Abraham is the patriarch of the three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. His lineage is traced to a chain of prophecy starting with Adam and culminating in Muhammad. Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmael (Ismail) built the Kaaba in Mecca, the city of Prophet Muhammad’s birth
The first human fashioned by God from clay. The name “Adam” refers to all “humankind”. Adam succumbed to the temptation of Satan, and along with his wife Eve (Hawa) was banished from the Garden of Eden for disobeying God’s command to not eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.
Adhan means “Call to Prayer” in Arabic. It starts with “Allahu Akbar” and includes the Kalimah, the Muslim article of faith. It is recited out loud by a Muezzin (crier) before the five daily prayers, and before Friday’s congregational prayer.
Allah means God in Arabic. People following the Abrahamic faiths, including Arab Christians and Jews, refer to God by the name “Allah.” Allah has no gender and, being infinite, is beyond complete definition and human comprehension.
Allahu Akbar means “God is great” or “there is nothing greater than God Almighty,” a term Muslims use in their daily prayers. A Muslim hears “Allahu Akbar” when they are first born, and utters it at the very end of their life. Shouting “Allahu Akbar” before a terror attack is illegitimate in Islam, and perverts the teachings of the Qur’an.
Ayatollah an honorific title used by high-ranking Shia clergy. It designates a person as a “sign” or “reflection” of God among humankind. Shia Muslims also use it in reference to the 12 Imams.
