| A | B |
|---|
| Mecca | Holy City of Bedouin peoples, where Mohammed was born |
| Medina | "City of the Prophet" |
| Bedouins | groups of independent, semi-nomadic peoples linked by blood ties, who have inhabited the Near East since antiquity |
| Islam | Submission (to the will of Allah) |
| Hegira | flight of Mohammed and followers from Mecca to Medina; beginning of the Islamic calendar |
| Hajj | Pilgrimage |
| Sheikh | leader of bedouin tribe, elected by council of elders |
| Allah | preislamic, Arabic term for God |
| Ka'aba | Square shrine in Mecca; contained sacred objects of bedouin tribes until the Prophet purged it, (re)dedicating it to Allah alone. |
| Mohammed | The Prophet; the last and greatest prophet, according to Islamic tradition |
| Khadijah | widow who married Mohammed; first follower of Islam |
| Qu'ran | The Holy Book of Islam, Muslims believe to be the record of the actual words of Allah |
| Shari'ah | The Law of Islam (not scripture) |
| Five Pillars of Islam | (1)There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his Prophet. (2) Pray Five Times a Day, and on Fridays in the mosque. (3) Fast during the month of Ramadan. (4) Make a pilgrimage at least once in one's lifetime to Mecca. (5) Give alms to the poor. |
| Surahs | Chapters (114) of the Qu'ran |
| Yathrib | Original name of Medina |
