The Future For Islam

372 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

officially fraternized with the muh@irin, those Muslims who had initially gone

into exile from Mecca to Medina in their support for Islam.

'arab al-'~riba: the original Arabs, who are assumed to have spoken the language

of Ya'ruh b. Q&pn.

'arab al-mustacriba: 'the arahized Arabs', initially referring to those who spoke

the Arabic of Ishmael, the dialects of the Hijaz, that is. The term is also

applied to those not descended from the Arabs of Arabia, hut who have been

assimilated into Arab culture and who speak Arabic as their native tongue.

'Arafzt (also 'Arafa): a plain some 13 miles east of Mecca. Essential parts of

the haji pilgrimage ceremonies occur there, centered on a small granite hill,

also known by the same name.

'ashira (pl. 'asha'ir): an agnatic group. The word is commonly translated as

tribe. An 'ashfra is composed of several afkhadh (q.v.), while several 'asha'ir

form a single qahila (q.v.).

badana: an animal, commonly a camel, to be offered for sacrifice by a pilgrim

at the baj (q.v.).

baraka: blessing, in particular that divine force that enables prosperity and

happiness. Persons of great piety or holiness are believe suffused with baraka,

which radiates from them to those around them.

Bakka: an ancient alternative or original name for Mecca. In legend, the name

comes from the Arabic verb baka, he wept, applied to Adam's sadness at

descending to the barren environment of Arabia after his expulsion from

paradise.

batn (pl. butan): an agnatic group smaller than a qabila (q.v.) hut larger than

a fakhdh (q.v.).

dafc: the word used to denote the act of departure from 'Arafat during the

pilgrimage rites.

fakhdh (pl. afkh~dh): a group of several families claiming descent from the
same ancestor.

al-fajr: the dawn; also the superogatory prayer, recommended but not required,

performed immediately after dawn. It consists of two rak'at (q.v.) to be recited

audibly.