Vocab: The origin & spread of Islam

oasis

scattered springs in the desert that provide water and fertile soil

caravans

groups of merchants and animals traveling together across the desert.

cultural diffusion

the spread of cultural elements from one society to another

siege

a war tactic where a place is surrounded by and attacked over and over until people surrender

Islam

the religion of the Muslims; a monotheistic faith as revealed by Allah to the prophet Muhammad

Muslim

a follower of the Islamic religion

Muhammad

a man born around 570 C.E., the prophet who received Allah’s truths

Allah

God of Islam; name in Arabic

Qur’an (Koran)

the holy book of Muslims

mosque

a Muslim house of worship (building)

imam

religious leader of Islam (like a priest, rabbi, pandit/pujari)

Sunnah

the example that Muhammad set for Muslims about how to live through his words and actions

Hadith

written accounts that provided evidence of Muhammad’s Sunnah

Makkah (Mecca)

 1st holiest city to the Muslims; city where Muhammad was born

Medina (“City of the Prophet”)

 2nd holiest city; where Muhammad established a Muslim community after his escape from Mecca; Muhammad’s body is here in the Prophet’s Mosque (green dome)

Jerusalem

3rd holiest city to Islam; where Muhammad ascended to heaven to meet with the prophets and Allah (called The Night Journey)

Ka’bah

a small shrine built by Abraham in Mecca; Muslims holiest site; believed to be the house of God (direction to which Muslims pray & where they make their pilgrimage to)

Khadijah-

Abu Talib-

Abu Bakr-

Jibril(Gabriel)-

Muhammad’s Wife

Muhammad’s Uncle

Muhammad’s close friend who he flees from Mecca to Medina with

angel who revealed the word of Allah to Muhammad

Five Pillars of Islam

the most basic acts of worship for Muslims (declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca)

Ramadan

the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims are required to fast

Hajj

 pilgrimage or journey to Mecca; to be performed once in a Muslim’s lifetime to honor Abraham’s journey to see Hagar and son Ishmael

shari’ah

the code of the Islamic laws

Jihad

the spiritual struggle within oneself against sin and enemies of Islam

caliph

the main Muslim civil and religious rulers after Muhammad 

* first four caliphs were close friends or relatives of Muhammad

caliphate

area ruled by the caliph

Umayyads

leaders of Muslim empire after the first four caliphs; based in city of Damascus in Syria

Sunni

Muslims who accept the rule of the Umayyad caliphs (majority of Muslims today)

Shia

Muslims who believe the descendents of Ali should rule (majority in Iran/Iraq)