uwu medieval islamic world vocab

good luck getting 100% in write lmfao

Muhammad

The leading prophet and creator of the Islamic tradition, as delivered from God.

The Rightly Guided Caliphs

The first four successors of Muhammad (Abu Bakr, a companion to Muhammad), Umar (appointed by Abu Bakr), Uthman (chosen from amongst those nominated by Umar), and Ali.

Mecca

Holiest city in Islam as the birthplace of Muhammad and the site of the Kaa’ba, formerly a pagan shrine controlled by the Quraysh tribe (Muhammad’s family)

People of the Book/Children of Abraham

The three monotheistic religions. Muhammad believed he was the last of the prophets chosen by God to reveal messages to mankind. Earlier prophets such as Abraham, Moses and Jesus played a vital role in delivering the word of God to humanity, but their message was corrupted by Jews, Christians, and Arabs. Muhammad urged people to return to the old and pure religion of Abraham.

Allah

The only God, the all-powerful Creator. Lah is the word for God and Al means “the”

Islam

Submission, the primary obligation of one who believes

Muslim

One who submits

Umma

A community of believers, a just and moral society that would replace tribal/ethnic/racial identities of the Arab people

Quran (Qur’an/Koran)

The recitations of God’s words as revealed to Muhammad over a 22 year period

Hadith

Sayings of Muhammad

Five Pillars

Core message of the Quran and requirements for believers:
Declaration of belief - “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
Daily prayer five times a day
Almsgiving (charity as service to the community)
A month of fasting during the Islamic holy month Ramadan
An encouraged pilgrimage to Mecca

Hijrah

Flight to Medina in 622, the first year of the Muslim calendar, so 622 is really 1 AH.

Medina (formerly Yathrib)

A city with a mixed Jewish and Arab population divided by religious discord. Muhammad was invited to come to Yathrib and was accepted as there was intense resistance to his message in Mecca.

Sharia

The Sharia is a law code that evolved over centuries and regulates all aspects of a Muslim’s daily life. The word literally means “a path to water,” and water is the source of all life.

Jihad

A much disputed concept within the Islamic community. Muhammad may have talked about a “greater jihad,” which is the internal struggle within a person to overcome greed and selfishness. A Muslim can work towards this goal by memorizing the Quran or working for social justice. Muhammad may have also described a “lesser jihad” which was a holy war against an outer enemy. These sayings by Muhammad are seen by some as unreliable and some believe the interpretation of jihad as a holy war is more important.

Dhimmi

Protected second class subjects, most often the People of the Book -- namely Christians and Jews -- who paid a special tax.

Sunni

A sect of Islam to which about 90% of Muslims subscribe. In all nations except Iran, Iraq, and portions of Lebanon, a majority of Muslims are Sunni. Sunnis differ from Shias in their belief of who should have succeeded Muhammad as caliph. As the Sunni leaders historically held more power through more caliphates, in a majority of the areas controlled by Muslims, the people identified with Sunni Islam. Sunni Muslims differ in their interpretations of sharia (fiqh), with Indonesians, Saudi Arabians, and North Africans all having different schools of law.

Shi’a

A sect of Islam to which a minority of Muslims subscribe. Shia means the followers of Ali. Shias originally believed that Ali, the cousin and son-in-law, should be the first Caliph and not Abu-Bakr, Muhammad’s companion who the Sunnis accepted. Ali eventually became the 4th Caliph, but for many years, the Shia lineage never came back to power and Ali’s sons led the minority Shia community and were all poisoned by the Sunni caliphs.

Sufi

Another spiritualized minority sect of the Islamic tradition. The worldly success of Islamic civilization was a distraction and deviation from the more pure spirituality of Muhammad’s time. Sufis sought a direct and personal connection to God.

Umayyad Caliphate

Started by Mu’awiya, caliph after the death of Ali. He was a relative of Uthman and moved the capital of the growing Islamic Empire to Damascus.

Abbasid Caliphate

Overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate in 750 because of the luxurious lifestyle of its caliphs. Ruled from Baghdad until 1258.