Islamic ritual prayer; one of the five “Pillars” of Islamic practice for Sunnis.

Lit. "fasting"; esp. as done during the month of Ramadan; one of the five “Pillars” of Islamic practice for Sunnis.

The Islamic profession of faith: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of the God!” Proclaiming the Shahada regularly and with conviction is one of the five “Pillars” of Islamic practice for Sunnis.

Islamic law; the four main Sunni “legal schools” are Hanafi, Hanbali, Maliki, and Shafi’i.

Minority branch of Islam (ca. 15% worldwide, with several sub-groups); lit. the “faction or sect of Ali”; division between Shi’i and Sunni Muslims was based primarily on disputes over the status of Ali as the successor to Muhammad (already in the mid-7th Century).

The worst sin a person can commit.

Collective term for a variety of different mystical traditions in Islam.

Lit. “custom”; traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, used as a legal source and a model of behavior in daily life for many Muslims.

Majority branch of Islam (ca. 85% of all Muslims worldwide).