In coming weeks, Americans will be seeing many terms with which they might not be totally familiar. Here’s a partial list of terms, places and people of the Arab and Muslim world. Because the Arabic and Latin alphabets do not correspond, spelling and pronunciation are often approximate.
Afghanistan: Poor, landlocked country of rolling plains, mighty mountain ranges, scorching deserts in central Asia. Made up of multiple ethnic clans. Afghans are Muslims, but not Arabs. Centuries of troubled history with several foreign invaders.
Ahmed Shah Massoud: Anti-Taliban “Northern Alliance” rebel leader who died a week after a Sept. 9 assassination attack.
Allah: God of Islam.
Al Qaeda: “The base,” “military headquarters.” Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization.
Arabs: People whose language is Arabic and who share a common history. Most Arabs are Muslim, but not all. Arab world consists of 18 Middle Eastern countries, not including Afghanistan.
Imam: A Muslim leader. Spiritual leader of a community of believers.
Intifada: “Uprising.” The Palestinian rebellion against Israeli rule.
Islam: Religion founded by the Prophet Mohammed in seventh century. Believes in the same one, just and merciful God of Christians and Jews. Urges people to repent and purify themselves so they can reach paradise after death.
Islamabad: Capital of Pakistan, built in the 1960s to replace Karachi.
Jihad: “Striving,” “strenuous effort.” Holy war, whose goal is the spread or defense of Islam. Any war between Muslims and non-Muslims is a jihad. On a personal level, it can be striving to be good.
Kabul: Afghanistan’s capital.
Kalashnikov: Russian-made rifle commonly used in the region.
Koran: Sacred book of Islam.
Mujahideen: Holy warriors in a jihad. Afghan rebels who fought Soviet Union during the 1980s, aided by United States, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Arab volunteers of several nations, including bin Laden. Took power in 1992, but were ousted by Taliban rebels in 1996.
Mullah Mohammed Omar: Reclusive clerical leader of Taliban. Secretive man who is said to spend life reading Koran and in prayer.
Muslim: “One who submits.” Official name for those who accept Islam.
Osama bin Laden: Terrorist mastermind. Son of prominent, wealthy Saudi family.
Salat: Ritual prayer performed by Muslims five times a day.
Shah: King, title used by some Persian dynasties.
Shiite: A sect of Islam that split with Sunnis over leadership differences after the death of Mohammed in 632.
Special Forces: Elite U.S. military units, including Army Green Berets, 75th Ranger Regiment and Delta Force, Navy Seals and Air Force Special Operations.
Sunni: “One who follows the ways of Mohammed.” The dominant sect of the Muslims.
Taliban: “Student,” “those who seek.” Fundamentalist militia movement now in control of Afghanistan. Ousted mujahideen in 1996. Have imposed harsh Islamic regime, banning alcohol, music, television, severely restricting women.
Ulema: A council of Islamic clerics.
