A Popular Dictionary of Islam

Ian Richard Netton

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780700710461
• eBook ISBN: 9781135797737
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Ethnic Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

Both a dictionary and a glossary of terms that attempts to cover the entire field of Islam. Also included are brief biographies of eminent Muslims and Islamic scholars throughout the ages, providing a ready reference to authorities normally cited.

A POPULAR DICTIONARY OF ISLAM

‘Abasa (Ar.) The title of the 80th sūra of the Qur'ān; it means literally ‘He frowned’. The sūra belongs to the Meccan period and contains 42 verses. Its title reflects the Prophet Muḥammad’s impatience on being interrupted by a blind man while the former was expounding the Qur'ān. The sūra goes on to stress the honourable, high and pure nature of the Qur'ān before concluding with a survey of some of the gifts which God has bestowed upon man and a warning about the Last Judgement. (See al-Ḥisāb; Yawm al-Qiyāma.)

al-‘Abbās b. ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib (died c. 32/653) Merchant uncle of Muḥammad who married Maymūna, the sister of al-’ Abbās’ wife, in 7/629. Al-’Abbās fought Muḥammad at the Battle of Badr: he was captured but later released. He became a Muslim and joined the Prophet Muḥammad in the final assault on Mecca (q.v.) in 8/630. Because of this Muḥammad called al-‘Abbās the last of the Muhājirūn (q.v.). He gave his name to the dynasty of the ‘Abbāsids (q.v.). (See Badr, Battle of.)

‘Abbāsids Major dynasty in mediaeval Islam which flourished between 132/750-656/1258 in Baghdād (q.v.), and survived as a shadow caliphate in Cairo (q.v.) from 659/1261 until 923/1517. The dynasty took its name from the Prophet Muḥammad’s uncle, al-‘Abbās b. ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib (q.v.). The seat of the ‘Abbāsid empire was established at Baghdād by the ‘Abbāsid caliph al-Manṣūr in the 2nd/8th century. A great cultural efflorescence took place under the ‘Abbāsids between the 2nd/8th-5th/11th centuries. Politically the power of the dynasty declined after the Būyids (q.v.) entered Baghdād in 334/945. The last ‘Abbāsid caliph in Baghdād, al-Musta‘ṣim (reg. 640/1242-656/1258), was murdered by the Mongols (q.v.) when they sacked that city in 656/1258. (See Hāshimiyya; Umayyads; Zāb, Battle of the Greater.)

‘Abd (Ar.) [pl. ‘ibād or ‘abīd] Male slave, servant (of God), man, human being. In the plural ‘abīd is often used to designate ‘slaves’, while ‘ibād is used for ‘servants (of God)’. Al-’Ibād means ‘mankind’. However, the Qur'ān does use the plural ‘ibād for slaves: see v.32 of Sūrat al-Nūr (q.v.). ‘Abd often forms part of a proper name, e.g. ‘Abd al-Rahmān (= Servant of the Merciful God). Slavery was common throughout Islamic history and the institution was governed by a variety of rules established by Islamic jurisprudence. Modern Islam is in favour of the abolition of slavery. (See al-Rabb; al-Raḥmān.)

Abdā l (Ar.) [sing. badal] The word means literally ‘substitutes’ or ‘replacements’. It acquired a technical meaning in taṣawwuf (q.v.) and was used to designate a rank in the ṣūfī (q.v.) hierarchy of saints. The abdāl are so-called because each is replaced by another on his death throughout the course of history. Authorities differ over the number of abdāl: some maintain that there are forty, others seventy. (See Walī.)

‘Abd al-Ḥamīd II (1258/1842-1336/1918) The 36th Ottoman sultan, he acceded to the throne in 1293/1876. During his reign Turkey fought wars with Russia and Greece. After the Young Turk Revolution (1326/1908), ‘Abd al-Ḥamīd was deposed in 1327/1909 and sent into exile. (See Ottomans.)

‘Abd al-Jabbār (323-4/935-415/1025) His full name was ‘Abd al-Jabbār b. Ahmad b. ‘Abd al-Jabbār al-Hamadhānī al-Asadābādī. He espoused the theology of the Mu‘tazila (q.v.) and was a notable exponent of their views. Legally he belonged at first to the Shāfi’ ī School of Islamic law. He held the post of Chief Judge in Rayy which was near modern Tehran. When his protector in Rayy died, he was deposed and little is known about the latter part of his life. His most important work of Theology was the huge Summa (al-Mughnī). (See Qāḍī; Shāfi‘īs.)

‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib (AD 545?-570?) Father of the Prophet Muḥammad. He belonged to the clan of Hāshim (q.v.) of the tribe of Quraysh (q.v.). His mother, who came from the clan of Makhzūm (q.v.), was called Fāţima bint ‘Amr. His wife’s name was Āmina bint Wahb (q.v.); she came from the clan of the Zuhra. ‘Abd Allāh died before the birth of Muḥammad. The Qur'ān in v.6 of Sūrat al-Ḍuḥā (q.v.) makes a direct reference to Muḥammad as an orphan. (See ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib b. Hāshim.)

‘Abd Allāh b. al-‘Abbās See Ibn ‘Abbās.

‘Abd Allāh b. Muḥammad Son of the Prophet Muḥammad and Khadīja bint Khuwaylid (q.v.); he died while very young. He was born before AD 619 and hardly anything is known about him. (See Ibrāhīm (3); al-Qāsim.)

‘Abd al-Malik b. Marwān (26/646-7-86/705) The 5th caliph of the dynasty of the Umayyads (q...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Preface and Acknowledgements
• Abbreviations
• How to Use This Dictionary
• A Popular Dictionary of Islam
• Guide to Further Reading