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Muhammad
(ca. 570–632) Believed by Muslims to be the last prophet who received God’s revelations directly from the angel Gabriel. The first leader of the Muslim community.
Caliph
Literally “successor.” Before 945, the caliph was the successor to Muhammad and the supreme political and religious leader of the Islamic world. After 945, the caliph had no political power but served as the religious leader of all Muslims.
Jihad
(Arabic root for “striving” or “effort”) A struggle or fight against non-Muslims.
Hajj
The pilgrimage to Mecca, required of all Muslims who can afford the trip. The pilgrimage commemorates that moment when, just as he was about to sacrifice him, Abraham freed Ishmael and sacrificed a sheep in his place.
Qadi
A Muslim jurist.
Quran
The book that Muslims believe is the direct word of God as revealed to Muhammad. Written sometime around 650.
Hadith
Testimony recorded from Muhammad’s friends and associates about his speech and actions. Formed an integral part of the Islamic textual tradition, second in importance only to the Quran.
Sunnis
The larger of the two main Islamic groups that formed after Ali’s death. Sunnis, meaning the “people of custom and the community,” hold that the leader of Islam should be chosen by consensus and that legitimate claims to descent are only through the male line. Sunnis do not believe that Ali and Fatima’s descendants can become caliph.
Shi’ites
The “shia” or “party of Ali,” one of the two main groups of Islam, who support Ali’s claim to succeed Muhammad and believe that the grandchildren born to Ali and Fatima should lead the community. Shi’ites deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs.
Astrolabe
Computational instrument that allowed observers to calculate their location on earth to determine the direction of Mecca for their prayers. Also functioned as a slide rule.
Ulama
Learned Islamic scholars who studied the Quran, the hadith, and legal texts. They taught classes, preached, and heard legal disputes.
Bedouin
Arab Nomads of the desert
Mecca
The holiest city in Islam that contains the Kaaba, a black square with a black rock. Muslims make it a goal to go on a pilgrimage here at least once in their life. Mohammed was born here and later conquered it.
Medina
This is where Mohammed went on his hijrah to escape clan leaders who felt threatened.
Africa
The world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia.
Hijrah
Means “migration” This is when Mohammed and his followers moved to Medina.
Abu-Bakr
The first caliph of the Islam empire. He was Mohammed’s father in law from his 2nd wife.
Ali
Son in law and cousin of Mohammed. Was assassinated in 661. He split the religion because people think he should’ve been the 1st caliph since he’s a descendant, some believe he should stay as the 4th.
Khadija
Mohammed’s first wife. She lived a devout Ascetic lifestyle (eyes on the prize)
Ramadan
the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset.
Abraham
The father of the 3 main religions. Believed to have stopped right before sacrificing Ishmael, which is what the Hajj commemorates.
Hagar
The handmaiden of Sarah who had Ishmael with Abraham.
Ishmael
1st child of Abraham, and son of Hagar. Takes the place of Issac and was going to be sacrificed according to Muslims.
Kaaba
A black square that contains a black rock. Muslims believe that this was sent from heaven and turned black due to the sins of this world. Originally drew many people to Mecca to worship their deity, allowing Mecca to thrive in the process. The Kaaba was later repurposed for the Muslim beliefs.
Dhimmi
People of the book (Jews, Christians), they were right below Arabs/Muslims
Umayyad Dynasty
the first great Muslim dynasty to rule the empire of the caliphate. Only members of the Muayah’s family of the Umayyad Clan became caliphs, hence the name. Muslim empire reached its greatest extent under this.
Abbasid Dynasty
The successor dynasty to the Umayyad after the civil war for caliphate broke out. They claim to be descendants from Mohammed’s uncle: Abbas. Known for scientific, artistic, and literary achievements, such as algebra, calligraphy, and the Thousand and One Nights.
Damascus
Located in Syria; capital of the Umayyad Dynasty
Baghdad
The Abbasid’ Dynasty’s capital. Became the city of learning and had the first paper making factory.
al-Khwarizmi
The father of algebra. Algebra and Algorithms come from his name.
al-Idrisi
Made a silver plate that depicted a map of the world, and made a world map that was 3yd x 3/2 yd and fairly detailed.
Start of the Muslim calendar
In 622 AD or 0 AH, after the continued persecution of Muslims and plotted assassination of Mohammed, he and his followers fled to Medina where they accepted Muslims. This was the first formation of a community of Muslims and marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar calculated each year as twelve lunar months of 29.5 days each, with no adjustment for the remaining days. Each day falls at a lightly different time each calendar year.
1st Pillar of Islam
To bear witness to Allah as the sole god and to accept Muhammad as his messenger
2nd Pillar of Islam
To pray five times a day in the direction of Mecca
3rd Pillar of Islam
To pay a fixed share of one’s income to the state in support of the poor and needy
4th Pillar of Islam
To refrain from eating, drinking, and sexual activity during the daytime hours of the month of Ramadan
5th Pillar of Islam
Provided one has the necessary resources, to do the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
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