Important Islamic Key Terms

 Islam is an Arabic word derived from the three- letter root s-l-m. Its meaning encompasses the concepts of peace, greeting, surrender, and commitment, and refers commonly to an individual's surrender and commitment to God the Creator through adherence to the religion by the same name.

 Literally the term means "one who submits to God." More commonly, the term describes any person who accepts the creed and the teachings of Islam. The word "Muhammadan" is a pejorative and offensive misnomer, as it violates Muslims' most basic understanding of their creed -- Muslims do not worship Muhammad, nor do they view him as the founder of the religion. The word "Moslem" is also incorrect, since it is a corruption of the word "Muslim."

 the word Qur'an means "the recitation" or "the reading", and refers to the divinely revealed scripture of Islam. The Qur'an continues to be recited by Muslims throughout the world in the Arabic language. The Qur'an is viewed as the authoritative guide for human beings. Translations of the Qur'an are considered explanations of the meaning of the Qur'an, but not the Qur'an itself. The spelling "Koran" is phonetically incorrect; the more accurate Qur'an should be used.

 Hadith are the sayings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad himself. The Hadith record the words and deeds, explanations, and interpretations of the Prophet concerning all aspects of life. Hadith are found in various collections compiled by Muslim scholars in the early centuries of the Muslim civilization. Six such collections are considered most authentic.

 a building where Muslims congregate for communal worship. The term comes from the same Arabic root as the word sujud, designating the important worship position in which Muslims touch their forehead to the ground. The masjid also serves various social, educational, and religious purposes. There are three sacred mosques in the world which Muslims hope to visit and pray within: Masjid al-Haram in Makkah; Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah; and Masjid al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.

 A burqa is one way of honoring hijab and is used in certain Muslim cultures and regions. A burqa can be a kind of veil with an opening for the eyes. A full burqa, also called a chador, is a garment that covers the entire body and face. (This definition was adapted from several Internet resources).