Definitions
A Muslim place of worship
What is a mosque?
Islam’s holiest city, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and of the faith itself
What is Mecca?
A non-Muslim citizen of an Islamic state
What is dhimmi?
One who believes in Islam and submits to the rulings of Islam
What is a Muslim?
The profession of faith--that "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God"
What is shahada?
A member of one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam that believes that Muhammad did not explicitly declare a successor
What is a Sunni?
Muhammad's son-in-law, believed by Shi'ites as the legitimate successor to Mohammad
Who is Ali?
A slender tower with balconies, especially on a mosque; used to call Muslims for prayer
What is a minaret?
Literally, "The God." According to Muslim belief, this is the true name of God, the Creator of the universe
Who is Allah?
Fasting, specifically during the month of Ramadan
What is sawm?
The person who leads prayers in a mosque
What is an imam?
The second holiest city in Islam, after Mecca; celebrated as the place from which Muhammad established the Muslim community after his flight from Mecca
What is Medina?
A holy struggle by a Muslim for a moral or political goal
What is jihad?
The sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina
What is the Quran?
A ritualistic prayer mandated to be prayed five times a day
What is salat?
The civil and religious leader of a Muslim state
What is a caliph?
The Arab prophet who, according to Islam, was the last messenger of Allah (570-632)
Who is Muhammad?
The code of religious law derived from the Quran
What is sharia law?
A single chapter of the Quran. The Quran is composed of 114 chapters.
What is surah?
A pilgrimage to Mecca that is a religious duty for Muslims
What is hajj?
A member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs
What is a Shi'ite?
The flight of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 which marked the beginning of the Muslim era; the Muslim calendar begins in that year
What is Hejira?
A head covering conventionally worn by many Muslim women
What is a hijab?
A cube-shaped structure in the city of Mecca to which all Muslims turn during their prayers
What is Kabah?
Purification of wealth by giving 2.5% in charity
What is zakat?