| A | B |
|---|
| Islam | “Submitting to the will of God.” Great faith born in the 600’s A.D. in the Arabian peninsula. |
| Bedouins | Nomadic herders in Arabia. Move cattle and sheep from oasis to oasis. |
| Mecca | Growing town in Arabia. Important for trade and also held greatest Bedouin religious object |
| Kaaba | A stone believed to have fallen from Heaven. Gift of polytheistic gods – (meteorite?) |
| Pilgrims | Travelers to a religious shrine. |
| Mohammad | Preaches a new religion in Mecca – founder of Islam. |
| fasting | Going without food. (purifying the body) |
| Allah | “God” Arabic word for the God of Christians, Jews and Moslems. |
| Hegira | “Flight” Mohammed and his followers flee from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. Mohammed becomes ruler of the city. This is the first year in the Islamic calendar – this year is 1382 in the Islamic world. |
| Jihad | To struggle or to exhaust one’s effort to please God. |
| Muslims | “One who surrenders to God”- followers of Islam |
| Koran | Islamic scripture. Word of Allah as revealed to Mohammad. |
| People of the Book | Christians and Jews are to be respected because they also worship Allah. |
| Pillars of Faith | Five duties every Muslim must fulfill. Declaration of faith, pray 5 times daily towards Mecca, Fast in Ramadan, Giving of alms, Pilgrimage to Mecca. |
| mosque | Muslim house of worship |
| imam | Leader in a mosque |
| Allah akhbar | God is great! |
| alms | Charity |
| Ramadan | Month of the first revelation. Cannot eat or drink during daylight hours. |
| Hijaab | Head scarf or veil for women. For most it’s a choice. Modesty before Allah. |
| Infidels | Nonbelievers in Islam |
| Baghdad | Arab city in Mesopotamia becomes capital of Arab Empire. Becomes major trading center of the world. |
| Alchemy | Arabs work to turn lead into gold. Founders of chemistry. |
| Arabian nights | Collection of Arab tales– Aladdin and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves |
| Dome of the Rock | 687 A.D. Temple to house the sacred rock from whence Mohammad spoke to Allah about the hegira. Also the same site as the Temple of Soloman where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. |
| Wailing Wall | Last remaining wall of the temple Solomon where Jews insert prayers into the wall for God. |
| Arabia | Desert peninsula where Islam was founded. |
| Oasis | Water in the desert. What the Bedouins traveled between with their goats and cattle. |
| Abraham | Led the Hebrews to Canaan and the father of Ishmael and Issac. |
| Hagar and Ishmael | Cast out into the desert by Abraham. Ishmael founds the Arab people. |
| Sarah and Isaac | Abraham's wife and son who will found the Hebrews. |
| Angel Gabriel | Saved Hagar and Ishmael in the desert and spoke often to Muhammad. |
| Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem | Three holiest cities in Islam. |
| Jerusalem | Holy city that Muhammad often visited in his youth. |
| paradise | heaven |
| Pork, gambling and drinking | These things should be avoided by a good Muslim. |
