islam terms history hl

Fulani Jihads

A series of religious wars in West Africa, led by the Fulani people during the 18th and 19th centuries, aiming to spread Islam and establish Islamic governance.

Jihad

An Arabic term meaning "striving" or "struggling," often used to describe the internal struggle for righteousness or the defense of Islam.

Sokoto caliphate

A Sunni Muslim caliphate founded by Usman dan Fodio in 1804 after the Fulani jihads, covering parts of modern-day Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger, dissolved in 1903.

Hausaland

A historical region in West Africa, home to the Hausa people, known for trade, agriculture, and culture, which was later conquered by the Fulani in the 19th century.

alawi dynasty

The current royal family of Morocco, claiming descent from Prophet Muhammad through his grandson, Hasan ibn Ali.

berber highlanders

Indigenous ethnic groups from the mountainous regions of North Africa, particularly Morocco, Algeria, and Libya, known for maintaining autonomy after the Arab conquests.

plaque

A highly contagious bacterial disease, often causing fever, delirium, and swelling of lymph nodes (buboes), with historical outbreaks like the Black Death.

mamluks

Non-Arab, ethnically diverse slave soldiers who held high-ranking military and administrative positions in the Muslim world.

ethnography

The study of cultures through direct observation, focusing on understanding social behaviors and interpreting them from the subject's point of view

Muhammad ali (egpyt)

The Ottoman viceroy who became the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848, modernizing the country and establishing a powerful dynasty.

tariqa

A Sufi order or spiritual path, following a sheikh, focused on self-purification (tazkiya) and spiritual enlightenment (ihsan).

fatwa

A legal ruling in Islamic law issued by a qualified jurist (mufti) in response to a specific question.

madrasa

An educational institution, often religious, focused on teaching Islam, though it may also offer other subjects.

mahdi

In Islamic eschatology, the Mahdi is a messianic figure who will appear at the end of times to rid the world of evil and injustice. Shia and Sunni beliefs about the Mahdi differ.

caliph

A political and religious leader in Islam, often considered the successor to Prophet Muhammad. The caliphate led to many civil wars and regional conflicts.

shia islam (imams)

Imams are seen as infallible leaders from the family of Prophet Muhammad, with 12 Imams in Twelver Shia belief, the last being the Mahdi

sunni islam (imams)

Imams are prayer leaders and community guides who can be anyone who has studied Islamic sciences.

sudanic kingdoms

A region in West Africa, historically known as "bilad-al-Sudan" or the "Land of Blacks," encompassing the Sahel and surrounding areas with a rich history of agriculture, trade, and urban culture.

moor

Term used by Europeans to describe Muslim inhabitants of the Maghreb during the era of al-Andalus (711–1492).

maghreb

A region in North Africa that includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and parts of the Sahara, historically home to the "Moors."

sufism

A mystical branch of Islam focused on spiritual purification (tazkiya), asceticism, and seeking God's pleasure through practices aimed at returning to purity (fitra)

ribat

Fortifications built along frontiers during early Islamic conquests, serving as military posts, commercial route protectors, and places of piety.

ww1 and North Africa

During WWI, the Ottoman Empire allied with Germany, leading to the occupation of North African territories by British and French forces. These regions later gained independence.

Muhammad ali

Ottoman Albanian viceroy who ruled Egypt from 1805 to 1848, establishing modern Egypt and gaining recognition as hereditary ruler in 1841.

ottoman decline

By 1808, the Ottoman central government had minimal authority, and control over North Africa had faded. In Egypt, Muhammad Ali gained power, leading to Egyptian independence

Ottoman Empire

A vast empire that ruled much of North Africa from the 16th to the 20th century, influencing the region’s political, economic, and cultural landscape