Spread of Islam

Chapter 6

Abbasids

Dynasty that succeeded the Umayyads as caliphs within Islam; came to power in 750 C.E.

Abu Bakr

One of Muhammad’s earliest converts; succeeded Muhammad as first caliph of Islamic community.

Allah

Supreme God in strictly monotheistic Islam.

Ali

Cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad; one of orthodox caliphs; focus for Shi’a.

Ayan

A wealthy and deeply entrenched landed elite.

Baghdad

Capital of Abbasid dynasty located in Iraq near ancient Persia capital of Ctesiphon.

Battle of Siffin

Fought in 657 between forces of Ali and Umayyads; settled by negotiation that led to fragmentation of Ali’s party.

Bedouin

Nomadic pastoralists of the Arabian peninsula; culture based on camel and goat nomadism; early converts of Islam.

Caliph

The political and religious successor to Muhammad

Damascus

Syrian city that was capital of Umayyad caliphate.

Hajj

A Muslim pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, to worship Allah at the Ka’ba.

Islam

Major world religion having its origins in 610 C.E. in the Arabian peninsula; meaning literally submission; based on prophecy of Muhammad.

Jihads

Struggle; often used for wars in defense of the faith.

Ka’ba

Most revered religious shrine in Pre-Islamic Arabia; located in Mecca; focus on obligatory annual truceamong Bedouin tribes; later incorporated as important shrine in Islam.

Karbala

Site of death and defeat of Husayn son of Ali; marked beginning of Shi’a resistance to Umayyad caliphate.

Mawali

Non-Arab converts to Islam.

Mecca

City located in mountainous region along Red Sea in Arbian peninsula; founded by Umayyad Clan of Quraysh; site of Ka’ba; original home of Muhammad; location of chief religious pilgrimage point in Islam.

Medina

Also known as Yathrib; town located north-east of Mecca; grew date palms whose fruit was sold to Bedouins; became refuge for Muhammad following flight from Mecca.

Mu’awiya

Leader of Umayyad clan; first Umayyad caliph following civil war with Ali.

Muhammad

Prophet of Islam; born c.570 to Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh tribe in Mecca

Quran

Recitations of revelations received by Muhammad; holy book of Islam.

Quraysh

Tribe of Bedouins that controlled Mecca in 7^thcentury C.E.

Ridda Wars

Wars that followed Muhammad’s death in 632; resulted in defeat of rival prophets and some of larger clans; restored unity of Islam.

Shi’a

Also known as Shi’ites; political and theological division within Islam; followers of Ali.

Sunnis

Political and theological division within Islam; supported the Umayyads.

Shaykhs

Leaders of tribes and clans within Bedouin society; usually men with large herds, several wives and many children.

Umayyad

Clan of Quraysh that dominated politics and commercial economy of Mecca; clan established dynasty as rulers of Islam, 661 to 750.

Uthman

Third caliph and member of Umayyad clan; murdered by mutinous warriors returning from Egypt; death set off civil war in Islam between followers of Ali and the Umayyad clan.

Wazir

Chief administration official under the Abbasid caliphate; initially recruited from Persian provinces of empire.