Islamic History and Law Review

These flashcards cover key concepts, terms, and definitions from Islamic history and law to aid in exam preparation.

Mawali

Non-Arab converts to Islam, treated as second-class Muslims under the Umayyads but gained greater equality under the Abbasids.

Ghulat

A branch of early Islam that is now extinct, prominent in the 8th and 9th centuries, holding a belief in the divine nature of Imams.

Ghayb

Means unseen or hidden, referring to God and the forces that shape the world.

Occultation

The 12th Imam went into a state of concealment and will reappear as the Mahdi at the end of time.

Mahdi

'The rightly guided one', a figure expected to appear before the Day of Judgment to restore justice and true Islam.

Khurasan

Center of early Islamic learning and base of the Abbasid revolution.

Kufa

A city in modern-day Iraq that became a stronghold of Ali’s supporters and an early center of Shia Islam.

Shi’ites

A branch of Islam that holds that leadership should remain within the family of the Prophet Muhammad.

Abbasids

Dynasty descended from al-Abbas, the Prophet's uncle, who overthrew the Umayyads.

Nass

The Shia doctrine that each Imam is explicitly designated by his predecessor under divine guidance.

Kharaj

Land tax levied on conquered non-Arab lands under Islamic rule, originally paid by non-Muslims.

Muhammad b. Ali al-‘Abbas

A descendant of al-Abbas who organized opposition to the Umayyads and laid the groundwork for the Abbasid revolution.

Abu Muslim

Military leader of the Abbasid revolution.

Jizya

Tax imposed on non-Muslims in exchange for protection and exemption from military service.

Abu al-‘Abbas al-Saffah

The first Abbasid caliph who defeated the Umayyads.

Al-Mansur

Second Abbasid caliph known for consolidating the empire and founding Baghdad.

Wazir

Minister or chief administrator, managing government affairs and finances.

Harun al-Rashid

Fifth Abbasid caliph, famous for his rule during the Islamic Golden Age.

Mihna

Period where scholars were killed unless they conformed to Mutazila ideas.

Shari’ah

The sacred law of Islam, the path to be followed.

Islam

Submission; a term for a Muslim who submits to God.

Four Roots of Law

The four main sources of Islamic law: Quran, Sunnah, Ijma, and Qiyas.

‘Urf

Custom or tradition widely accepted and practiced by a community, must be compatible with Sharia law.

Ra’y

Personal opinion or reasoned judgment used in juristic reasoning.

Qadi

Islamic judge responsible for administering justice according to Sharia in courts.

Mufti

Qualified jurist authorized to issue legal opinions (fatwas).

Ahl al-Hadith

People of the tradition, emphasizing Sunnah as the primary source of law.

Ahl al-Ra’y

People of opinion who rely more on reasoned judgment.

Ahl al-‘Urf

People of customs who consider established customs a valid basis for legal ruling.

Ahl al-Nazar

A group that also employs reasoning in legal rulings.

Kalam

Discipline concerned with establishing and defending the tenets of Islamic faith through rational arguments.

Mutakallimun

Practitioners of Kalam.

Fatwa

Legal ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a qualified jurist.

Abu Hanifa

Foundational figure of the Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence.

Malik b. Anas

Influential jurist who founded the Maliki school.

Fiqh

Human interpretation of Sharia law.

Muhammad Idris al-Shafi’i

Founder of the Shafi’i school of thought.

‘Ilm

Refers to religious knowledge, signifying God's own knowledge.

Usul al-fiqh

Roots of interpretation; principles for deriving legal rules.

Furu’

Branches of jurisprudence, specific detailed legal rulings derived from Sharia.

Naskh

Legal principle where a later revelation cancels or modifies an earlier one.

Maliki School

School that relies on practices of the Muslim community in Medina.

Hanafi School

Founded by Abu Hanifa, emphasizing reasoned opinion and is the largest school.

Shafi’i School

Utilizes the four roots of law (Usul al-Fiqh).

Strict adherence

Characteristic of the Hanbali School, focusing on the literal text of the Quran and Sunnah.

Ridda Wars

Wars launched by Abu Bakr against those who renounced Islam after Muhammad's death.

Shura

Consultation; a principle of Islamic governance requiring leaders to consult with the community.

Banu Umayya

Clan within Quraysh that established the Umayyad Caliphate.

Mu’awyia

Founder of the Umayyad Caliphate.

Iman

Faith in Islam; internal conviction regarding fundamental doctrines.

Murjia

School of thought holding that judgment about a Muslim's faith is reserved for Judgment Day.

Grave Sin

Leading others to sin, which is also considered sinful.

Qadar

Concept of God's power and knowledge over all events.

Qadariyah

School emphasizing free will and human ability to choose actions.

Jabr

Belief in predetermination, asserting humans have no free will.

Jabariyah

School that emphasized the lack of free will in human actions.

Theodicy

The problem of reconciling an all-good, all-powerful God with the existence of evil.

Intermediate Position

Core principle of Mutazila, asserting that grave sinners are neither full believers nor infidels.

Wasil b. ‘Ata

Founder of the Mutazila school.

Tawhid

Strict monotheism; belief in one God.

Negative Theology

Describes God by negating what God is not.

Ijaz al-Qur’an

Doctrine of the Quran's inimitability, asserting its miraculous eloquence.

Sifat Allah

Attributes of Allah.

Asbab al-Nuzul

Occasions of revelation, historical context for specific verses of the Quran.

Mongols

Historical group that posed threats to the Islamic world.

Mamluks

Defeated the Mongols to protect the Islamic world.

Seljuks

Overthrew the Buyids to re-establish a Shia dynasty.

Five Levels of Moral Value

1. Wajib (obligatory), 2. Mandub (recommended), 3. Mubah (permissible), 4. Makruh (discouraged), 5. Haram (forbidden).

Zināʾ

Unlawful sexual intercourse.

Khitān

Circumcision.

Taharah

Legal concept defining cleanliness.

Nikāḥ

Marriage.

Ṭalaq

Divorce.

Khulah

Separation initiated by the wife.

Sufism

Mystical Islamic belief and practice.

Fillahin

Average peasants.

Zuhd

Abstention from materialistic things.

Wahdat al-Wujud

Belief that all things are manifestations of God’s single reality.

Wahdat al-Shuhud

Experience of oneness with God, subjective but not objective.

Kashf

Unveiling of divine truth or spiritual reality.