APWorld CH14

Five Pillars of Islam

The basic obligations taught by Muhammad that constitute the foundation of Islamic practice.

Ka'ba

A major shrine in Mecca; originally a pagan site, it was preserved by Muhammad and became the focus of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Sunnis

Known as "traditionalists," they represent the majority sect of Islam and accepted the legitimacy of the initial caliphs.

Hadith

The second most important source of Islamic authority, consisting of the documented sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ulama

Literally "people with religious knowledge," these scholars reached local prominence by interpreting and teaching the Quran and Sharia.

Qadis

Islamic judges who rendered decisions based on the Quran and Sharia to maintain social order and religious law.

Caravanserais

Inns and rest stations located along trade routes and within Islamic cities that provided lodging and food for merchants and their camels.

Lateen Sail

A triangular sail borrowed from Indian and Southeast Asian mariners that increased the maneuverability of ships in maritime trade.

Astrolabe

A navigational tool borrowed from Hellenistic mariners used to determine latitude, greatly enhancing sea travel accuracy.

Al-Ghazali

A famous Persian Sufi philosopher who believed human reason was insufficient to grasp the nature of Allah, favoring devotion instead.

Hindi Numerals

The numerical system adopted from India featuring the concept of zero, which Europeans later misidentified as "Arabic numerals."

Damascus

The central capital of the Umayyad Dynasty, located in Syria to facilitate administration over the Mediterranean region.

Baghdad

The magnificent capital city built by the Abbasid caliphs in Iraq, intended to serve as a center for trade, culture, and government.

Saljuq Turks

A nomadic group that eventually seized political control of the Abbasid empire, turning the caliphs into symbolic figureheads.

Hajj

The holy pilgrimage to the Ka'ba in Mecca, which serves

Bedouin

Nomadic people of the Arabian peninsula organized into family and clan groups who were important in long-distance trade.

Quran

The holy book of Islam, meaning "recitation," which contains the compiled revelations delivered to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel.

Hadith

A collection of secondary works in Islam that includes the sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Hijra

Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Medina in $622$ C.E., marking the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Umma

Refers to the cohesive community of Muslims established in Medina.

Seal of the Prophets

The title used by Muhammad to signify that he was the final prophet of Allah.

Sharia

Islamic law inspired by the Quran that offers detailed guidance on proper behavior in almost every aspect of life.

Caliph

Meaning "deputy," this was the title for the head of state, religious leader, and military commander who succeeded Muhammad.

Shia

The Islamic sect that originally supported Ali and his descendants as the legitimate caliphs.

Sunni

Known as "traditionalists," this Islamic sect accepted the legitimacy of the early caliphs.

Jizya

A head tax levied by the Umayyad dynasty on those who did not convert to Islam.

Ulama

Literally "people with religious knowledge," these scholars were central to Abbasid administration and local rule.

Sakk

Letters of credit used in the Islamic banking system that functioned as bank checks.

Al-Andalus

Islamic Spain, which was conquered by Muslim Berbers and became a center of excellence with its capital at Cordoba.

Sufis

Islamic mystics and effective missionaries who emphasized devotion to Allah through passionate singing, dancing, and ascetic lifestyles.