The Christian Encounter with Islam: Research Tools
ISLAM BOOK RESOURCES
in RTS Libraries
Quick-Finding Aid
This guide is meant to help students browse book resources on our shelves by Library of Congress (LC) Classification (call numbers). We have only listed *some of the primary locations*; for a fuller search, you need to do a subject or keyword search in the online catalog http://library.rts.edu/. See also a “Subject Heading Searches" relating to Islam to help your research.
LC Call Number range |
Subject(s) |
B 740-753 |
Islamic Philosophy |
BJ 1291-1292 |
Islamic ethics |
BP 1-253 |
Islamic Studies (the primary section for research on Islam; Qur’anic studies, life of Muhammed, the Hadith, etc.) |
BT 1170 |
Christian apologetics and Islam |
BV 2625-2626 |
Christian mission to Islam (see also missions to Muslim countries) |
D 151-173 |
The Crusades |
DS 35-39 |
Islamic Civilization and History (see also history of individual countries) |
HQ 525.I8 |
Family in Islam |
HQ 1170 |
Women in Islam |
PJ 6070-6819 |
Arabic Language |
This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some subject headings to get you started.
Islam – 20th century
Islam – 21st century
Islam – Apologetic works
Islam – Appreciation
Islam – Customs and practices
Islam – Doctrines
Islam – Government
Islam – History
Islam – Missions
Islam – Liturgical objects
Islam – Prayers and devotions
Islam – Relations
Islam – Research
Islam – Rituals
Islam – Study and teaching
Islam and civil society
Islam and culture
Islam and justice
Islam and philosophy
Islam and politics
Islam and reason
Islam and science
Islam and secularism
Islam and social problems
Islam and state
Islam and world politics
Civilization, Islamic
Civilization, Islamic – Study and teaching
Courts, Islamic
Islamic countries – Civilization
Islamic countries – Study and teaching
Islamic education
Islamic Empire
Islamic ethics
Islamic fundamentalism
Islamic law
Islamic religious education
Islamic sects
Islamic shrines
Islamic sociology
Muslims – Dietary laws
Muslims – Intellectual life
Muslims – Non-Muslim countries
Muslims in population
Muslim children
Muslim converts
Muslim converts from Christianity
Muslim converts from Judaism
Muslim criminals
Muslim diaspora
Muslim martyrs
Muslim philosophers
Muslim saints
Scholars, Muslim
Theologians, Muslim
There are many variant spellings for most of these terms. A simple google search can give you many of these variants.
Adhan The call to prayer
Al Hijra Muslim New Years’s Day; commemorates the migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE
Allah God; the Supreme Being
Allahu Akbar God is great – often said as a greeting
Amina Muhammad’s mother
Angel Messenger from God
Ayatollah “Sign of God” – religious leader in Shi’a Islam
Bismallah An invocation used by Muslims before beginning any task or journey
Burka A shawl worn by women at prayer which covers the head and arms
Chador Black veil sometimes worn by Muslim women
Dervish A member of the Sufi religious order
Dhikr The recitation of the names of God
Eid/Id A festival – pronounced “Eed”
Eid-ul-Adha The major festival when pilgrims make their sacrifices tin the valley of Mina during Hajj (special pilgrimage to Mecca)
Eid-ul-Fitr The feast of the breaking of the fast. This marks the end of the time of fasting called Ramadan
Eid Mubarak A greeting. Arabic for “Happy Festival”
Eidi Presents given at Muslim festivals
Hadith Collection of stories about Muhammad’s words and actions
Hajj Special journey or pilgrimage to Mecca, the most holy place of Islam (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)
Hajji Name given to a man who has performed the Hajj (journey to Mecca)
Hajin Name given to a woman who has performed Hajj
Halal Meat which is permitted because it has been ritually slaughtered in the name of God and the blood drained from it.
Haram Sacred – sanctuary; usually refers to the area around Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, the three holy places of Islam. Also used to denote anything which is prohibited.
Hijra The prophet Muhammad’s departure from Mecca to go to Medina
Ibadah Worship
Ihram Two sheets of white unsewn cloth worn by men on the Hajj
Imam The prayer leader
Iman Faith, belief
Islam Submission to God
Ka’aba Literally “the cube” – found in the central shrine at Mecca
Khitan Circumcision
Khutba The sermon delivered in the mosque during prayer time on Fridays
Kiswa The black cloth covering the Ka’aba at Mecca
Koran the Holy Book (sometimes referred to as The Qu’ran)
Mecca (sometimes Makkah) The city which is the centre of Islam – the most holy of the three holy places
Medina The city of the prophet (also Madinah)
Mihrab A recess in the mosque wall which denotes the direction of prayer, ie facing towards Mecca
Minaret Tall tower at the mosque from where the call to prayer is sent out to bring the faithful to prayer
Misbahah Prayer beads
Mosque Holy building for prayer and education
Mount Hira The mountain outside Mecca where Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qu’ran from Allah
Muezzin The person who calls the muslims to prayer
Muhammad The Holy Prophet (often written with pbuh after his name which refers to praise be unto him)
Muslim A follower of Islam – literally “one who surrenders to God”
Night of Power The night during the month of Ramadan when Allah began to reveal the Qu’ran to Muhammad
Pbuh “Praise be unto him” – said every time the name of Muhammad is mentioned
Pillars of Faith The five essential religious duties for Muslims
Qibla Marks the direction of prayer
Qu’ran The sacred book of Islam – revealed word from Allah
Ramadan The ninth month of the muslim calendar which marks a time of fasting from dawn to dusk
Ruku Bowing during prayer
Salat/Salah Ritual Prayer, observed five times a day (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)
Saum/Sawm A Fast (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)
Sharia Islamic Law
Shi’a An important branch of Islam
Shi’i/Shi’ite A member of Shi’a Islam
Sufi An Islamic mystic
Sunni An important branch of Islam
Sura A chapter of the Qu’ran
Tawhid The oneness of God
Topi Small cap worn by men at prayer
Umma The community of Muslims
Wudu/Wuzu Ritual washing before prayer
Zakat/Zakah The giving of alms to charity (one of the Five Pillars of Islam)