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In writing this book I have attempted to use words and terms as authentically as possible whilst still keeping things very simple for readers. There are few hard and fast rules for transliterating many of these languages into English. Those which there are produce generally inaccurate meanings and are so complicated to follow that they can only be easily understood by those people who don't need to follow them! Al-dahab: Gold Al-Fad'da: Silver Al-Mas: Diamond Afrits - A particularly troublesome race of djinn that reside in graveyards. They are the spirits of wicked men, turned away from paradise to spend eternity haunting Amir: Military commander, provincial governor. Anatolia: The area which currently comprises of the Asian territories of modern day Turkey. Beg: Local Turkish governor. Bismillah: Said before important acts "In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. Caravanserais: Roadside resthouses for weary traveler and their steads. Chador: The veil worn by women in Iran. Chai: Tea. Cheese: Jibna. Dar el-harb: "The land of war". All lands that are not Islamic and which risk Jihad. Dar al-Islam: "The land of Islam". All lands that live within the rules of Islam. Dels: Long dark felt coats wrapped by a bright silk sash worn by Mongols! Dikka: Platform from which a Muezzin repeats the words and actions of the Imam for the benefit of the congregation. Djinn: Like
man and beast, the djinn were created by God. Some are good but most are
mischievous Falaafil: Falafel, Fried crushed chick peas Fatiha: Opening sura of the Quran which is used as Christians would the Lord's Prayer. Fatwa: Decision or opinion on a point of Islamic Law, issued by a Mufti. Feel furn: Baked Ghazi: A Holy Warrior Hammam: Baths Hamdullah: Thanks be to Allah. Hijra: Flight of the Prophet and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622AD from which point the Islamic calendar begins. Imam: Leader of mosque prayers or the leader of the Muslim community. Iwan: Originated from Pre-Islamic Central Asia and then a major feature of local mosques. Kuds: Jerusalem. Jabal: Mountain. Jizya: Tax levied on unbelievers but abolished by Akbar (find out when?????) Ka'aba: Cube
shaped building in the centre of the sanctuary of the great Mosque in
Mecca. It was built by Abraham as the first house for the worship of the
one God. All Muslims pray facing the Ka'aba and Kabaab: Shish kebab (grilled lamb chunks) Khan: Turkish title for a ruler of a state. Khoja: Title given to Sufi leaders in Central Asia who were descended from the Prophet. Kursi: Lectern which holds the Quran in a mosque. Madrassa School for the teaching of theology, law, Arabic grammar and literature, Hadiths. Training ground for the Ulama and Islamic Sciences. Maghreb: 'The West' Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Ma'shee: Stuffed Maidan: The town square. Malik: King Masjid: Mosque (In the desert a mosque can be made by drawing lines in the sand) Maslooq: Boiled Mawlid: Ceremony celebrating the birthday of the Prophet on 12 Rabi al-Awwal. Mihrab: Niche in a place of prayer indicating the direction of Mecca. Minaret: Tower section of a mosque from which the Muezzin calls to prayer. Minbar: Pulpit from which the Imam delivers his Friday sermon. He does so from one of the lower steps as only the Prophet preached from the top. Muezzin: Official who calls the faithful to prayer 5 times a day. Mudakhkhan: Smoked Mufti:Man learned in the Sharia who can issue a Fatwa. Mullah: A religious leader, normally from Shia Iran. Mutabbal: marinated Perozi: Victory Pistaq: A monumental entrance which is normally decorated with coloured tiles and a central feature of Central Asian Madrasas. Qadi: Judge appointed to interpret the Quran. Qasr: Castle Quran: The Holy Book for Muslims as revealed to the Prophet Muhammed by the Arch-Angel Gabriel. Rakat: The sequence of movements prescribed for Islamic prayer. Ramlat: Sand plain Shah: Title of Iranian origin meaning King. Sheikh: 'Old man', The chief of a tribe or a religious leader. The term in particular relates to independent Sufi leaders. Sheikh al-Islam: The mufti of Istanbul and the supreme religious authority within the Ottoman Empire. Sharif: Title denoting 'noble', a term applied to descendants of the Prophet. Steppe: The grass prairie lands that extend from Poland eastwards to the Pacific Ocean. Sufism: Islamic mysticism and a distinct band of Islam which cultivates the inner attitude with which the believer performs his outward obligations and a major method for spreading Islam. Sultan: A common term for a Muslim sovereign. Sura: Chapter of the Quran. Syria: An administrative division of the Ottoman Empire comprising of Modern Day Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. Taajin: North African lamb stew Wadi: Valley. Wazir: A senior administrative leader. Grand Wazirs would often have great control over a state. Basic Foods:Bala': Dates Baqdoonis: parsley Burghul: Cracked wheat Couscous: steamed cracked wheat. Daanee: lamb/mutton Filfil: pepper Haar: hot chilli Haleeb: Milk Hummus: chickpeas Khall: Vinegar Khubz: bread Kofta fried or grilled meat balls. Kubayba: Balls of minced meat and cracked wheat Kuzbara: Coriander La'm: (general meat) MalH: Salt Mukh: Brain Qrfa: Cinnamon Qaf: leaves chewed for their stimulating properties Ruzz: Rice Shoorba: Soup |