Religion

Islam in Georgia (country) Overview of Islam in the country of Georgia: history, demographics, denominations, regional distribution, and contemporary role of Muslim communities.

Islam in Pakistan: history, demographics, and societal role Islam in Pakistan An overview of Islam's place in Pakistan: demographics, major sects, historical development, constitutional role, cultural influence, and contemporary significance.

Islam in Russia: history, distribution, beliefs and contemporary role Islam in Russia An overview of Islam in Russia, outlining its historical roots, regional distribution, main schools and movements, cultural role, demographic trends and contemporary developments.

Islam in the United Arab Emirates Islam in UAE Overview of Islam's role in the UAE: history, demographics, religious life, legal framework, public practice, and relations with non-Muslim communities.

Islamic calendar (Hijri) — the lunar calendar for Muslim religious observances Islamic calendar The Islamic or Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar of 12 months used to determine Islamic ritual dates such as Ramadan and Hajj. It began with the Hijra (c. 622 CE) and shift…

Islamic fundamentalism: overview, development, and contemporary forms Islamic fundamentalism Islamic fundamentalism refers to movements that seek a public and legal order based on literalist readings of Islamic scripture and traditions, varying widely in goals and methods.

Islamic terrorism Violent acts carried out by individuals or groups who claim Islamic motivations or goals; distinct from Islam as a religion and widely rejected by mainstream Muslim authorities.

Islamic theology: beliefs, schools, and historical development Islamic theology Overview of Islamic theology (ʿaqīda and kalām): core doctrines, major schools (Muʿtazila, Ashʿari, Maturidi, Shīʿi thought), historical development, and contemporary significance.

Islamic world: community, history, and contemporary significance Islamic world Overview of the Islamic world: its religious community (umma), geographic and cultural diversity, historical development, institutions, and contemporary roles in global affairs.

Islamophobia: definition, forms, causes, and social impact Islamophobia Overview of Islamophobia: what it means, how it appears in society, historical context, common examples and impacts, and the distinction between criticism of ideas and prejudice ag…

Ismaili (Ismailiya): a branch of Shia Islam Ismaili Ismailis are a branch of Shia Islam who recognize Isma'il ibn Ja'far as the rightful successor in the line of imams. They include Nizari and Musta'li groups and have distinct relig…

Iwa Shrine (Iwa Jinja) — Shinto shrine in Shiso, Hyōgo Prefecture Iwa Shrine Iwa Shrine (Iwa jinja) is a Shinto shrine in Shiso, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. This article outlines its location, typical shrine features, historical context, festivals, and role in…

Jagannath: the Lord of the Universe, deity and cult of Puri Jagannath Jagannath is a widely venerated form of the Hindu deity associated with Krishna and Vishnu, best known from the wooden icons and the annual Rath Yatra at the temple of Puri in Odis…

Jagannath Temple, Pabna (Handial Mandir) Jagannath Temple, Pabna A historic Hindu temple in Pabna District, Bangladesh, noted for its terracotta ornamentation, regional importance, and ongoing conservation concerns related to soil salinity.

Jah (Yah): the short form of the divine name YHWH Jah Jah or Yah is a shortened form of the divine name YHWH in Hebrew tradition, appearing in worship words like hallelujah, in theophoric names, and in religious movements such as Rast…

Jainism: beliefs, practices, history and distinctives Jainism Jainism is an ancient Indian religious and philosophical tradition emphasizing non‑violence, liberation of the soul, strict ethical conduct, and a distinctive metaphysical view of…

Jannah: The Islamic Conception of Paradise Jannah Jannah (Arabic: جنّة) is the Islamic idea of paradise — a garden of reward and rest described in the Quran and hadith, often pictured as gardens, rivers and dwelling places for the…

Jehovah's Witnesses: beliefs, history, organization, and practices Jehovah's Witnesses Overview of Jehovah's Witnesses: their core beliefs, origins in the late 19th century, organizational structure, public activities, and the practices that distinguish them from man…

Jews as the Chosen People: Origins, Meaning, and Modern Interpretations Jews as the chosen people An overview of the Jewish idea that Jews are chosen by God, covering biblical origins, religious meanings like tikkun olam, denominational differences, and contemporary expressions…

Jihad (Islamic concept of struggle) Jihad Jihad is an Arabic term meaning struggle or effort. In Islamic tradition it has spiritual, legal and political dimensions ranging from personal self-improvement to regulated collec…

Jiming Temple (Jiming Si) — Historic Buddhist Temple in Nanjing Jiming Temple Jiming Temple (Jiming Si) is an ancient Buddhist temple in Nanjing, China. Originating around the Western Jin, rebuilt under the Ming, reduced after 19th‑century destruction and la…

Jizya: the historical tax on non-Muslim subjects in Islamic polities Jizya Jizya was a historical poll tax levied on non-Muslim subjects (dhimmī) in many Muslim-ruled states. This article explains its purpose, legal basis, variants, historical practice, e…

Jönköping Pentecostal Church (Jönköpings pingstkyrka) Jönköping Pentecostal Church A Pentecostal congregation and church building in central Jönköping, Sweden, inaugurated in 1981; active in worship, community activities and local ecumenical life within the Swedi…

Joss stick A joss stick is a slender incense stick used widely across Asia for religious offerings, meditation, and scenting spaces. This article explains its composition, cultural roles, bur…

Joy Kali Temple, Dhaka: shrine, rituals, and community role Joy Kali Temple Joy Kali Temple is a Hindu shrine in Dhaka, Bangladesh, devoted to the goddess Kali. The article outlines its location, iconography, rituals, community functions, and cultural sign…

Judaism: beliefs, history, sacred texts and cultural practice Judaism Judaism is the oldest surviving Abrahamic faith, centered on the covenant between the Jewish people and God. Overview of beliefs, sacred texts, rituals, history, denominations, and…

Judeo-Aramaic languages Group of Aramaic varieties used by Jewish communities from the Second Temple era through the medieval period, attested in Targums, the Talmud, liturgy and in later Jewish Neo-Arama…

Jumada al-Ula (Jumada al-Awwal) — the fifth month of the Islamic calendar Jumada al-Ula Jumada al-Ula is the fifth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, lasting 29 or 30 days. Its date shifts annually against the Gregorian year; the name has several transliterations an…

Jumu'ah: Friday Congregational Prayer in Islam Jumu'ah Jumu'ah is the weekly Friday congregational prayer in Islam, combining a sermon (khutbah) and a communal prayer that replaces the regular midday (dhuhr) prayer and holds special re…

Justification (theology) Justification is the theological doctrine that describes how a person is declared right with God. It covers biblical roots, key concepts (imputation, infusion), Reformation debates…

Kabbalah: an overview of Jewish mystical tradition Kabbalah Kabbalah is a stream of Jewish mysticism that explores divine emanation, the structure of reality and spiritual practice. Its texts, symbols and methods developed from antiquity th…

Kafir (Islamic term for unbeliever) Kafir Kafir is an Arabic term used in Islamic texts for a person who disbelieves or rejects Islamic faith. The term has theological, legal, historical, and contemporary dimensions and is…

Kagyu (Kagyü) school of Tibetan Buddhism Kagyu One of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Kagyu tradition emphasizes meditative transmission, the Mahamudra teaching, and lineages traced through experiential master–discipl…

Kal Bhairab Temple, Brahmanbaria Kal Bhairab Temple in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, is a Hindu shrine famed for its very large Shiva linga and the worship of Kali. It is a regional pilgrimage site with local historic…

Kali: Hindu goddess of time, destruction, and transformative power Kali Kali is a major Hindu goddess associated with time, death, destruction, and maternal protection. Central to Shaktism and Tantric traditions, she symbolizes fierce power, transforma…

Kali Yuga: the Fourth Age in Hindu Chronology Kali Yuga Kali Yuga is the fourth and final age in the cyclical Hindu concept of yugas, traditionally associated with moral decline, social disorder, and materialism; its duration and start…

Kaliya Jue Temple, Dinajpur Sadar — a Krishna shrine in Bangladesh Kaliya jue Temple Kaliya Jue Temple is a Hindu shrine in Dinajpur Sadar, Bangladesh, dedicated to Krishna and located west of the Dinajpur Rajbari. It serves local religious life and reflects region…

Kami: Shinto spirits, nature deities, and cultural role Kami Kami are spirits or divine forces in Shinto associated with natural phenomena, places, ancestors and events; they inform shrines, rituals, festivals and many aspects of Japanese cu…

Karaikal Ammaiyar Temple Hindu temple in Karaikal dedicated to Karaikal Ammaiyar, a celebrated Shaiva saint and one of the 63 Nayanmars, noted for her devotional poetry and local religious importance in Pu…

Karaite Judaism: beliefs, history, and communities Karaite Judaism Karaite Judaism is a Jewish movement that recognizes only the Hebrew Bible as authoritative, rejects the rabbinic Oral Torah, and emphasizes individual interpretation and scriptura…

Kashima-jingū Kashima-jingū is an ancient Shinto shrine in Kashima, Ibaraki. Dedicated to the deity of thunder and martial power, it is a regional religious center with long ties to Japan's samu…

Kemetism (Kemeticism): Modern Revival of Ancient Egyptian Religion Kemetism Kemetism is a modern religious movement that seeks to revive or reconstruct the religion of ancient Egypt. It blends research from Egyptology with contemporary ritual practice and…

Khanqah (Sufi lodge) Khanqah A khanqah is a Sufi lodge — a communal building for spiritual retreat, teaching, hospitality, and ritual practice in the Islamic world, with distinct architecture, history, and reg…

Khatib (Khateeb): The Islamic Sermon Leader Khatib A khatib is the person who delivers the khutbah (sermon) for Friday and festival prayers in Islam. This article explains the role, typical duties, qualifications, historical backgr…

Khutbah: The Islamic Sermon — Purpose, Structure, and Practice Khutbah Khutbah (khuṭbah) is the formal sermon in Islam delivered on occasions such as Friday prayer, Eid and funerals. This article explains its structure, history, roles, and contemporar…

Kiddush — Jewish sanctification recited for Shabbat and festivals Kiddush Kiddush is the ritual blessing that sanctifies Shabbat and Jewish festivals, recited over wine or grape juice at home and in synagogue, often followed by a communal meal and tradit…

Kimbanguism — Central African Christian Movement Founded by Prophet Simon Kimbangu Kimbanguism Kimbanguism, founded by Simon Kimbangu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is an African independent Christian movement centered at N'kamba that blends Christian scripture, prophe…

King Fahd Mosque (Culver City, California) King Fahd Mosque, Culver City Largest mosque complex in Culver City, built with Saudi support; serves as a religious, educational and community center with notable architecture and daily prayers.