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Glossary of Terms for Discussion of Islam

Qu'ran   (Koran) sacred scripture of Islam, divided into chapters (surah)
              and verses (ayat)  

Hegira    the exodus of Muslims, led by Muhammad, from Mecca to Medina 
               in 622 (Year 1 of the Islamic calendar)
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Five Pillars of Islam:

shahaha  "to give testimony" -- the primary article of Islam faith
                ("There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet") 

salat    prayer -- Muslims pray five times each day facing Mecca (or the qibla)

sawn    fasting -- Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan,
            the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

zakat   charity -- Muslims are obliged to be charitable by their faith

hajj    the required pilgrimage to Mecca (a Muslim who has made
          the pilgrimage to Mecca is a haji (also spelled hadji)
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jihad     a duty to engage in the struggle to spread Islam ("holy war")

Sunni    Muslim believing in the traditions descending from the Umayyad caliphs
              Rather than from Ali; more flexible than Shi'ites, Sunni represent
              c. 80% of all Muslims 

Shi'ite   Muslim belonging to the Shiah branch believe that Ali, Muhammad's
              cousin and son-in-law, was/is his legitimate successor; Shi'ites are 
              influential in Iran

Ayatollah   title designating the highest honor that can be given to a Shi'ite 
              leader 

ulama    Muslim theologians, scholars, teachers, jurists

mullah    teacher of  Islamic doctrines; chief religious functionary in a Muslim
               village

muezzen  herald who calls out the hour of  prayers from the minaret (tower) 
                of a mosque

koubba    "dome" --  the white-domed tomb of a holy person

Id al-Fitr   period of celebration at the end of Ramadan

aba            loose, sleeveless black or brown cloak open in front, worn by 
                  clergymen

chador      large cloth used as a head covering, veil, and shawl by Muslim
                 women