Dictionary Terms
Abraham
The ancestor of the Jews through Isaac and Jacob and of the Arabs through Ishmael.
■ Christianity: Abraham was justified by faith in God prior to any works of the law, so he is righteous for God (Romans 4:1-25).
■ Islam: Abraham was responsible for the founding of the Kaaba in Mecca.
Ahmed Deedat
■ Islam: South African Muslim writer and public speaker of an Indian family. He defended Muslims against Christian mission. As Islam promoter, he held many debates with evangelists in many countries on the Bible.
Allah
The deity "Allah" was worshiped at Kaaba already before Islam as the one God. Allah as the highest God was stimulated by the arrival of Judaism and Christianity in the Arabian peninsula.
Apologetics
To defend the faith in opposition to other religions and worldviews. This task cannot be limited with arguments. It also involves enabling people to discover something of the glory and beauty of God. Therefore it engages not only the mind but also the heart and the imagination.
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh
■ Islam: Islamic greeting. In English: Peace be upon you and God's blessings and mercy.
Bible
Collection of Holy Scriptures, inspired by God. First part are the Hebrew Scriptures, also called the Old Testament. Second part is the New Testament, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a number of letters about faith in Jesus Christ.
Caliph
■ Islam: Supreme authority in an Islamic state. He has religious and political leadership within the state. He is recognized as a political successor to Muhammad.
Christ
■ Christianity: Greek translation Χριστός (Christos) of the Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (Mashiah) for anointed. See also Messiah. Before Jesus, the Jews believed in an expected Savior (Isaiah 9:6-7) . The disciples of Jesus called him `the Christ` (e.g. Mark 8:29, Acts 5:42, 9:22). After the resurrection of Jesus, the name Christ became one of Jesus´ names (e.g. Romans 5:6, 8, 6:4, 9).
Christianity
Religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus Christ. Focus of the faith is the death of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of sin and his miraculous resurrection. Jesus is the Messiah (In Greek named: Christ), whose coming was prophesied in the Torah and other parts of the Hebrew Bible.
■ Christianity: It started as practice of living faith at the Day of Pentecost after a supernatural revelation in a meeting when about three thousand were added to the group of believers and followers of Jesus the Messiah (Acts 2:1-47). ■ Islam: the existence of Christians within Arabian environment comes from the time of Muhammad. The Qur’an refers in many ways to Christianity, but also other documents in that period. Even the New Testament has a reference to a possible presence of Christianity in Arabia with the apostle Paul (Galatians 1:17).Commandments
Divine Law, for the first time revealed by the prophet Moses.
■ Christianity: the law exposes our sins and claims for us God's gracious will.
Contradiction
A contradiction is a conflict between statements. The validity of one statement is denied by another statement. It is a disagreement between two things which means that both cannot be true.
Covenant
Power relations of contract partners with equal rights.
■ Christianity: Relation of Israel with God, broken by the transgressions of the Jews (Matthew 26:28).
Creation
Beginning and the continuation of this beginning of the world and humanity.
Crucifixion
Execution method carried out by some kind of stake or post. It was considered as dishonorable, cruel and the most severe form of the death penalty. Used by the Romans since 3rd century B.C.
Disciple
Follower of Jesus Christ who assists in spreading his teachings.
■ Christianity: learns by hearing Jesus Christ and doing like him (John 13:13-14, 15:16).
■ Islam: A believer (Qur’an 3:52, 5:111). According to Islam, the disciples of Jesus are true Muslims (Qur’an 61:14).
Eid ul-Adha
■ Islam: Muslim feast to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to follow Allah's command to sacrifice his son. God called Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice. However, God provided for Himself a sacrifice which was accepted as a replacement (Qur’an 37:102-107). Also called the Feast of the Sacrifice.
Eid ul-Fitr
■ Islam: Muslim feast marking the end of the fast of Ramadan. Also called the Sugar Feast.
Error
Departure from truth or accuracy.
■ Islam: Arabic: dalla. Means to err, to go astray or mistakes to belief and conduct. Qur'anic word "dalla" is more than 60 times in the Qur'an.
Gabriel
■ Islam: angel who brings the Qur’an as revelation to Muhammad. In Islam, Gabriel is identified with the Spirit of God. Example is that God’s Spirit is sent to Mary for the conception of Jesus (Qur’an 21:91). Gabriel is connected with revelation, tasks of the believers, reason and mystical messages.
God
Supreme Being: Creator, Ruler of the world and origin of all moral authority.
He gave Abraham fundamental promises.
■ Christianity: The God who reveals himself in Jesus Christ: holy, righteous, pure and perfect. He has involvement with people and showed in Jesus Christ his goodness at the cross as a sacrifce for sins.
■
Islam: The deity "Allah" was worshiped at Kaaba already before Islam as the one God. Allah as the highest God was stimulated by the arrival of Judaism and Christianity in the Arabian peninsula. Allah became the creator God, governor of his creation and judge in the hereafter. In the Qur'an, Allah is the highest divine being. Allah has made himself known to Muhammad and prophets before him. Allah in the Qur'an differs from the earlier Allah that all mankind must follow the divine law.
Gospel
Good news. The message about Jesus Christ, written in the books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible.
Hadith
■ Islam: Collections of sayings attributed to Muhammad. The most authoritative scriptural source in Islam after the Qur'an. Inspired by Muhammad's own initiative. Six collections are recognized as reliable and authoritative, including Bukhari and Muslim.
Hajj
■ Islam: Pilgrimage to Mecca. Mandatory activity for every Muslim with sufficient health and budget. Important practices are the festival of sacrifice and kissing the black stone, a rock at Kaaba.
Heaven
■ Christianity: Dwelling place of God and the saints who are ultimately saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Idolatry
Worshiping other gods or demons.
■ Christianity: one of the mission goals is to turn from idols to the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9, Acts 14:15).
Imam
■ Islam: Leading role in a Muslim community. He is usually a worshiper and leader of a mosque and takes care of the mosque members. In many Muslim-dominated countries, the imam is one of the most powerful positions in the area.
Injil
■ Islam: the Arabic word “Injil” comes from the Greek woord “Evangelion”. In Islam the Book of the Gospel, received to Jesus. It is the divine message given to Jesus (Qur’an 5:46, 57:27). Injil is mentioned 12 times in the Qur’an, most of them in connection with the Torah to identify the “Scripure” (Bible). In the context of the Qur’an the Injilhas been given to Jesus in the same way God gave the Torah to Moses or the Qur’an to Muhammad.
Islam
Religion based on the Qur’an and promoted by Muhammad. The whole body of Muslim peoples, countries and states, both cultural and political.
Jannah
■ Islam: Arabic word for the garden in heaven or paradise in the life after death. The Arabic word is derived from “to cover, to conceal and to protect”. It are gardens hidden from the eyes of human beings. It is also the place where Adam lived before he sinned (Qur’an 2:35).
Jesus
Miraculous born and faultless living miracle worker, who is the foundation of the Christian message of salvation. He is the Messiah, also named Christ.
Jew
■ Islam: Arabic word is “yahud”. They are also mentioned “People of Israel” or “People of the Book” as reference to the revealed Scriptures. Jews share the title “People of the Book” with Christians. Jews are called believers and capable to reach Paradis according to Qur’an 2:62. Howeve the Qur’an also calls Jews sinners, because they have not accepted Jesus as Messiah and even murdered their own prophets, not following the Torah. Therefore the Jews have lost their position as favorite people of God.
Jihad
■ Islam: Striving. “Greater Jihad” is the battle against desire and purification of the inner being. The “Lesser Jihad” is the military campaign to fight for the position of Islam as holy war.
Judgment
Where a difference is made between the believers and unbelievers in the hereafter.
■ Christianity: Jesus Christ will judge the people in righteousness (John 5:22-24). For believers in Jesus the Messiah, there is guarantee that they will go to eternal Paradise (Luke 23:41-43, John 3:16).
■ Islam: Each soul must defend itself (Qur'an 16:112) and man's deeds will be weighed.
Kaaba
A building in a cube shape within the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Inside the building is a black stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad).
■ Islam: According to the Qur’an, Abraham raised with his son the foundations of the Kaaba. It is the holiest site in Islam. Muslims are expected to pray in the direction of the Kaaba. Pilgrimage to Kaaba is one of the pillars of Islam and required for healthy Muslims.
Law
Guidelines and rules within a system to govern moral behaviour.
■ Christianity: Divine Law revealed to Moses.
■ Islam: Laws are made up of Sharia and jurisprudence in Islam.
Mary
The mother of Jesus. She had a virginal conception of Jesus.
■ Christianity: Jesus warned to bless Mary (Luke 11:27-28).
■ Islam: Praised and honored in chapter 3 and 19 in the Qur'an.
Messiah
God´s anointed. Ideal ruler and figure in the hereafter.
Muslim
A practitioner of Islam or someone who submits to Allah through and belongs to the community of Islam.
Nabi
■ Islam: Prophet sent by God with his message.
Orphan
Child who has lost his parents.
■ Christianity: God mandates that we care for the orphans (e.g. Exodus 22:22-25, Deuteronomy 24:17-25).
■ Islam: Muhammad was an orphan (Qur’an 93:6). The Qur'an shows Allah's providence towards an orphan.
Paradise
Very special, beautiful and perfect place, created by God for human beings.
■ Christianity: Paradise was before the first sin of mankind. The perfect place for human beings is according to the New Testament replaced by Heaven, the eternal life in God's love and peace to reign forever and ever. (Revelation 2:7, 21:1-27, 22:1-5).
■ Islam: Janna. The blessed place forever after the Day of Judgment with excellent food, jewels and other pleasant things. A garden with fruit, rivers, virgins, carpets and comfortable pillows (Qur'an 47:15, 56:1-40, 55:70-74).
People of Israel
■ Islam: Term in the Qur´an for Israelites or Jews. Most references in the Qur´an are to the Israelites of the time of Moses. According to the Qur´an, the Children of Israel were God´s chosen community, but they lost their status after they betrayed God´s goodness. The Qur´an calls the sins of the Children of Israel and mentions that Jesus cursed them for their deeds (Qur'an 5:78).
People of the Book
■ Islam: Jews and Christians. Also called "People of the Scripture". Term in the Qur'an, Arabic: Ahl al-kitab. People who have a holy book are of divine origin or are given such a book or a part of it (Qur'an 2:144-145, 3:19-20). In all cases, sending down a holy book means a special act of grace on the part of God who chose certain people. The Jews and Christians were chosen to be the receivers of the holy book, the Bible.
Prophet
Person who has a personal relation with the monotheistic deity.
Qibla
■ Islam: Direction of prayer for Muslims. Standard direction is Mecca. In history, Jerusalem also has been a direction of prayer. Qur’an 2:142-150 informs about Qibla as an example for all believers. In Islam the believers should turn their faces toward the sacred place of worship Kaaba in Mecca
Qur'an
Scripture of the Muslims.
Ramadan
■ Islam: Fasting period during one month. There is every year another first day of the fasting period.
Repentance
Change in a person's attitude, will and behavior, accompanied by feelings of sorrow and regret for actions in the past.
Resurrection
Revival of the man as a whole, after a period of death.
■ Christianity: Belief in the resurrection is a requirement for salvation (Romans 4:25).
■ Islam: Resurrection is also the Day of Judgment (Qur'an 78:18-20, 18:99).
Revelation
To show a reality or message, hidden for mortals.
Ruh
■ Islam: Spirit of God in the Qur’an. Jesus is called Ruh in Qur'an 4:171.
Sahabah
■ Islam: Companions, pupils, scribes and family of Muhammad. There are three categories: (a) Badriyans - Muslims at the time of Badar; (b) Kubbar - Muslims before the victory of Mecca and (c) Forgiven people – People who became a Muslim after the time of victory of Mecca.
Salvation
Rescue action of God in Jesus Christ with love to overcome evil and death and giving everlasting life in a relation with God.
Sam Shamoun
■ Christianity: Christian Apologist to Islam by debating with Muslims and refuting accusations to Christianity. He was born in Kuwait, emigrated to the United States and became an evangelical Christian.
Satan
■ Islam: fallen angelor jinn. Also named Iblis or Shaytan. Corresponds with the Biblical figure of the Devil. The name Iblis is used in the texts about the creation of Adam and the fall of the Devil. Iblis is cures by God and stoned. Iblis has been given the power to bring temptation to people who are not true believers. Satan can cause fear (Qur’an 3:175), lead astray (Qur’an 4:60) and can bring temptation (Qur’an 7:27, 47:25).
Sharia
■ Islam: Law established by Allah. Islamic rules, created by jurists and specialists in religious law, that are to applied to the religious and social life of Muslims.
Shrik
■ Islam: Idol worship by associating another god with Allah. To associate something with Allah is forbidden in the Qur'an.
Sin
Breach and serious shortcomings in the living relation with God. Examples: lying, steeling and killing.
■ Christianity: Disobedience and opposition to do the will of God. Forgiveness of sin is possible by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Result is that man is able to enjoy the blessings of God and peace again (John 10:9-10).
■ Islam: Sin is pride to God (Qur'an 12:53) and forgiveness of sin is easy to reach (Qur'an 57:28).
Soul
Connection with the self and eternal life.
■ Christianity: Only God can destroy the soul (Matthew 10:39).
■ Islam: after resurrection, unbelieving souls suffer punishment, while believing souls have wealth.
Sufi
■ Islam: Mystical branch of Islam. It is called Tasawwuf. It teaches self-denial to reach a union with the Supreme Being. Practices of this branch are special life-style, values, rituals, doctrines and organizations. Within Islam this branch is most close to Christianity because of its orientation to revelation and living faith.
Sunnah
■ Islam: Arabic term for way of acting. It is defined outside the Qur’an as a way of acting approved or disapproved. Within mainstream Islam it refers to the words and actions or example of Prophet Muhammad.
Surah
■ Islam: a literary unit of undeterminded length in the Qur'an. Popular translation is: chapter. The title was not available in the early manuscripts of the Qur’an, but have been registered on printed editions. The title was follewed by a number to identify the position of it within the 114 Surahs of the Qur’an. Because some Surahs have more than one title, there is no consistency between the names. Organization in Surahs have been discovered not earlier than Umayyad Caliph (644-656).
Torah
Totality of the commandments of the covenant between God and his people.
■ Christianity: First five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Numbets, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
■ Islam: Divine law, brought as a book by the prophet Moses.
Ubavy ibn Kaab
■ Islam: One of the writers of the Qur’an in Muhammad’s time.
Veil
Piece of cloth worn by women to cover a part of the head.
■ Islam: Muslim woman is required only to go out if their head, a part of the face and the body are covered.
Virgin
A person who has not experienced sexual intercourse. A virgin is connected with personal purity, honor and worth.
■ Christianity: Sexual fasting or self-control as chastity to be pure before the return of Jesus Christ.
■ Islam: Qur'anic word "Housin" means young and beautiful virgin women in Paradise. Promised to God fearing believers, including martyrs.
Wajh Allah
Face of Allah. This expression means: “For the love of Allah”.
Word of God
Manifestation of the will of God.
■ Christianity: Word of God is Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14).
■
Islam: read revelation. Word of God is also the Word from God (Qur’an 3:45, 4:171).
Xtian
Other name for a Christian. "X" is the first letter of Χριστός, the Greek word for Christ. Associated with radical Christians or radical discipleship.
Yusuf Ali
■ Islam: Muslim scholar who translated the Qur'an into English in 1938. His English translation of is one of the most widely known and used by both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Zakat
■ Islam: Obligatory charity. One of the 5 pillars of Islam. In early Islam tax on food, jewels and merchandise. Later it a part of the harvest or income.
