Five Faiths Project
ISLAM
Glossary
- Allah
- (Arab: lit. meaning “God”) the one and only true God among Muslims and other Arab-speaking monotheists. Muhammad’s view of Allah is found in the Qur’an: “Say: He is Allah, the One, Allah, the eternally besought of all, He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.” (Sura 112)
- Five Pillars of Islam
- the core requirements and expressions of Islam. These five are: the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.
- hadith
- a narrative, tradition, or report, generally short, which recounts what Muhammad said, did, approved or disapproved. Hadith may also include descriptions of Muhammad. Hadith refers not only to these, but also to the entire body of tradition preserved by Muslims. Hadith is a supplement and guide to the Qur’an.
- Islam
- (Arabic: lit. meaning: “surrender”) a religious polity based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. Islam is an ethnic religion offering a universal teaching through a particular and restricted group of people and language. Islam is considered to be one of the fastest growing faith traditions in America. Conversion to Islam begins with the heart-felt confession of the First Pillar of Faith, preferably in the presence of a devout Muslim.
- Kabah
- (Arabic: lit. meaning: “the cube”) the center of Islam. Considered to be located at the center of creation. The historical origins of the Kabah are unknown. It is thought to predate the life of Muhammad. In 630 CE, Muhammad cleansed the Kabah and restored it to its function as the house of Allah. The present Kabah was constructed in the seventeenth century. Previous to that, the Kabah has been damaged by fire and flood, as well as attacks by invaders, but each time it has been repaired or reconstructed. (refer to miniature painting on Islam Poster)
- Makkah/Mecca
- a city in west central Arabia, the birthplace of Muhammad, the religious center of the Islamic world. All Muslims face Makkah during the appointed times of prayer. In addition, Makkah is the pilgrimage site for Muslims. Muhammad journeyed to Makkah, reaffirming it as the religious center of the faith, several months before his death. (refer to miniature painting on Islam Poster and story #2 on CD)
- minaret
- a tower from which the faithful are summoned to prayer.
(refer to miniature paintings on Islam Poster and to Centers for Worship: The Mosque within text)
- Mosque
- (from Arabic: masjid, lit. meaning: “place of prostration”) The mosque is the gathering place of worship for Islam. In addition, it is the center of Muslim society. The mosque is always open for prayer and meditation, as well as for study. (Refer to Centers for Worship: The Mosque within the text.)
- Muslim
- (Arabic: lit. meaning: “one who surrenders”) a follower of the revelations given to the prophet Muhammad; one who adheres to the way of Islam. Muslims surrender to the teachings of the prophet and the writings of the Qur’an.
- Qur’an
- the sacred text of Islam. Written and preserved in Arabic and paraphrased and interpreted in other languages. Qur’an refers to the entire collection of revelations given to Muhammad as well as any single one of them. Divided into 114 Suras, or main divisions, which range in length from a little longer than two lines, to 710 lines of text. The Qur’an is a compilation of the words of Allah spoken to all mankind, or to Muhammad alone, or to believers or non-believers. Passages recorded in third person are generally preceded by the word: “Say!” as an imperative. For all Muslims, the Qur’an is the ultimate expression of Allah’s eternal word.
- Ramadan
- the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, a month long commemoration of the giving of the Qur’an. Ramadan is a month of communal and individual discipline. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and refrain from sexual intercourse. During this time Muslims renew their commitment to Allah, and cleanse their hearts through the discipline of fasting, prayer and study. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, the time of year in which Ramadan falls moves through the traditional western calendar, falling in each season over the course of many years. The month ends with the sighting of the new moon, and is celebrated with feasts and gift-giving.
- Shi’ites*
- a branch of Islam which maintains a direct line of political leaders all the way back to the prophet Muhammad. Primarily a distinction based on the lineage of the Caliph, or the political leader, Shi’ites are concerned with maintaining the political order which Muhammad founded. They are dedicated to forming and maintaining a society in full compliance to the teachings of the Qur’an.
- Sufism
- The name most often applied to Islamic mysticism. Its origins are obscure. Rumi, (1207-1273) a mystical poet of Islam, is widely regarded as a source of insight into this tradition. Educator’s note: There are many fine translations of the work of Rumi. Among them, The Illuminated Rumi, published by Broadway Books in 1997. This work is visually compelling, and many of the strategies employed in viewing art objects may be used in viewing this manuscript. It may also be used to suggest an art-application project in which students are assigned passages from the Qur’an, hadith or Rumi and asked to illuminate them using collage and calligraphy.
- Sunnis
- a branch of Islam which maintains that in instances where the Qur’an does not offer clear guidance, Muslims may turn to the practices of Muhammad while in Mecca, or to the hadith for applicable wisdom. This is in sharp contrast to the Shi’ites who turn to the political power of the Caliph to determine appropriate behavior.
- transcendence
- the experience of passing beyond human limitations, rising above and existing beyond the experience of the material universe.
- vigil
- a watch kept during the hours of normal sleep, ritual devotions observed on the eve of a holy day.
- Zamzam
- the sacred well located next to the Kabah in Mecca. Pilgrims drink from the well after they circle the Kabah. Many carry water away from the well in bottles and believe the water to have health-giving properties. (refer to Story #2 on Islam CD)
