History Islamic words

Abbasid Dynasty

From 750-1258 this was the 3rd dynasty of the Islamic Caliphate. They built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate.

Vizier

-a high government official in ancient Egypt or in Muslim countries
-the right-hand man to the caliph

Seljuk Turks

-nomadic Turks from Asia who conquered Baghdad in 1055 and allowed the caliph to remain only as a religious leader
-they governed strictly
-attacked Byzantines and conquered Jerusalem

Mamluks

-Muslim slave warriors
-established a dynasty in Egypt
- defeated the Mongols at Ain Jalut in 1260 and halted Mongol advance

Cordoba

-capital of Muslim Spain (al-Andalus)
-an economic center
-hundreds of workshops
-culture and learning flourished there

Battle of Tours

(732 CE) European victory over Muslims. It halted Muslim movement into Western Europe

Muhammad

the Arab prophet who founded Islam (570-632)

Bedouins

small groups of nomadic people in Arabia

Polygyny

having more than one wife at a time

Allah

Islamic God

Mecca

-City in western Arabia
-birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad
-ritual center of the Islamic religion

quran

the sacred text of Islam

Medina

-also known as Yathrib
-City in western Arabia to which the Prophet Muhammad and his followers emigrated in 622 to escape persecution in Mecca.

Hegira

Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina

Ka'aba

The most sacred temple of Islam, located at Mecca

People of the Book

what Muslims called Christians and Jews which means that they too only believe in one God

Five Pillars of Islam

true Muslims were expected to follow this principle of Salvation:
-belief in Allah
-pray 5 times a day
-giving of alms
- fasting during Ramadan
-pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime

Jihad

A holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral or spiritual or political goal

Ramadan

the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.

Shariah

- a law code drawn up by Muslim scholars after Muhammad's death
- it provided believers with a set of practical laws to regulate their daily lives

Abu Bakr

first caliph after death of Muhammad

Caliph

successor to Muhammad as political and religious leader of the Muslims

Ali

-the fourth caliph of Islam who is considered to be the first caliph by Shiites
-Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin

Sunnis

Muslims belonging to branch of Islam believing that the community should select its own leadership. The majority religion in most Islamic countries.

Shias

Followers of Islam who believe leaders of Islam were descendants of Muhammad

Dar al-Islam

an Arabic term that means the "house of Islam" and that refers to lands under Islamic rule

Umayyad Dynasty

Arabic dynasty, with its capital at Damascus, that was marked by a tremendous period of expansion to Spain in the west and India in the east

Imam

the person who leads prayers in a mosque.

Dhows

Large ships favored by Indian, Persian, and Arab sailors that could carry up to four hundred tons of cargo.

Averroes

-Spanish-Arabian philosopher and doctor
-wrote commentaries on Aristotle
-emphasized the compatibility of faith and reason
- said philosophical knowledge was derived from reason

female infanticide

the intentional killing of baby girls due to the preference for male babies and from the low value associated with the birth of females

Dowries

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage

Hijab

A head covering worn in public by some Muslim women.

Sufis

Muslim mystics who seek communion with God through meditation, fasting, and other rituals