Subject specific vocabulary – Component 2: perspectives on faith: Islam and Judaism

The following subject specific vocabulary provides definitions of key terms from Islam/Judaism used in our GCSE Religious Studies B specification (8063), Component 2: Perspectives on faith.

Your students should be familiar with and gain an understanding of all these terms.

Islam

Ablution (wudu)

Ritual washing before prayer.

Adam

One of the prophets of Allah. The father of humankind; built the Ka’aba.

Angels

They are spiritual beings created from elements of light. They gave God’s messages to the prophets and watch over humans.

Arafat

Part of the Hajj pilgrimage. Place where Prophet Muhammad preached his last sermon and pilgrims gather to pray.

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.

Authority

Having power and status. The Qur’an has supreme authority as the word of Allah, this means it must be believed and obeyed.

Beneficence

Literally ‘doing good’. One of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah and belief about his nature, the generosity that Allah shows to humans.

Day of Judgement

The day when Allah will decide about individual deeds and on reward or punishment.

Fairness

Belief about the nature of God; refers to Allah’s justice. He treats all humans equally and as they deserve.

Fasting

Not eating or drinking; one of the Five Pillars is Sawm during Ramadan.

The Five Pillars

Important duties for Muslims which support the main principles of Islam. Shahadah, salah, zakah, sawm and hajj.

The five roots of Usul ad-Din

The foundations of the faith in Shi’a Islam; five key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Adalat (justice), prophethood, imamate, resurrection.

Friday prayer (Jummah)

Friday prayers in the mosque, where a sermon (khutbah) is heard.

Giving alms

Giving alms means giving to those in need, eg money, food, time. A key practice in Islam; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts (Zakah).

The Gospel

Holy book/ source of authority ; literally ‘good news’ and it is the good news about Isa (Jesus), who was a  prophet of Islam.

Greater jihad

The personal struggle of every Muslim to live by the teachings of their faith.

Hajj

One of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts; 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 accountability

The belief that everyone must take responsibility for their actions and will be questioned about them on the Day of Judgement.

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.

Ibrahim

One of the prophets of Allah. He rebuilt the Ka’aba.

Id-ul-Adha

Festival; celebration of the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah.

Id-ul-Fitr

Festival; celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan and marks the end of fasting.

The imamate

One of the Five Roots of Usul-ad-Din, ‘Leadership.’ Shia belief in the twelve imams who succeeded Muhammad as the leaders of Islam.

Immanence

The belief that God is close to humanity ad involved in the world.

Jibril

Angel who dictated the Qur’an to Muhammad; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person’s deeds.

Jihad

'To struggle’. The personal or collective struggle against evil.

Justice

Part of the nature of God, in Shi’a Islam this is known as Adalat; the belief that God is fair.

The Ka'aba

Part of the Hajj pilgrimage; cube-shaped building in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah. All Muslims face towards it when they pray.

Khums

One of the Ten Obligatory Acts in Shi’a Islam; practice of alms giving.

Lesser jihad

This refers to the military struggle to defend Islam. It is carried out according to strict and clear cut rules.

Life after death (Akhirah)

Belief in a new stage of life that begins after death.

Makkah

Place of pilgrimage during Hajj; the spiritual centre of Islam.

Mercy

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.

Mika’il

Angel who gives spiritual and material help to humans; on Judgement Day he will assist with the weighing of a person’s deeds.

Mina

Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims take part in the stoning of pillars.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Mosque

Muslim place of worship.

Movements (rak’ahs)

Actions and ritual movements made during salah (prayer) consisting of recitations, standing, bowing and prostration.

Muzdalifah

Site of pilgrimage during Hajj; where pilgrims hold a night prayer and rest after the Stand on Mount Arafat.

Muhammad

The last and greatest of the prophets. He received the Qur’an and his Sunnah and Hadiths are also important sources of authority.

The Night of Power

The night on which Muhammad received the first revelations of the Qur’an.

Omnipotence

All-powerful; belief about the nature of God and one of the 99 Beautiful Names of Allah.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a holy site/sacred place, it is an act of worship and devotion.

Predestination

One of the Six Articles of Faith in Sunni Islam; the belief that everything that happens has been decided already by Allah.

Prophethood (Risalah)

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; belief in the prophets as messengers sent by God to communicate to people.

The Psalms

Holy book/source of authority; sacred prayers and poems written by King Dawud (David), a prophet of Allah.

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.

Ramadan

Month during which Muslims fast (sawm) from dawn to sunset.

Recitations

Part of the practice of salah (prayer); the reciting of verses from the Qur’an.

Resurrection

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; 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/Ten Obligatory Acts.

Sawm

Fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan; one of the Five Pillars/Ten Obligatory Acts.

The Scrolls of Abraham

Holy book/source of authority; individual revelations to Ibrahim that were written on parchment but have perished.

The Shahadah

Muslim declaration of faith; one of the Five Pillars.

Shi’a Islam

Muslims who believe in the Imamate, successorship of Ali.

Six articles of faith

The foundations of the faith in Sunni Islam; six key beliefs: Tawhid (the Oneness of God), Angels, Holy Books, Prophethood, Akhirah, Predestination.

Sunni Islam

Muslims who believe in the successorship of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.

Tawhid (the Oneness of God)

One of the Six Articles of Faith and Five Roots of Usul ad-Din; the oneness and unity of Allah.

The Ten Obligatory Acts

These are requirements for Shi’a Muslims. They include salah, sawm, zakah, hajj and jihad (duties also for Sunni Muslims) but the final five are not part of the Sunni tradition – khums, encouraging good, discouraging wrong, showing love for God and people, disassociation with enemies of God.

The Torah

Holy book/source of authority; given by God to the prophet Musa (Moses) on Mount Sinai.

Zakah

One of the Five Pillars and Ten Obligatory Acts; giving alms.

Judaism

Abraham

Known as the father of the Jewish people. God made a covenant with him, promising him land and descendants.

The Amidah

The ‘standing prayer’. Recited as part of public acts of worship in the synagogue.

Ark (Aron hakodesh)

The holiest part of the synagogue containing the Torah scrolls.

Bar Mitzvah

Coming of age ceremony of boys aged 13. Literally "Son of the Commandment".

Bat Mitzvah

Coming of age ceremony for girls aged 12. Literally "Daughter of Commandment".

Brit Milah

The religious rite of circumcision, usually performed eight days after a boy’s birth.

Charity

Key moral principle; giving to those in need. Hebrew term ‘tzedakah’ literally means ‘justice’ but used to refer to charity (because giving to those in need is part of promoting justice).

The Covenant

A binding promise/agreement; God's agreement to look after his chosen people.

Creator

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; the belief that God created the world from nothing.

Dietary laws

The food laws that were given by God, found in the Torah. These rules relate to what may/may not be eaten, combinations of foods, and the preparation of food.

Divine presence (Shekhinah)

Belief that God is beyond human understanding but his presence may be experienced/known.

Ever-burning light (ner tamid)

A feature of the synagogue; a light that is above and in front of the aron hakodesh, which burns constantly as a symbol of God’s presence.

Free will

Humans are free to choose to do right or to do wrong, this freedom is a gift from God but comes with responsibility.

God as one

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; belief that there is only one God, monotheism. Reflected in the 1st Commandment “You shall have no other Gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)

Healing the world

Key moral principle related to making the world a better place (Hebrew ‘tikkun olam’).

Judge

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; the belief that God is fair. God’s justice incorporates both forgiveness and mercy.

Judgement

Part of beliefs about life after death; a Day of Judgement when God will judge the living and the dead.

Justice

Key moral principle; fairness in the way people are treated.

Kosher

Food that is ‘clean’ and that meets the requirements of the dietary laws.

Law-Giver

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; refers to God’s giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Liberal Judaism

This is a form of progressive Judaism which seems to combine traditional beliefs and practices with modern interpretations.

Merciful

Part of the understanding of the nature of God; God as compassionate.

The Messiah

Literally ‘the anointed one’. Orthodox Jews believe that the Messiah will be a human person sent by God to establish justice and peace on the earth. For Reform Jews, the Messiah is a symbolic figure.

Mitzvot

Mitzvot (singular is ‘mitzvah’) are the 613 Jewish commandments/rules found in the Tenakh.

Moses

The person through whom God set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt, gave the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with Israel.

Mourning rituals

Refers to set practices that are carried out by Jews as a way of grieving for loved ones who have died.

Orthodox Judaism

Jews who believe God gave the complete Torah to Moses and therefore live according to Jewish laws and traditions.

Oral law (Talmud)

Source of authority; the law believed by Orthodox Jews to have been given to Moses but was not written down for many centuries, it was then expanded with rabbinic explanation/commentaries.

Pesach

Festival that celebrates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt, often called Passover.

Prayer

Communicating with God; listening to and speaking to God.

Reading platform (bimah)

The reading platform in a synagogue from which the Torah is read.

Reform Judaism

Jews who believe the Torah was inspired by God and was developed through their history – therefore laws may be changed or adapted as modern life changes.

Resurrection

Being raised from the dead; part of beliefs about life after death that in a future age the dead will rise and live again.

Rosh Hashanah

Festival celebrating the Jewish New Year. It is the start of the ten day period of High Holy Days that culminates in Yom Kippur.

Sanctity of human life

Belief that human life is a sacred/special because it is a precious gift from God.

‘Saving a life’ (Pikuach Nefesh)

This principle overrides all other religious laws because saving a human life should be of upmost importance in any situation.

Shabbat

The Sabbath/holy day of the week; beginning at sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday.

Sinai

The mountain where Moses received the Law and where the covenant between God and Israel was made.

Synagogue

The place of public worship, also used for study and gathering. Literally means ‘coming together’.

The Ten Commandments

Source of authority; religious and moral rules that were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Trefah

Forbidden food – literally means 'torn'. It does not fulfil the Jewish dietary laws/is not kosher.

Written law (Tenakh)

Holy book/source of authority; the Jewish scriptures. Includes into three parts: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (prophets) and Ketuvim (writings).

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement – a day of repentance and fasting on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah. The holiest day of the Jewish year.