People
The prophet of Allah who founded Islam
Muhammad
The majority of Muslims that believed Abu Bakr was the rightful leader of the Muslims
Sunni
Holiest city of Islam where Muhammad is from
Mecca
The first caliphate to rule the Arab Empire (661-750 CE)
Umayyad Caliphate
the holy book or sacred scripture in Islam; word of God revealed to Muhammad
Quran
Nomadic Arab of the desert
Bedouins
The branch of Islam that rejects the first three caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as the first true caliph
Shia
Second most holy city in Islam
Medina
Third of the Islamic Caliphates; founded by descendants of Muhammad's uncle (750-1258 AD)
Abbasid Caliphate
A tradition relating the words or deeds of the Prophet Muhammad; next to the Quran, the most important basis for Islamic law.
Hadith
Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and western Sudan.
Ibn Battua
The branch that believes in Islamic Mysticism
Sufi
Structure at the center of the mosque in Mecca, most sacred site of Islam
Kabaa
The Migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina in A.D. 622, marking the founding of Islam
Hijra
Schools that teach the Islamic religion
Madrassas
Emperor of the kingdom of Mali in Africa. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca and established trade routes to the Middle East.
Mansa Musa
A monotheistic religion that combined elements of Hinduism and Islam and originated in India
Sikhism
The Persian language that is the official language of Iran
Farsi
The Islamic intellectuals "Those who stand apart" who argued that truth could be more certainly reached by reason rather than through revelation
Mutazalites
The famous Islamic scientist and philosopher who organized the medical knowledge of the Greeks and Arabs into the Canon of Medicine
Ibn Sina
Epic poem written by Ferdowsi, talks about Iran and related society and the adherents of Zoroastrianism
Shahnama
Five Pillars of Islam
Faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and pilgrimage