ISLAMIC EMPIRE GLOSSARY

• Arabia: Region where Islam began. A arid peninsula, then inhabited by nomads & traders using camel caravans

• Arabs: People of the Arabian Peninsula

• Arabic: Language of Arabs, becomes holy language of Islam.

س    ز    ر    ذ    د    خ

ع    ظ    ط    ض    ص    ش

ل    ك    ق    ف    غ

ي    و    ‍ه�    ن    م

• Mecca: Early trade city & place of religious pilgrimage (sacred stone shrine), birthplace of Muhammad.

• Muhammad: Founder of Islam. Upset with wickedness of world, tried to find better way, visions become the basis for Islam. Considered the greatest & last prophet of God.

• Khadya: Wife of Muhammad, 1st to convert.

• Gabriel: Angel sent by God to reveal messages to Muhammad.

• Allah: Arabic name for God

• Islam: Religion started by Muhammad, means surrender to Allah’s will.

• Muslim: A person who believes in & follows Islam

• Qur’an: Holy book of Islam, contains Gabriel’s revelations from Allah to Muhammad. 114 Suras (chapters)

• Medina: City to which Muhammad fled before returning to conquer Mecca in 630

• Hegira: The journey to Medina by Muhammad as they fled Mecca in 622. Marks year 1 in Muslim calendar.

• Kaaba: Shrine in Mecca reclaimed by Muhammad as holy Islamic site. Muslims believe the Black Stone was given to Abraham by God. Now located in the Great Mosque.

• Jerusalem- Dome of the Rock: City where Muslims believe Muhammad ascended into heaven. A mosque called the Dome of the Rock was built on the spot he ascended.

• People of the Book: What Muslims called Jews and Christians. Gave them tolerance & religious freedom, believe in same God & recognize many of the same prophets.

• Five Pillars of Islam: 5 basis belief/duties of Islam

• Profession of Faith: 1st & most important. There is no god but Allah (god), and Muhammad is his prophet

• Prayer: 5 times a day facing Mecca• Alms: offering/charity to help the needy• Fasting: No food or water between sunrise and

sunset during holy month of Ramadan.• Pilgrimage- the hajj: Once in a lifetime, a

Muslim expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca

• Hajj - The Pilgrimage

• Caliph: Successor to Muhammad as political & religious leader. Abu Bakr was the 1st elected one.

• Calligraphy: Artistic writing of Arabic used along with geometric abstract patterns to decorate objects or mosques- no living creatures allowed in Islamic religious art.

• Golden Age of Islam: 800-1100, Islamic Empire at cultural heights – keep alive/advance knowledge & learning while Europe in “dark age”