486 • GlossaryMughal: See Timurid dynasty
Muhammad (moo-HOM-mad): Arab religious leader, born in Mecca and
founder of the Islamic umma, viewed by Muslims as God's messenger, whose
revelations were recorded in the Quran
Muhammad: Khwarizm-Shah leader defeated by Jenghiz Khan
Muhammad al-Muntazar (el-moon-TAZ-er): Last of the twelve legitimate
imams, who vanished around 874 but is expected, by Twelve-Imam Shi'is, to
return someday
Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (ibn AB-dul-wah-HAB): Founder of the Wah-
habi movement in the eighteenth century
muhtasib (MOOH-ta-sib): Muslim market inspector
mujtahid (MOOJ-ta-hid): Learned Muslim who interprets the Shari'a, especially
in Shi'i jurisprudence
Mukhtar (mookh-TAHR): Leader of Kufa rebellion (685-687)
multezim (MOOL-te-zim): Ottoman tax collector allowed by the government to
keep a share of what he collected
Murad I (moo-ROT): Ottoman sultan (1360-1389)
Murad II: Ottoman sultan (1421-1451)
Murad IV: Ottoman sultan (1623-1640)
muruwwa (mu-ROO-wa): Pre-Islamic code of Arab virtues
Muslim (MOOS-lim): (1) A person who submits to God's will; (2) anyone who
believes that God revealed the Quran to Muhammad
Muslim Brothers, Society of the: 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
Mu'tazila (muh-TA-zee-la): Rationalist formulation of Islamic theology, stressing
that God created the Quran
Nader Afshar (NAW-der awf-SHAWR): Military leader who became shah of Per¬
sia (1736-1747), expelled Afghan invaders, and conquered part of India
Nagib, Muhammad (ne-GEEB): Titular leader of 1952 Egyptian revolution
al-Nahhas, Mustafa (en-nah-HASS, moos-TAH-fa): Leader of Egypt's Wafd Party
(1927-1952)
Najaf (NED-jef): Iraqi city where Ali was assassinated (661), hence a Shi'i pil¬
grimage center
Nasir, Gamal Abd al- (NAW-ser, ga-MAL AB-dun): Leader of the 1952 military
coup that ousted Egypt's monarchy; later prime minister, then president
(1954-1970); also called Nasser
Nasirism: Western term for Nasir's political philosophy and program, including
nationalism, neutralism, and Arab socialism
Nasiruddin Shah (NAW-ser ud-DEEN): Qajar ruler (1848-1896)
Nasser: See Nasir, Gamal Abd al-
National Charter: 1962 Egyptian document describing the goals of Arab socialism