Definitions by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫
Sunni
Anyone who is a Sunni believes that any good Muslim man may be elected as the caliph. However, anyone who says there is no God but Allah, and that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah, is a Muslim.
Sunni by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 25, 2010
Shi'ite
A member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali and his descendants as the legitimate successors to Muhammad and rejects the first three caliphs.
Anyone who is a Shi'ite wants the leadership of the caliph to stay within Muhammad's family lines. However, anyone who says there is no God, but Allah, and that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah, is a Muslim.
Shi'ite by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 25, 2010
Ka'ba
"The cube," a gray stone structure at Mecca; re-shrouded annually in black brocade. It marks the geographical center of the Islamic world and is the focal point of prayer, orientation, and pilgrimage. It is viewed in Muslim tradition as the first "house of God" built by Abraham and his son Ishmael at God's command.
The first main ritual is Circling (tawaf) the Ka'ba seven time counterclockwise, putting the house of God, center of the universe, at center of one’s life.
Ka'ba by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 24, 2010
Imam
A teacher & prayer leader of a mosque.
The word imam is an Arabic work that means “leader.” Depending on the usage of the word and whether or not it is written with a capital “I”, the word can hold many different meanings and connotations.
The word imam is an Arabic work that means “leader.” Depending on the usage of the word and whether or not it is written with a capital “I”, the word can hold many different meanings and connotations.
An imam could also be a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad or any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region.
Imam by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 23, 2010
Adhan
The adhan (also spelled Athan, Azan, Ezan) is the Islamic call to prayer. The Muslim call to Friday public worship and to the five daily hours of prayer. It is proclaimed by the muezzin, a servant of the mosque chosen for good character, as he stands at the door or side of a small mosque or in the minaret of a large one. The adhan was originally a simple "Come to prayer," but, according to tradition, Muhammad consulted his followers with a view to investing the call with greater dignity. The matter was settled when 'Abd Allah ibn Zayd dreamed that the faithful should be summoned by a crier. The standard Sunnite adhan can be translated as: "Allah is most great. I testify that there is no god but Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the prophet of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to salvation. Allah is most great. There is no god but Allah." The first phrase is proclaimed four times, the final phrase once, and the others twice, the worshipers making a set response to each phrase.
It’s simply a way to alert people when they are busy; that the time for the prayer (“Salah” in Arabic; one of the 5 pillars of Islam) has come. Especially in the Muslim world; because in Islam, the five daily prayers are supposed to be carried out in congregation as much as one can. And so in the old days, before the development of technologies (alarm clocks, mobile phones, etc) that was a fast way to let people know. Recently, in the past fifty years or so, they started using loudspeakers on top of minarets to call the adhan. It’s a beautiful and enchanting sound and it’s just calling people to come and worship.
Adhan by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 12, 2010
Islam
A monotheistic religion characterized by the acceptance of the doctrine of submission to God and to Muhammad as the chief and last prophet of God. The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission," and derives from a word meaning "peace." In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arabic-speaking Muslims, Jews and Christians alike as the normal word for God. "Allah" is also used to refer to God by Muslims speaking other languages, including English. A Muslim is an adherent of the religion of Islam. Literally, the word means "one who submits (to God)". Islam is not a new religion, but the final culmination and fulfillment of the same basic truth that God revealed through his prophets to every people. A way of life symbolized by peace; peace with God, peace with the creations of God through Submission to God and His guidance. Over a billion people from all races, nationalities, and cultures across the globe are Muslim; from the rice farms of Indonesia to the deserts in the heart of Africa; from the skyscrapers of New York to the Bedouin in Arabia. Muslims believe in the One, Unique, Incomparable, Merciful God; the sole creator and Sustainer of the Universe; in the angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to humankind; in the Day of Judgment of actions; in God's complete authority over destiny, whether it is good or bad; and in life after death.
Muslims believe that God sent his messengers and prophets to all people and God's final message to humanity, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing up of all that had gone before, was revealed to the Last Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. The sacred text of Islam is the Qur'an (also spelled Koran; multiple spellings).
Islam by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ May 7, 2010