Subject specific vocabulary: Islam
This subject specific vocabulary defines the key terms in our A-level Religious Studies (7062) specification. Your students should be familiar with all these terms.
Abrahamic faiths
Usually refers to Islam, Judaism and Christianity as these three faiths all believe in the revelation of God to the prophet Abraham, and see him as a forefather. ‘Non-Abrahamic faiths’ are other religions and traditions who do not share this belief, e.g. Hinduism.
Akhirah (afterlife)
Belief in a new stage of life after death.
Al-Qadr
Literally ‘divine power;’ refers to the belief in divine destiny/control, predestination.
Anthropomorphic
Descriptions of God which use human characteristics.
Ashura
Important festival in Shi’a Islam, to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson). Sunni Muslims observe Ashura as a day of repentance for sins in the belief that they will be forgiven.
Atheism
A disbelief, or lack of belief, in the existence of any form of God.
Authority
Having power and status. The Qur’an has supreme authority as the word of Allah, this means it must be believed and obeyed.
Bada
Shia Muslim belief in ‘revealing after concealing’ of the divine will; this does not mean the divine will changes but rather human knowledge of the will is changed from what we thought we knew/perceived of it.
Barzakh
From the Persian meaning ‘barrier, partition;’ belief in a place between heaven and hell, where the soul resides after death.
Big Bang theory
A scientific theory which offers an explanation for the origin of the universe. Suggests the universe began from a rapid expansion of a singularity, approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
Compassion (‘The Compassionate’)
Belief about the nature of God and one of Allah’s 99 Beautiful Names; compassion means to have and act with sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.
Darwin’s theory of evolution
The Theory of Evolution is English naturalist Charles Darwin’s explanation for the origin of life on Earth. He proposed that modern species evolved from simpler life forms.
Democracy/democratic process
System of government where citizens elect the leader by a free vote, therefore the overall power resides with ‘the people’ / majority.
Duty
Having a responsibility or obligation to act in a certain way.
Exclusivism
Exclusivism is the belief that a faith is the only way to God; for example, belief Islam is the only true faith.
Immigration
The action of people settling permanently to live in another country.
Inclusivism
Belief that there is value and truth in many or all religions, not just Islam.
Judgement
The day when Allah will decide about individual deeds and on reward or punishment.
The Five Pillars
Important duties for Muslims which support the main principles of Islam. Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm and hajj.
Jummah
Communal Friday prayers in the mosque.
Greater jihad
The personal struggle of every Muslim to live by the teachings of their faith.
Hajj
One of the Five Pillars; pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims must undertake at least once in their lives, unless prevented by problems over wealth or health.
Heaven
Referred to as Paradise; Allah’s reward after death to those who have been faithful to him and who have repented of their sins.
Hell
It is a place of great suffering after death for those who have rejected the Qur’an’s teachings and have led a wicked life. For some it will last forever.
Human freedom
Humans have control over their thoughts, feelings and actions.
Human responsibility
Humans are responsible for most of what they do because they have free will and so will be accountable on the Day of Judgement.
Imam
One of the Five Roots of Usul-ad-Din in Shi’a Islam. Belief in the twelve imams who succeeded Muhammad as the leaders of Islam.
Jihad
'To struggle’. The personal or collective struggle against evil.
Khatam an-Nabiyyin (seal of the Prophets)
Refers to the belief that Muhammad as ‘seal of the Prophets’ is the final prophet of Allah.
Lesser jihad
This refers to the military struggle to defend Islam. It is carried out according to strict and clear cut rules.
Mercy (‘The Merciful’)
Belief about the nature of God and one of Allah’s 99 Beautiful Names; God’s willingness to forgive the sins of those who repent.
Migration
The movement of people from one country to another with the intention of settling or relocating long-term.
Mosque
Muslim place of worship.
Muhammad
The last and greatest of the prophets. He received the Qur’an and his Sunnah and Hadiths are also important sources of authority.
Omnipotent
All-powerful; belief about the nature of God and one of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah.
Pluralism
The existence of many belief systems within one society. Can also refer to the belief that all religions describe and worship the same God, usually linked to Inclusivism.
The Qur’an
Holy Book and most important source of authority in Islam. It was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and is the final revelation of God to humankind.
Resurrection
Belief that after death, all people will be raised from the dead to face judgement.
Revelation
When God is revealed to humans; belief that Allah shows his nature and will through the words of the Qur’an.
Salah
Prayer; one of the Five Pillars.
Sawm
Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan; one of the Five Pillars.
Secularisation
The declining influence and prevalence of religious belief, thought and practice within contemporary society.
The Shahadah
Muslim declaration of faith; one of the Five Pillars.
Shari’ah law
Islamic law; derived from the term ‘path’ or ‘way’ it usually refers to the legal code found in the Qur’an.
Shi’a Islam
Muslims who believe in the Imamate, successorship of Ali.
Stewardship
Stewardship is the belief that the world has been created by and belongs to God and that humans are its caretakers with a duty to look after it (Khalifah).
Sufi
A follower of Islamic mysticism, Sufism.
Sunni Islam
Muslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.
Tawhid
The oneness and unity of Allah.
Transcendent
A characteristic of God that refers to him being separate from the world and humans in intellectual terms; he is beyond human comprehension and understanding.
Ummah
Community; often refers to the worldwide Muslim community.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Weapons which cause widespread, indiscriminate damage (e.g. nuclear, chemical, biological).
Zakah
One of the Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts; giving alms.