Islamic Civilization (Period 3) Flashcards
People of the Book
Jews and Christians, according to Muslim reference
Quran
Book composed of divine revelations made to the Prophet Muhammad between ca. 610 and his death in 632; the sacred text of the religion of Islam.
Umma
A Muslim Community
Five Pillars
Declaration of faith, prayer, alms, fasting, and pilgrimage
Caliphate
The Islamic empire ruled by those believed to be the
successors to the Prophet Muhammad.
Jihad
A holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral, spiritual or political goal.
Umayyad Caliphate
First hereditary dynasty of Muslim caliphs (661 to 750).
From their capital at Damascus, the Umayyads ruled one of the largest empires in history that extended from Spain
to India. Overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate.
Abbasid Caliphate
A dynasty that ruled much of the Muslim Empire from AD 750 to 1258. The most powerful of the Muslim groups that overthrew the Umayyads in 750. Moved the capital of the empire to Baghdad, Iraq.
Caliph
A supreme political and religious leader in Muslim goverment
Sunni
A follower of the majority branch of Islam which tells that successors to Muhammad are to be chosen by the Muslim
community.
Shi’ite
A member of the branch of Islam that supports the descendants of Muhammad as his rightful successors
Mosque
A Muslim house of worship
Shari’ah
A law code drawn up by Muslim scholars after Muhammad’s death; it provided believers with a set of practical laws to regulate their daily lives.
Madrasas
Islamic institutions of higher education that originated in the tenth century.
Sufism
A mystic tradition within Islam that teaches that people can find god’s love by having a personal realtionship with God.
Abu Bakr
Muhammad’s father-in-law who was selected as caliph
after Muhammad’s death. He was a successful religious leader of the Islamic community.
Ibn Sina
The famous Islamic scientist and philosopher who organized the medical knowledge of the Greeks and Arabs into new works
Ibn Rushd
Muslim philosopher born in Spain, wrote books about the works of classical Greek philosophers
Ali
Muhammad’s first cousin and son-in-law
Muhammad
Born in Mecca; received revelations from Allah; founded Islam; became politically powerful in Medina
Baghdad
Capital of Abbasid dynasty located in Iraq
Cordoba
Capital of Muslim Spain, an economic center, hundreds of workshops where culture and learning flourished.
Mecca
City in western Arabia; birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad, and ritual center of the Islamic religion.
House of Wisdom
a center of learning established in Baghdad in the 800s
