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adhan/azan/ezan
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call to prayer.
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ahl al-bayt/al al-bayt
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the family/descendants of the Prophet.
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Ahmadi/Ahmadiyya
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reform movement founded in India in the 19th century and widely regarded by other Muslims as heretical.
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Alevi
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movement with roots dating back to the 12th century, often esoteric in nature and with links to Shi’ism; today especially
strong among Turks and Kurds of Eastern Anatolian origin.
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Arba’een
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Shi’i religious observance, forty days after the day of ‘Ashura’, to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali (3rd Shi’i Imam).
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‘Ashura’
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festival on the 10th of Muharram (1st month of the Islamic calendar) marking the death of Husayn ibn Ali (3rd Shi’i imam)
at the battle of Karbala in 680; a central Shi’i religious observance.
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bayram
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festival (esp. Turkish for ‘Id, q.v).
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Bektashi
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a Sufi order with strong Ottoman roots; marginalised during the mid-19th century Ottoman reforms and banned with other Sufi
orders by the Turkish Republic in the 1920s.
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burqa
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specifically the Afghan-style female full body covering, incl. the face; in common usage in Europe now taken to mean any form
of female full body and face covering.
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cem
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central Alevi communal dance ritual similar to the sema ritual of the Mevlevi Sufi order.
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cemevi
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place in which Alevi cem ritual is performed.
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da’wa
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Islamic term for missionary or proselytising activities.
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dershane
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“cram school”, type of specialised school.
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dervish
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a common term for Sufi.
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dhikr
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ritual practised by devotees of a Sufi tradition.
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fatwa
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statement of opinion on a point of theology or law issued by an authority in response to an application.
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hafiz
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person who knows the Qur’an by heart.
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hajj
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the annual pilgrimage at Mecca at the beginning of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar; the highpoint is ‘Id al-Adha.
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halal
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permitted.
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haram
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prohibited.
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hijab
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head scarf worn by women
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hijra
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migration of the Prophet and his followers from Mecca to Medina (Yathrib) in 622CE.
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husayniyya
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popular centre of learning and devotion in Shi’i Islam.
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‘id
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festival.
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‘Id al-Adha
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Feast of the Sacrifice during the pilgrimage at Mecca.
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‘Id al-Fitr
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festival ending the fast of Ramadan.
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iftar
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breaking of the fast at the end of the day during Ramadan, increasingly celebrated in invited company by mosques, churches
and other organisations.
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imam
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religious leader, most commonly the one who leads the congregation at the regular prayers; also used about prominent scholars
and spiritual leaders. Among Shi’i Muslims, a legitimate leader of the community.
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jum‘a
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Friday noon prayer.
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khutba
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sermon.
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qurban/kurban
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sacrifice, as in Turkish kurban bayramı (‘Id al-Adha).
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Lailat al-qadr
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the “night of power,” 27th Ramadan, the celebration of the revelation of the Qur’an.
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madhhab
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school of law or theology.
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madrasa/medrese
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school at any level, usually elementary and high Islamic.
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majlis
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council or body governing Muslim community organisations, in Southeastern Europe in particular.
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masjid
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mosque.
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mawlid/mevlud
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birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
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mizar/miziar
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cemetery
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mu’adhdhin/muezzin
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the person who calls to prayer.
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mufti
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person who issues fatwa; in some modern states the title of the leading Islamic official.
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muftiate
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office or institution of mufti.
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nafaqa
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maintenance and/or alimony payment after divorce.
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Nawruz/Nevruz
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New Year in the Persian/Turkish tradition.
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nikah
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marriage formalised in the Islamic tradition.
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niqab
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female face covering.
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ra’is al-‘ulama’ or just
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“dean of the scholars,” applied in some countries to
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ra’is or reis
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the official head of the Muslim community.
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Ramadan
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the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, the month of fasting.
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riba
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(unlawful) interest on capital.
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rijaset/riyaset
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governing council within centralised Muslim community organisations in Southeastern Europe, usually headed by the chief mufti.
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sabantuj
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Tatar and Bashkir cultural festival.
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sadaqa
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alms given at various occasions, often in connection with a religious festival.
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salah/salat
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prescribed prayers five times a day.
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shari’a
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Islamic law and ethics, the principles of good Islamic behaviour.
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shaykh/sheikh
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leader of a congregation, especially of a Sufi character; honorific for someone learned.
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sheikh al-islam
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title of leading Muslim scholar or head of official Muslim community organisation in a country; originally, an Ottoman title
and therefore used in Muslim communities in regions that were part of the Ottoman Empire.
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Shi’i/Shi’ism
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the branches within Islam which trace their authority through the descendants of ‘Ali, the Prophet’s nephew and son-in-law;
make up 12–15% of the total number of Muslims worldwide.
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Sufi/Sufism
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the mystical tradition.
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sukuk
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commonly used for shari’a compliant financial bonds.
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Sunni/Sunnism
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the majority tradition within Islam, sometimes (mistakenly) called “orthodox.”
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talaq
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divorce by repudiation.
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tariqa/tarikat
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Sufi order.
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tekke/teke
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a Sufi meeting place (Turkish).
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turba/turbe
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tomb of a venerated person (“saint”), often the object of popular devotion.
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umma
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the global community of believers.
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‘umra
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the lesser pilgrimage at Mecca taking place at times other than hajj.
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waqf/vakf
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religious foundation (of property) providing income for religious, charitable or educational purposes.
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zakah/zakat
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obligatory almsgiving.
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zawiya
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a Sufi meeting place (Arabic).
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zikr
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see dhikr.
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ziyara
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visiting family graves or tombs of Muslim saints at set times of year.
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