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Fall 2004
Dr. Usha Sanyal
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| Alawis |
an extremist but minority branch of Shii Islam, constitute the political leadership of Syria. Sunni Muslims regard them as heretics. |
| Ali |
cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, later considered the founder of Shii Islam; also the fourth Sunni caliph |
| aliyah |
lit., "going up" in Hebrew; wave of Jewish immigration to Israel |
| Allah |
God |
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| ayatollah |
lit., "sign of God," highest title in the Shii religious hierarchy |
| Baath Party |
the Arab Socialist Resurrection Party, a political party dedicated to Arab nationalism and socialism. Founded in Lebanon in the 1940s, the Baath Party controls Syria and controlled Iraq until the ouster of Saddam Hussain's government. |
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| Druze |
mystical, nonorthodox Muslim sect, located in Lebanon and Syria |
| Fatah |
the largest group of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), headed by Yasser Arafat |
| fatwa |
Islamic legal opinions pronounced by a religious authority, usually religious scholars or ulama |
| fedayeen |
Palestinian guerrilla fighters |
| fellaheen |
Egyptian peasants, farmers |
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| HAMAS |
Palestinian nationalist group founded by Shaikh Ahmad Yasin in 1987. has religious basis, unlike Fatah, and is the latter's chief rival |
| Hidden Imam |
in Shii Islam, the 12th imam whose return is expected at the end of time |
| Hizbollah |
lit., "party of Allah," an Iranian-supported radical Shii group in Lebanon, often associated with terrorist activities. Rival of the more moderate AMAL |
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| imam |
prayer leader, has no special sacral status in Sunni Islam, but in Shii Islam refers to successor of Prophet Muhammad, descendant of Ali, who governs as divinely inspired, infallible leader of the Islamic community. |
| infitah |
lit., the "opening," refers to Egyptian President Sadat's program of economic liberalization (1974) |
| intifada |
Palestinian uprisings of 1987-1993 and 2000-present, against Israeli occupation |
| jihad |
striving (mentally, to be a better Muslim, or physically, on behalf of the Muslim community); holy war |
| jinn |
a spirit or demon, either harmful or helpful, often mischievous |
| Khedive |
Egyptian king |
| Koran (or Quran) |
the Muslim sacred scripture which records God's 114 revelations to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel |
| Maronites |
Monophysite Christians, found mainly in Lebanon and Syria |
| millet |
self-governing religious groups given official status in the Ottoman empire |
| Muhammad, Prophet |
recipient of the revelations of the Quran between 610 and 622 C.E., founder of the religion of Islam. Muslims consider him to be the last prophet of God, but unlike Jesus Christ, not divine. |
| Muslim Brotherhood |
a political group, strong in Egypt (1930-1952, 1978-) and in several other Arab countries, calling for an Islamic political and social system and opposing Western power and cultural influence |
| Najd |
the extremely arid north-central region of the Arabian Peninsula, today in Saudi Arabia |
| nakba |
the "catastrophe," Arabic word referring to the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 |
| Palestinian Authority (PA) or Palestinian National Authority (PNA) |
the first Palestinian self-governing authority or government to be establihed inside historic Palestine. It was the result of the secret negotiations between Israeli and PLO representatives in Oslo, Norway, and the Declaration of Principles (DOP) formally signed by PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in Washington, D.C., on September 13, 1993. |
| Pasderan |
lit., "security guard"; in Iran, a paramilitary force created by the Islamic Republic after 1979 |
| Philangist |
a well-organized, right-wing Lebanese political party founded in 1936 along fascist lines. Has a paramilitary wing dedicated to preserving the Maronite Catholics' control of Lebanon. |
| protectorate |
semi-colonial state |
| Qom |
center of Shii learning in Iran |
| Sabras |
native-born Israelis |
| SAVAK |
secret police of the Shah of Iran, started in 1955 to combat antigovernment activities and disbanded by the Islamic revolutionary government of Iran in 1979 |
| sayyid (or sayyed) |
title of descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. In some countries, they wear black or green turbans to show their honorable heritage |
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| shah |
Persian or Iranian king |
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| sultan |
ruler, military commander in medieval Islamic states |
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| ulama (or ulema) |
the learned class of religious and legal scholars (sing., alim) |
| wafd, Wafd Party |
lit., "delegation." Name of chief nationalist party in Egypt between the world wars |
| Wahhabis |
followers of 18th c. religious leader Abd al-Wahhab who emphasized the "fundamentals" of Islam; precursor to the current Fundamentalist movement in the Middle East; Wahhabis are today based in Saudi Arabia |
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| Zionism |
Jewish nationalist movement advocating the migration of Jews from all over the world to Palestine; was instrumental in establishing the Jewish state of Israel on May 14, 1948. |
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