Glossary of Common Terms in Islam
There are 53 entries in this glossary.| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| shahada |
The Muslim declaration of the belief in one God and the acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet. |
| Shari'a |
Guidelines or laws comprised of the the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and the books of jurisprudence. Literally "the road to the watering place," or "the clear path to be followed." |
| sheikh |
An elder or scholar. |
| Shi‘a |
Muslims who follow the line of succession after Muhammad’s death through his son-in-law and cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib. |
| suhur |
The early morning meal during Ramadan. |
| sunnah |
The body of Islamic custom and practice based on Muhammad’s words and deeds as recorded in the Qur’an and hadith collections. |
| Sunni |
Muslims who follow the line of succession after Muhammad’s death through the process of consensus of the companions of Muhammad. The first Sunni caliph was Abu Bakr, a close companion and father-in-law of the Prophet. |
| sunnitajweed |
The art of proper pronunciation of Arabic recitation of the Qur’an. |
| surah |
The Qu'ran is divided into 114 chapters, or surahs. |
