Muhammad Test

Kaafir

"Unbeliever"; she or he who rejects and tries to conceal the truth; ungrateful to God.

Yawm al-Hisab

Day of Judgement

Ahl al-Kitab [AHL al-kee-TAAB]

"People of the Book," a term used in the Qur'an to describe those who believe in One God and in the revealed scriptures from God, such as the Torah and the Bible.

Ka'bah [KAAbah]

A cube-shaped building in Mecca. The Qur'an states that the Ka'bah was the first house of worship dedicated to the One God. According to the Qur'an, Abraham and his son Ishmael built the Ka'bah. Muslims all over the world face in the direction of the Ka'bah during prayer, and it is the goal of the pilgrimage, or hajj.

Clan

A family group that is a sub-group of a tribe, claiming descent from a single common ancestor. At the time of Muhammad's birth, Makkan society was organized according to relationships among clans and tribes.

Tribe

A group of people who share common ancestors, language and traditional claims to territory. At the time of Muhammad's birth, Makkan society was organized according to relationships among clans and tribes.

Makkah Mecca or [MACK-ah]

An ancient city in the Arabian Peninsula. Mecca was an important religious center that housed the Ka'bah. At the time of Muhammad's birth, Mecca had become an important caravan city on the trade route from Yemen to Syria as well as a religious shrine.

Khadijah [kha-DEE-jah]

First wife of Muhammad, a wealthy widow who was older than Muhammad. She was the first person to accept Islam after the revelation, and the wife who bore all of Muhammad's children.

Jibreel [jib-REEL]

Gabriel, the Angel who brought revelation to each of the prophets, or God's messengers. Muslims believe that Gabriel brought revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad over a period of 23 years.

Jabal al-Nur

Literally, "Mountain of Light." the small mountain outside Mecca where Muhammad often stayed in a cave to worship and meditate. Muhammad related that he received the first revelation of the Qur'an from God while on this mountain.

Islam, [is-LAHM]

Literally, "seeking a state of peace," it is the religion of belief in One God, revealed through the prophets from Adam through Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, whose final prophet is Muhammad. Islam is the name given in the Qur'an, and refers to the state of peace achieved through submission to God. A Muslim is a follower of Islam.

Ansar [an-SAR]

Literally, "the Helpers," they were Muslims of Yathrib who welcomed and aided the Muslim refugees from Mecca, who fled religious persecution.

Muhajirun [mu-ha-JIROON]

Literally, "the Immigrants,"or Muslims who migrated to Yathrib to escape religious persecution by the Quraysh at akkah.

Hijrah [HIJ-rah]

Migration of the Muslim refugees from Makkah to Yathrib seeking religious freedom. This migration happened in 622 CE and is the beginning of the Islamic, or hijriyah, dating system, abbreviated as A.H., meaning Anno Hijriya.

Isra' and Mi'raj ("Night Journey and Ascension") [iss-RAA, me-RAAJ]

Muhammad's night journey to Jerusalem and his ascension to the Heavens. According to the Qur'an and the recorded words of Muhammad (hadith), Angel Gabriel took Muhammad to Jerusalem during one night, through the Heavens and into the presence of God, and returned him to Mecca in the same night.

Pilgrimage, or Hajj [huj]

Pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam and the duty of every Muslim believer. Pilgrims perform rites that reenact the life of Abraham, his wife Hajar, and their son Ishmael over 4,000 years ago. It is required of every Muslim who is able, at least once in a lifetime.

Quraysh [kur-AYSH]

The tribe into which Muhammad was born, which ruled Mecca. The Makkan Quraysh fought Muhammad until they were defeated in 630 C.E., but as Muslims, they continued to play important roles in Muslim history.

Constitution or Pact of Madinah

a document Muhammad formed as arbitrator to unify the different warring groups in Yathrib under his leadership. The document states that each group in Yathrib must respect each other's rights and share the responsibility of defending the city.

Ilah [ilaah]

a god

Madinah or Medina [ma-DEE-nah]

also Madinat al-Nabi, or "City of the Prophet," city north of Mecca, formerly known as Yathrib. The people of Madinah welcomed the persecuted Muslim refugees from Mecca and accepted Muhammad as their leader.

Al-Akhirah

life after death. The Qur'an teaches that after life in this world, every human will be judged by God for the good and bad they did on earth, and receive just reward or punishment for their deeds.

Allah [al-Lah]

literally, "the God," meaning the one God, who is all-Powerful and who created everything in the universe, also called Rabb, the Lord of Abraham and all other prophets. In the Arabic language Arabic -speaking Christians and Jews also use the term Allah for God.

Yathrib [YUTH-rib]

the city in Arabia north of Mecca to which Muhammad and Muslims from Mecca migrated to escape religious persecution. Yathrib was renamed Madinat an-Nabi, or the "City of the Prophet."

Qur'an [kur-AAN]

the holy book of Islam, which Muslims believe is a divinely revealed scripture sent to Muhammad from God through the Angel Gabriel in the Arabic language. The Qur'an is the source of guidance in a Muslim's daily life, and a source of knowledge about God and His creation. Muslims only consider the Qur'an authentic as read and recited in Arabic but translations may express its meaning as an aid to understanding, not as a substitute for the original scripture.