Final exam Flashcards
(155 cards)
Allah
Arabic title of the one God
Ka’ba
the original shrine of pagan Arabic religion in Mecca containing the Black Stone; now one of the holiest places of Islam
Hijra
literally, flight. Muhammad’s forced flight from Mecca in 622 C.E.; it marks the first year of the Muslim calendar
Hajj
a pilgrimage to the sacred places of Islam
Jihad
Holy war on behalf of the Muslim faith
Qur’an
the holy scripture of Islam, thought to be literally the word of God
Five Pillars of Islam
Popular term for the basic tenets of the Muslim faith. Includes the profession of faith prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and giving alms
Umma
The entire Muslim community, meaning something like the Christian concept of the “Church”
Caliph
Arabic for deputy to the Prophet Muhammad; leader of the Islamic community
Shi’ites
a minority sect of Islam; adherents believe that kinship with Muhammad is necessary to qualify for the caliphate
Umayyed Dynasty
The caliphs resident in Damascus from 661
Kharijites
like Shi’ites, they are one of the two religious minorities in Islam. they rejected the caliphate and believe that leadership of the Umma rightfully belongs tp the most pious and that authority comes from the community itself
Sunni
the majority group in Islam; adherents believe that the caliphate should go to the most qualified individual and should not necessarily pass to the kin of Muhammad
Damascus
ancient city located in present-day Syria. It served as the capital of the Islamic Empire during the Umayyad caliphate (661-750)
Baghdad
capital of the Islamic Empire under the Abbasid Dynasty
Abbasid Dynasty
the dynasty of caliphs who governed the Islamic Empire from 750-1258
Dhimmis
“people of the Book”
Ulama
Muslim religious scholars, usually specialist in Holy Law; AKA mullahs
Sunna
the “way” its the oral tradition that Muslim legal scholars rely upon to supplement the Qur’an as another source of the Shari’a
Shari’a
the sacred law of Islam; based on the Qur’an and the oral traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
qadis
islamic judges, learned in islamic theology and law
vizier
and official of Muslim government, especially a high Turkish official, equivalent to prime minister
Sufis
arabic term for a popular form of islam that emphasizes emotional union with God and mystical powers
tariqas
muslim sufi brotherhoods, generally comprising all men