Islam Glossary Terms

Tablighi Jama’at

Tablighi Jama’at means literally, “the group that invites.” It is an apolitical missionary movement of Muslims, based in India, with a worldwide membership of millions. The movement sends small groups of Muslim men to visit inactive Muslims or inquirers...

Tarawih

Tarawih is an added devotional practice during Ramadan in which Muslims gather to perform extra ritual prayers after the final prayer of the day, sometimes staying up most of the night reciting the Qur’an and engaging in other rigorous or supererogatory...

tauhid

Tauhid means “oneness, unity.” Tauhid is the central monotheistic doctrine of Islam expressed in the phrase: “There is no God but God.”

ta’lim

Ta’lim means “education, teaching.” Most Muslim communities offer classes called ta’lim to teach new Muslims about the Qur’an and hadith, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and especially the performance of religious duties such as the salat (ritual prayer...

Umayyad

The Umayyad dynasty ruled the early Arab empire from 661-750 CE, and Spain from 756-1031 CE. From their capital in Damascus, the Umayyad caliphs sent Arab Muslim armies to conquer Syria, Egypt, Iraq and parts of Persia, Spain, and India. The Umayyads were...

ummah

Ummah means “community,” referring to the worldwide community of believers bound by their faith in Islam which, ideally, is seen as transcending ethnic, racial, and national differences.

Wahhaj, Siraj

Imam of Masjid al-Taqwa in Brooklyn, New York, Siraj Wahhaj is one of the most dynamic African-American leaders of Sunni Islam in the United States. On June 15, 1991, Imam Siraj Wahhaj was the first Muslim to offer the opening prayer in the U.S. House of...

zakat

Zakat, literally meaning “purification,” is almsgiving (approximately 2.5 percent of annual accumulated wealth) for the needy and for Islamic work. Giving zakat purifies the remainder of one’s wealth for personal use. Zakat al-fitr is a special offering...

‘ulama

The ‘ulama are literally “the learned ones” or”scholars.” They are recognized scholarly authorities in Islamic law and in interpreting the Qur’an and Sunnah. In Sunni Islam, the consensus of the ‘ulama is considered by many to be final and binding.