
The act of God revealing divine truth to prophets; in Islam, this refers especially to the messages given by Allah to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, which make up the Qur’an.
Recitation
The oral delivery of the Qur’an, which is central to Islamic practice; the word Qur’an itself means “recitation” in Arabic. Muslims believe the Qur’an was revealed to be spoken aloud, with rhythm and reverence.
Islam
surrender
