Due to the confusion concerning Islam that abounds today, I think understanding Islamic terms will be very helpful. A lot of apologists are saying these terms mean something different from the official Islamic understanding.
It is our hope that understanding these words will help you better understand Islam, and the problems we face in dealing with the issues involved. It is also our hope that this understanding will help you in your efforts to reach the Muslims God brings across your path for Christ. As you know, reaching Muslims for Christ is one of the major goals of our ministry here at Fortress of Faith.
Term |
Sounds Like |
Brief Definition |
Comments |
Da’wah |
da-wuh |
Proselytizing – Evangelism |
This is the Islamic missions program. In both houses, they work to convert unbelievers, but in the House of War they don’t have power to kill those who don’t convert. |
Dhimmi |
de-me |
2nd Class – Sub Classed people. Technically, the “protected one” |
This is where Islam allows a non-Muslim to live in subjection to Islam as long as they pay a protection tax. It is not quite slavery, but it is just a step away. |
EID al Ftir |
eed-a-fit-ur |
Feast – Celebrating the end of Ramadan. |
These next two are the most important holidays for Muslims. |
EID al Adha |
eed-a-aduh |
Feast – Celebrating Abraham’s faith to sacrifice his son Ishmael |
In the Bible, Abraham sacrificed Isaac. In the Qur’an it was Ishmael who was sacrificed. In the Kaaba, in Mecca, there is a black rock that is supposed to be the rock where Abraham made the sacrifice. |
Fatwa |
fot-wah |
A legal binding opinion from an Islamic scholar |
This is a legal and binding ruling from an Islamic scholar. Some of them are death sentences on unbelievers. |
Fiqh |
fik |
Legal Jurisprudence in Shariah law |
This term refers to one who is considered a legal scholar. |
Hadith |
ha-deeth |
Traditions of Mohammad. Things his companions witnessed the prophet say or do. |
This is a record of what Muhammad did. When a Muslim has a question about the interpretation of the Qur’an, he looks to the Hadith to see how Muhammad practiced it. |
Hafiz |
Ha-fez |
Guardian of the recitings (Qur’an) |
Qur’an means the recitings, and the Hafiz is one who has memorized and guards the Qur’an. There was a debate in early Islam as to whether or not the Qur’an should be written down. It was not written down until some 20 years after Muhammad’s death. Uthman commanded that it be written down because, in one battle, 40 of the Hafiz were killed and he feared that the Qur’an would be lost. |
Hajj |
hawj |
Pillar of Islam – Pilgrimage to Mecca |
One of the 5 pillars of Islam is that once in a lifetime each Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca. While there they circumambulate the Kaaba, spend an evening in the wilderness in meditation, pick up 21 stones and cast them at the Devil, etc. |
Halal |
ha-lowl |
Permitted or Approved (food) |
This is Islamically approved food. It is similar to the Jewish kosher food. The difference is that halal food has been sacrificed to Allah according to Islamic rules. This is becoming an issue in our jails, in grocery outlets like Costco, and it some schools. |
Haram |
hh-rom |
Forbidden |
This is the opposite of halal. |
Hijab |
hh-jab |
Head covering like a scarf but does not veil the face. |
This is not to be confused with the berqa, it is the head covering. There are different types depending on what part of the world they come from. |
Imam |
e-mom |
Mosque leader (preacher / teacher) |
The imam is similar to the Christian pastor. |
Injil |
in-jeel |
The four Gospels |
The Injil of the Qur’an is a corrupted form of the Gospels. . |
Isa |
e-sa |
The Muslim Jesus |
This is a corruption of the biblical Jesus. |
Jihad |
jee-hod |
Struggle against evil the Kufar (Legal definition is War to establish Islam) |
The greater jihad is the personal struggle against evil. It is greater because everyone deals with it. The lesser jihad is limited in time and space. It is actual warfare to advance Islam. It is called lesser because it is smaller in scope, it is not global all the time. It is defined as waring against the non-Muslim. |
Jinn |
jin |
Spirit. Could be a demon or an angel. |
The Qur’an teaches that Muhammad received his revelations from a jinn. Muslims believe it was the angel Gabriel, but it could also mean an evil spirit. It is from this word that we get our word “genie.” |
Our goal in teaching these terms is not to educate you in Islam, it is help you understand what is being said when these words our used. Islam is an ideology that masquerades as a religion, and understanding these terms will help you understand what we are dealing with. Our goal at Fortress of Faith is to reach Muslims for Christ, and these terms should also help you in your evangelistic efforts with Muslims.