afghanistaninqilāb revolution
is hān a high-ranking Sufi pīr
Islāmiyat the study of traditional Islamic subjects, including Qur’an, Hadith
and Tafsir (Commentaries)
Isma‘īlī The branch of Shi’ism that recognized seven, not twelve, Imams
istiqbāl formal welcome, greeting or reception
‘izzat honour, respect, esteem
jāgīr a hereditary estate
jāhilīyya literally, ignorance or paganism, the term used to describe Arabia
prior to Islam. Modern Islamists often use this for any non-Islamic legal
system and civilization
janda bālā the banner, or flagstaff raising ceremony, part of the Nauroz festival
in Mazar-i Sharif
jashn a secular festival or National Day
jawānmard hero, warrior, in particular one who upholds the ancient Persian
code of chivalry or jawānmardī
jezail a long-barrelled, muzzle-loading flintlock rifle, which was the traditional
weapon of the Afghan tribes
jezailchī a musketeer
jīgha an imperial plume or aigrette
jihād literally, struggle (in the way of God), hence Holy War
jinn cf. English genie; powerful, supernatural beings who in Islamic and
popular tradition are made of fire
jirga a Pushtun clan or tribal assembly
jizya the capitation tax imposed under Islamic law on non-Muslims
jūī irrigation canal, ditch
kāfir (a) a generic Islamic term for an idolater (b) the name of the former
polytheistic people of southeast Afghanistan, now known as Nuristan
kalāntar (a) mayor or magistrate (b) head of a military or civil region
kalima see under shahāda
karakul (Turkic qarāqul) (a) the skins of young lambs (some aborted while still
foetuses) (b) the Central Asian breed of sheep from which the wool derives
kārēz a subterranean irrigation system
kha‘lat an ornamented robe bestowed by rulers as a mark of favour or honour
khairāt supererogatory charitable giving, especially to the poor
khālsā a Sikh militaristic Order
khān (a) tribal leader amongst Pushtuns (b) a honorific title accorded to
important individuals
khāna house
khānagāh a Sufi meeting house
kharwār a donkey-load: in modern Afghanistan the Kabuli kharwār is
equivalent to 80 sēr (567.2 kg). The Mazar-i Sharif kharwār is twice as much
as its Kabuli equivalent (1,134.4 kg). The Herati kharwār is equivalent to 100
mann (Anglo-Indian maund) or 3,000 kg
khēl Pushtun clan, sept, lineage
khirqa a cloak or mantle worn by Sufi adepts, prophets and other major Islamic
figures