Key Vocabulary in Islamic History and Jurisprudence

Fiqh

the science of Islamic jurisprudence; It plays a critical role in guiding the daily lives and ethical conduct of Muslims.

Sasanian Empire

an Iranian dynasty that was dominant in the pre-Islamic era. Once Islam took over Iran, Sasanian culture survived and was absorbed into early Islamic traditions.

Quraysh

was the dominant tribe in Mecca during the rise of Islam also the tribe of Muhammed; All the caliphs who created and ruled the Islamic Empire are from this tribe.

Byzantine Empire

the eastern continuation of the Roman Empire from 330 to 1453 CE; it played a key role in preserving Christian orthodoxy and classical knowledge through the Middle Ages.

Edict of Milan

granted religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire; it marked a significant turning point for the growth of Christianity.

Abu Talib

Muhammad's uncle who protected and supported him during his early prophetic career; his support was crucial for the survival and spread of Islam in its formative years.

Medina

the city to which Muhammad emigrated in 622 CE; it became the center of the Islamic state and a model for Islamic governance.

Ridda

a series of wars immediately following Muhammad's death in 632 CE; Abu Bakr managed to suppress all and save Islam.

Uthman

the third caliph following Muhammed's death. Uthman's reign ended when he was assassinated by rebels that were in support of Ali, Muhammed's cousin and son-in-law.

Jahiliyya

the 'time of ignorance' before the coming of Islam; Shows how Muslims perceive history before them.

Umma

the Arabic word that describes the community of believers; In Islam, the unity of the umma is heavily emphasized and is very important in the expansion of Islam throughout the region.

Fitna

literally, a 'temptation'; used to refer to a series of civil wars that threatened the unity of the Islamic polity in its early years.

Karbala

the site of the martyrdom of Hussein; it is a central event of mourning and significance in Shia Islam.

Dhimmi

one of the ahl al-dhimma, the 'people of the covenant of protection,' i.e., non-Muslims living under the protection of Muslim regimes for a tax; this concept shaped Islamic legal and social policies.

Dome of the Rock

the Umayyad structure built on the Temple Mount. The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem, marks an important stage in the crystallization of a distinctly Islamic identity.

Asabiyya

The Arab traditions of tribal solidarity and competition. This plagued the Umayyad empire because they experienced a fraction due to this, one example being the conflict between the 'Qays' and 'Yemen.'

Zandaqa

heretical unbelief generally, and also more particularly Manichaeism. Under the Abbasid empire, the accusation of Zandaqa was widened to include Muslims who were accused of holding Manichaeist beliefs.

661

The year that the fourth caliph, Ali, was murdered and Uthman's cousin Mu'awiya, who was also the Arab governor of Syria, began his caliphate and marks the start of the Umayyad dynasty.

One Thousand and One Nights

A collection of Middle Eastern folklore that was compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. In the book, Scherezade tells these stories to King Sharyar each night in order to avoid her beheading in the morning.

Wilaya

The Shi'i belief about Muslim leadership. They believe that Allah sends one Imam down for each generation of Muslims, which will lead them in both religious and political authority.

Al-Mansur

the caliph who founded the Round City; which was central to the importance of Baghdad.

762

Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid caliph, established the capital of the empire in Baghdad, Iraq.

Hashimiyya

The opposition group against the Umayyads rule led by the Abbasid family. The Hashimiyya consisted of Shi'i Muslims and non-Arab converts.

Al-Bukhari

a 9th century Muslim scholar that produced a compilation of hadiths; which are widely accepted and recognized as valid among Sunni Muslims.

Sharia

refers to a set of religious laws; that are indisputable and constant between all sects of Islam.

Ahl al-Bayt

literally, 'the people of the house,' i.e., the family of the Prophet.

Abu Muslim

The primary organizer of the Abbasid revolt against the Umayyads Dynasty. He was very influential and therefore murdered by the second Abbasid caliph, Al-Mansur.

Bid'a

literary means 'innovation' in religious matters.

Madhab

A school of law in Sunni Islam.

Ulama

Scholars of the Islamic religious sciences.