I
Ruler of an Arabic tribe.
Sheikh
Arabic for God.
Allah
Founder of Islam. Considered to be the supreme prophet of God.
Muhammad
A person who believes in Islam.
Muslim
"City of the Prophet"
Medina
A pilgrimage to Makkeh. Required of Muslims if they are able
Hajj
A nomadic Arab who lives in the Arabian, Syrian, North African desert.
Bedouin
The journey of Muhammad and his followers to a new city. This became year 1 of the calendar of Islam.
Hijrah
A law code drawn up by Muslim scholars after Muhammad's death.
Shari'ah
A successor of Muhammad as spiritual and temporal leader of the Muslims
Caliph
"Struggle in the way of God"
Jihad
Father in-law of Muhammad, who succeeded him after the prophet's death. Led the Muslims in many successful conquests.
Abu Bakr
Battle where an Arab army dealt a crushing defeat to a Byzantine army
Battle of Yarmuk
The office or dominion of a caliph.
Caliphate
A Muslim group that accepts only the descendants of Muhammad's son-in-law Ali as the true rulers of Islam.
Shia
A Muslim group the accepts only the descendants of the Umayyads as the true rulers of Islam.
Sunni
A high government official in ancient or in Muslim countries.
Vizier
The military a political head of state under the Seljuk Turks and the Ottomans.
Sultan
A covered market in Islamic cities.
Bazaar
A gift of money or property at the time of marriage.
Dowry
Instrument used by sailors to determine their location by observing the positions of stars.
Astrolabe
geometric patterns repeated over ans over to completely cover a surface with decoration.
Arabesques
The tower of a mosque.
Minaret
The crier who calls the Muslim faithful to prayer from the tower of a mosque.
Muezzin