Islamic terms that non-Muslims
should become very familiar with:
Halal – an Arabic word meaning
"permissible." In terms of food, it means food that is permissible
according to Islamic law. For a meat to be
certified "halal," it cannot be a forbidden cut (such as meat
from hindquarters) or animal (such as pork.)
Haram - Anything that is prohibited by Shariah
law. Something not permissible.
Fitnah - term is used to describe forces that
cause controversy, fragmentation, scandal, chaos, or discord within the Muslim
community, disturbing the social peace and order. The term has also been used
to describe divisions which occurred in the early years of the Muslim
community. It comes from an Arabic verb which means to "seduce, tempt, or
lure." It can be used to describe the difficulties faced during personal
trials, the oppression of the powerful against the weak, or individuals or
communities giving in to the whispers of Satan and falling into sin.
Hijab - The most common, generic Arabic term that
refers to any style of head covering found across Muslim cultures.
Niqab - Face covering, typically a separate
piece of clothing that just covers the face and head which differentiates it
from the burqah.
Tchador – a full-body-length semicircle of fabric
that is open down the front. This cloth is tossed over the woman's or girl's
head, but then she holds it closed in the front. The chador has no hand
openings, or any buttons, clasps, etc., but is rather held closed by her hands
or tucked under the wearer's arms.
Burqah/Burka - A one-piece covering that goes from
head to toe and covers the face. The face-veiling portion is usually a
rectangular piece of semi-transparent cloth with its top edge attached to a
portion of the head-scarf so that the veil hangs down covering the face and can
be turned up if the woman wants. In other styles, the niqāb of the veil is attached by one side, and covers the face only
below the eyes, allowing the eyes to be seen.
Namus – for a woman, namus means remaining modest, virginal, and keeping their sexual
integrity intact, in order to retain a family's honor. In the Middle East,
for a woman, namus is rooted in obedience, faithfulness, modesty (in behavior
and in dress); "appropriateness." For an unmarried woman, the utmost
importance is placed on virginity before marriage. There is a requirement in
some cultures for "proof of virginity" (in the form of bloodstains on
a bed sheet) to be proudly displayed after the wedding night. If a woman breaks
the rules of namus (or if it is thought, even falsely, that a woman might have
been inappropriate in any way), it is well within her family's right under
Islam to kill her in order for the family to "save face."
Nikah Mut‘ah / Nikah Misyar – "Pleasure
marriage," or "temporary marriage," which is nothing more than
prostitution. Basically allowing Muslim men to have sex with whomever they
wish, under the guise of "marriage."
Jihad – an Arabic word which literally means
striving or struggling, especially with a praiseworthy aim. However, this has
been corrupted to mean nothing more than a reason to cause violence against
anyone or anything that is not Muslim/Islamic, in order to force someone to convert to Islam, or to destroy
them, in order to advance Islam. Jihadi "extremists" have taken this to
mean that any method of violence is a
means to this end, and the more violent, the better. This has caused all types
of violence to spiral out of control in many parts of the world.
Taqiyya – Muslim scholars teach that Muslims
should generally be truthful to each other, unless the purpose of lying is to
"smooth over differences." There are several forms of lying to
non-believers that are permitted under certain circumstances, the best known
being taqiyya. These circumstances
are typically those that advance the cause of Islam - in some cases by gaining
the trust of non-believers in order to draw out their vulnerabilities in order to defeat them.
Muruna – Along with Taqiyya, this means violating
Sharia in order to fool the those who are not Muslim. Muruna was designed to catapult and advance Sharia by using Western
means. If one thinks that Sharia, with its harsh code, is problematic enough,
how about the elimination of kinder, gentler laws? Muruna is literally
accomplished by permitting behavior normally so eschewed by Sharia that
Westerners logically assume a more moderate version of Islam when such
prohibitions are suddenly permitted. Westerners' eyes are, in fact, deceiving
them. Muruna is about going to great lengths to gain interests through a much
deeper level of deception while simultaneously lowering the guard and gaining
the support of the infidels.
Allah – In Islam, the Creator and Sustainer of all; the supreme being; the Uncaused Cause of all that exists; the Eternal.
Allah – In Islam, the Creator and Sustainer of all; the supreme being; the Uncaused Cause of all that exists; the Eternal.
Sharia – Sharia law is the law of
Islam. Sharia, to Muslims, is to be followed above, and instead of, any law of
any community or nation in which Muslims reside. Sharia law is cast from
the actions and words of Muhammad (Sunnah)
and the Quran, which he dictated. As a legal system, Sharia law is
exceptionally broad. While other legal codes regulate public behavior, Sharia
law regulates public behavior, private behavior and even private beliefs. Of
all legal systems in the world today, Sharia law is the most intrusive and
restrictive, especially against women. According to Sharia law:
• Theft is
punishable by amputation of the right hand (one's right hand is literally the right hand,
used for "correct" functions, such as eating or shaking hands, while the left hand is used for
things such as using the toilet and cleaning private parts).
used for "correct" functions, such as eating or shaking hands, while the left hand is used for
things such as using the toilet and cleaning private parts).
• Criticizing or
denying any part of the Quran is punishable by death.
• Criticizing
Muhammad or denying that he is a prophet is punishable by death.
• Criticizing or
denying Allah is punishable by death (see Allah moon god).
• A Muslim who
becomes a non-Muslim is punishable by death (compulsion in religion).
• A non-Muslim who
leads a Muslim away from Islam is punishable by death.
• A non-Muslim man
who marries a Muslim woman is punishable by death.
• A man can marry
a very young girl and consummate the marriage when she is 9 years old (as
Muhammad did, since he is supposedly the model for Islamic men).
Muhammad did, since he is supposedly the model for Islamic men).
• In order to keep a girl "pure" and to discourage inappropriate sexual behavior or even thoughts,
a girl's external sexual parts (including labia and clitoris) should be cut or removed (usually with
a straight razor, called FGM – Female Genital Mutilation) leaving just a small opening for urination
or menstruation) Muhammad's words, Book 41, Kitab Al-Adab, Hadith 5251).
a girl's external sexual parts (including labia and clitoris) should be cut or removed (usually with
a straight razor, called FGM – Female Genital Mutilation) leaving just a small opening for urination
or menstruation) Muhammad's words, Book 41, Kitab Al-Adab, Hadith 5251).
• A woman can have
only one husband, but a man can have up to 4 wives; Muhammad himself had
several more. He even stole his adopted son's wife.
several more. He even stole his adopted son's wife.
• A man can beat
his wife for insubordination, however he sees fit.
• A man can
unilaterally divorce his wife; a woman needs her husband's consent to divorce.
• A divorced wife
loses custody of all children over 6 years of age or when they exceed it.
• Testimonies of
four male witnesses are required to prove rape against a woman.
• A woman who has
been raped cannot testify in court against her rapist(s).
• A woman's
testimony in court, allowed in property cases, carries only half the weight of
a man's.
• A female heir
inherits half of what a male heir inherits.
• A woman cannot
drive a car, as it leads to fitnah (upheaval).
• A woman cannot
speak alone to a man who is not her husband or relative.
• Meat to eat must
come from animals that have been sacrificed to Allah - i.e., be
"Halal".
• Muslims should
engage in Taqiyya/Muruna and lie to non-Muslims to advance Islam.