Allah: is the Arabic word for God and is the same word used by many Christian Arabs. Allah is the same God worshipped by Christians and Jews.
Ayatollah: means sign of God, the most senior Shia clerics.
Eid: means celebration or festival. There are two Eids – Eid al-Fitr (meaning the festival of breaking the fast), after Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha (meaning the festival of offering) after the pilgrimage.
Fatwa: a legal verdict or opinion.
Fiqh: refers to the application and details of Islamic law. It changes with time and place and is meant to bring ease and to relieve hardship.
Five pillars: the basic rituals of a Muslim – declaring that there is only one God (shahada), praying five times throughout the day (salat), paying charity to benefit the poor (zakat), fasting during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan (sawm) and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once (hajj).
Hadith: a narration attributed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Halal: means permitted or lawful. Often the word is used to describe food.
Haram: means forbidden.
Hijab: literally means 'barrier' and relates to the dress code for both men and women. The outer dress is meant to be a reflection of inner modesty. Sometimes (though incorrectly) used to refer to a head cover (see khimar).
Imam: refers to a leader, usually someone who leads the prayers in a mosque.
Iman: means faith or creed - Muslims believe in six essential ideas: in God, the angels, the books of revelation, the prophets, the day of judgement and destiny.
Islam: is an Arabic word meaning 'peace' as well as ‘living according to God’s will.
Jihad: means 'to exert ones utmost'. Muslims consider that the greatest Jihad is to struggle for inner growth in their daily lives. Islam does believe in a theory of Just War, and the word 'jihad' can also refer to the physical act of defending one's land.
Khimar: the head cover used by some Muslim women.
Mufti: someone who is academically qualified to issue a legal verdict (fatwa).
Mujahid: literally means someone who is engaged in 'jihad'.
Niqab: face cover (veil) used by some Muslim women.
Qur'an: means the recitation. The book which Muslims believe was revealed piecemeal to Muhammad.
Ramadan: the ninth month in the Muslim calendar, when adult, healthy Muslims fast during the daylight hours.
Shahid: literally means 'witness' – but refers to one who gives their life in pursuit of a just cause (martyr).
Sharia: literally means 'a pathway (to water)'. It is used to denote the system of law that Muslims follow (see fiqh).
Shaykh: a term of respect used when addressing a scholar or elderly man. Often used as a title for scholars.
Sunna: means way or path. Usually refers to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Umma: usually refers to the spiritual and emotional bond of brotherhood among Muslims across the world. The word can also mean 'community' when referring to those among whom one lives.
Umra: a lesser pilgrimage than the hajj. The hajj can only be performed at a particular time of the year. Umra can be performed at any time and is shorter.
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