Muslim Terms

the schools of jurisprudence

a medieval college for the teaching of law, often attached to a mosque; Islamic religious school

a medieval college for the teaching of law, often attached to a mosque; Islamic religious school

Arabic-speaking countries of North Africa, west of Egypt

“the guided one”; in Shi’i belief, the last Imam, presently living in occultation, who will return at the end of time to fill the world with justice as it is now filled with injustice, and whose appearance will signal the Last Judgment

trading town that was the birth place and first home of Muhammad, and cult center for surrounding tribes; later the focus of prayers and pilgrimage destination for Muslims around the world

an angel

one of the four main schools of law of Sunni Islam, named after Malik b. Anas

a screened and often highly decorated area near the mihrab of a mosque, usually reserved for the ruler or his representative

Christian, from al-Masih, the Christ, the Messiah

“place of prostration,” a building for communal prayer and other religious purposes

the body or text of a hadith report (as distinct from its chain of authorities or isnad)

(singular mawla) non-Arab Muslim

celebration of the birthday of Sufi figures or, especially, of the Prophet

trading town that was the birth place and first home of Muhammad, and cult center for surrounding tribes; later the focus of prayers and pilgrimage destination for Muslims around the world

“City” of the Prophet, name given to the agricultural town of Yathrib, which welcomed Muhammad and his followers when they were forced out of Mecca; place where Islam assumed its final form, as a political as well as a religious entity

recessed space on the wall of a mosque showing the direction of Mecca, which believers face in prayer

tall tower attached to a mosque and often used to call the faithful to prayer

raised platform or pulpit in a mosque

worship of a single deity

“place of prostration,” a building for communal prayer and other religious purposes

the caller of the azan or “summons to prayer”; when the mosque has a minaret, he calls from the top of it, but in smaller places of worship, from the side of the mosque, the first muezzin was Bilal, son of a black slave girl

the officer who expounds the law; he assists the qadi (qazi) or judge and supplies him with fatwas, or decisions; he must be learned in the Qur’an and Hadith, and in the Muslim works of law

tiers of niche-like units that project from the niche below, compared to stalactites and often used in transitional design elements, such as supports for domes; from the middle period on, it became very common in Islamic designs

dynasty ruling in India from 1526 to 1858, the Mongols

Meccan orphan who lived from approximately A.D. 570 to 632 and who became the founding prophet of Islam

one entitled to give an independent in legal matters or theology

soldier or warrior of Allah

a Muslim divine

a Muslim divine

one who surrenders to Allah; a follower of Islam

a temporary marriage for a stipulated time