The religion of Islam

the name of God in Islam

an important religious leader in Iran who often has political as well as religious influence

a member of a religious group of black people called the Nation of Islam, whose goal is to create a separate society for black people

burka (noun)

a loose piece of clothing that covers the head and body completely except for a space for the eyes. A burka is worn in public by Muslim women in some countries.

burqa (noun)

another spelling of burka

caliph (noun)

a Muslim man who was a religious and political leader in the past

caliphate (noun)

the position of a caliph

caliphate (noun)

the period of time when someone is a caliph

caliphate (noun)

an area ruled by a caliph

chador (noun)

a loose piece of usually black clothing that covers a woman’s whole body including her head, worn by some Muslim women

crescent (noun)

the shape of a crescent used as the symbol of Islam

dervish (noun)

a member of a Muslim religious group whose members dance very fast during their religious ceremonies

Eid (noun)

the name of two festivals in the Muslim religion. The more important one, Eid ul-Fitr, is celebrated at the end of Ramadan.

emir (noun)

a male leader in a Muslim country

fakir (noun)

a Hindu or Muslim holy man who lives by begging (=asking people for money and food)

fatwa (noun)

an official order by a Muslim religious leader

fiqh (noun)

the study of the theory and practice of Islamic law

hajj (noun)

a trip to the holy city of Mecca that Muslims make as a religious duty

hajji (noun)

a Muslim who has made a hajj

hakim (noun)

a Muslim doctor who uses traditional methods of treating people

halal (adjective)

halal meat can be eaten by Muslims because it is from an animal that has been killed according to the religious laws of Islam

haram (adjective)

haram food cannot be eaten according to Islamic law

harem (noun)

a group of women living together as the wives of a rich man in some Muslim societies, especially in the past

harem (noun)

a separate part of a Muslim home in which only women live

the Hegira (noun)

Muhammad’s escape from Mecca to Medina in a.d. 622. The Muslim system of counting years is calculated from this time.

the Hejira ()

another spelling of the Hegira

hijab (noun)

a square of cloth that some Muslim women wear on their heads to hide their hair and neck

iftar (noun)

a meal that is eaten by Muslims after sunset to break their fast during the month of Ramadan

imam (noun)

a Muslim priest or leader

Islam (noun)

the religion based on the teachings of Muhammad. Its followers are called Muslims and they worship in a mosque. The holy book of Islam is the Qu’ran.

Islam (noun)

the people and countries who follow Islam

Islamism (noun)

the religion or principles of Islam

Islamist (noun)

someone who follows Islam very strictly

jihad (noun)

a holy war or fight that Muslims take part in to defend Islam

jihadist (noun)

someone who is engaged in jihad

jilbab (noun)

a piece of clothing worn by Muslim women that covers their whole body but not their hands, feet, or head

the Koran (noun)

the Qur’an

madrasa (noun)

a college where students are taught about Islam

masjid (noun)

a Muslim name for a mosque

Mecca ()

a holy city in Saudi Arabia where the prophet Mohammed was born. Muslims face Mecca when they pray and try to visit there once in their lives.

minaret (noun)

a tall tower that is traditionally part of a mosque (=a Muslim religious building) where someone stands to call people to prayer

Mogul (noun)

a Muslim ruler in India in the 16th to 19th centuries

Moor (noun)

a member of a group of Muslim people who lived in North Africa and who controlled southern Spain between the 8th and 15th centuries

Moslem ()

another spelling of Muslim

mosque (noun)

a building in which Muslims worship

muezzin (noun)

the official of a mosque who calls from a tower to let Muslims know it is time to pray

mufti (noun)

an expert on Islamic religious law

Muhammad ()

the man on whose ideas Islam is based

mujahedin (noun)

soldiers belonging to an Islamic armed group

mullah (noun)

a Muslim man who has studied Islamic religious law

Muslim (noun)

someone whose religion is Islam

prayer mat (noun)

a small carpet that Muslims put on the floor under their knees when they pray

prayer rug (noun)

a prayer mat

the Prophet (noun)

Muhammad, the founder of Islam

purdah (noun)

the practice among some Muslims and Hindus of keeping women apart, and having them wear clothing that covers their bodies completely when they go out

the Qur’an (noun)

the holy book of Islam

Ramadan (noun)

the ninth month of the Muslim year, when Muslims do not eat or drink anything between sunrise and sunset

salaam (noun)

a greeting used by Muslim people for showing respect

salaam (verb)

to show respect for someone by greeting them with the Muslim custom of bending forward at the waist and putting your hand on your forehead

Saracen (noun)

a name given to Arabs and other Muslims by the Christians who fought against them in religious wars in the Middle Ages

sharia (noun)

the traditional system of Islamic law

sheik (noun)

a Muslim religious leader

Shia (noun)

one of the main groups in the religion of Islam. A Muslim who belongs to this group is called a Shia or a Shiite.

Shiite (noun)

a Muslim who belongs to the Shia group within the religion of Islam

Sufi (noun)

a member of an Islamic religious group whose aim is to communicate directly with God and to understand spiritual mysteries

sultan (noun)

the leader in some Muslim countries

Sunni (noun)

one of the two groups within the religion of Islam, or a Muslim who belongs to this group

tajweed (noun)

the rules for pronouncing the Arabic language when reciting the Qu’ran

turban (noun)

a long piece of cloth wrapped around the head, worn especially by Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim men

umma (noun)

all Muslims in the world, considered as a group

the veil (noun)

the practice of wearing a veil for covering the face, followed by women in Islamic countries

vizier (noun)

an important government official in some Muslim countries in the past

yashmak (noun)

a piece of cloth that some Muslim women use for covering their faces in public

Synonyms and antonyms of The religion of Islam in American Thesaurus