Muhammad's escape from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) is known as:
Kaaba
a shrine to local gods in Mecca; before the birth of Muhammad
Allah
Islam's name for the one true God
Umayyad
the first Islamic dynasty; rule passed down within the family. They moved the capital from Medina to Damascus
Abbasid
In 750 this dynasty overthrew the Umayyad dynasty and moved the capital to Baghdad. Dynasty lasted until 1258 when the Mongols attacked.
Quran
the Muslim holy book. The record of the revelations to Muhammad.
Sunnah
provides Muslims with guidelines to live a proper life;
Hadith
a collection of narrations of Muhammad's life
Shahadah
declaration of faith; the 1st Pillar; testify or bear witness
Hajj
the 5th Pillar; the pilgrimage (journey) to Mecca
Shari'ah
Islamic law code based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
Qadi
a judge ruling in accordance with the sharia, Islamic religious law. They have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims
Mufti
interprets Islamic law; rules if the application of the criminal law is in accord with Islamic jurisprudence and the sharia and sometimes overrules criminal courts.
Jihad
a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty; or a personal struggle in devotion to Islam especially involving spiritual discipline
Ramadan
the ninth month of the Islamic year observed as sacred with fasting practiced daily from dawn to sunset
Ummah
the Community of Believers - the whole Islamic Nation - all believers
Imam
Arabic for leader; the Caliph
sultan
Muslim rulers who claimed almost full sovereignty in practical terms, without claiming the overall Caliphate
mosque
a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith
muezzin
is a chosen person at the mosque who leads the call (adhan) to Friday service and the five daily prayers
Al-Kindi
best known for his efforts to introduce philosophy to the Arab world; translated the greek texts 801-873
scientist, philosopher, mathematician, physician, and musician
Ibn Sina
Greatest Muslim doctor, known as Avicenna in Europe. His most famous works are The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine
Al-Jahiz
was a famous Arab scholar and writer. He was an Arabic prose writer, historian, and author of works of literature, Mu'tazili theology, and politico-religious polemics.
