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Islam Vocab
Vocabulary for Islam
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Bedouin | a desert-dwelling Arab nomad herders |
Muhammad | (c. 570-632) introduces the religion of Islam to southwestern Asia. According to Muslim belief, Muhammad heard the voice of the angel Gabriel instructing him to serve as a messenger of God |
Mecca | a city in western Saudi Arabia; the birthplace of Muhammad viewed by Muslim as the prophet of Islam and the most holy city of Islamic people |
Yathrib | final destination of Muhammad's hijra (journey) and the home of the first community of Muslims; later renamed Medina |
hijra | Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina in 622 |
Medina | a city in western Saudi Arabia; a city where Muhammad preached |
Kaaba | the most sacred temple of Islam, located a Mecca |
Quran | the holy book of Islam |
mosque | Muslim house of worship |
hajj | one of the Five Pillars of Islam; the pilgrimage that all Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime |
Sharia | a body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principals to everyday life |
Abu Bakr | Muhammad's father-in-law and an early convert to Islam, and the first Muslim caliph (successor) |
caliph | a successor to Muhammad as political and religious leader of Muslims |
Sunni | a member of one of one o the largest Muslim sects; believed that inspiration came from the example of Muhammad as recorded by his early followers |
Shiite | a member of one of the two major Muslim sects; believe that the descendants of Muhammad's daughter and son-in-law; Ali are the true Muslim leaders |
Sufi | Muslim mystic who seeks communion with God through meditation, fasting, and other rituals |
Umayyad | Sunni dynasty of caliphs that ruled from 661-750 |
Abbasid | dynasty that led in Baghdad from 750-1258 |
Baghdad | capital city of present-day Iraq; capital of the Muslim empire during Islam's golden age |
minaret | slender tower of a mosque, from which Muslim's are called to prayer |
sultan | Muslim ruler |