The 500 Most Influential Muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

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Haram: Sanctuary.
Hijab: Headscarf worn by Muslim women.
Glossary
Hijaz: The region along the west coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
Ibadi: The Ibadi school has origins in and is linked to the Kharijites, but the modern day
community is distinct from the 7th century Islamic sect. It was founded after the death
of Prophet Muhammad and is currently practiced by a majority of Oman’s Muslim
population. Also found across parts of Africa.
Ihsan: Virtue through constant regard to, and awareness of God.
Ijaza: Certification.
Ijtihad: Independent reasoning, or individual interpretation of the Qur’an.
Imam: (1) In both Sunni and Shi’a Islam an imam is the leader of congregational prayers
who may also deliver the Friday prayer (Jum’a) sermon; more generally, a person of
authority within the community. (2) In Shi’a Islam this exclusively refers to a series of
people, descended from the Prophet Muhammad, who by lineage are considered divinely
guided spiritual leaders.
Imamate: The position or institution, in Shi’a Islam, that is comprised of a series of
divinely guided imams.
Iman: Faith in God.
Islam: Submission to God’s will.
Jihad: Struggle. An exertion of effort in any field, not just in war.
Ka’ba: The large cubic structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, adorned in gold
embroidered black fabric, referred to by Muslims as the ‘House of God’. This structure
marks the direction in which Muslims pray and is central to the Hajj pilgrimage when
it is circumambulated, a practice rooted in pre-Islamic Arabia when it contained idols
subsequently removed by the Prophet Muhammad.
Khat: Script.
Khateeb: One who traditionally delivers the Friday sermon; orator.
Khawarij: A group of Muslims in early Islamic history who went against the larger
community and became outsiders. A term used to describe political deviants.
Khums: Literally, 1/5 in Arabic; a religious tax of 1/5 of one’s income owed by followers
of Usuli Twelver Shi’a to a very senior cleric.
Madhabs: Traditional schools of Islamic legal methodology (e.g. Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi’i,
Hanafi, Jafari).
Madrassa: The Arabic word for ‘school’. Can refer to a religious school.
Majles al Shura: Consultative religio-legislative body.
Marja/Marjaiyya: The highest position of authority in the Usuli school of Twelver