The Future For Islam

374 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

isnrtd: the prefatory material to a hadith (q.v.) that lists the sequence of scholars

or witnesses who transmitted the account from the time of the Prophet

Muhammad up to the time when it was written down.

izrtr: the cloth that covers the pilgrim from waist to knees when he commits

himself to the sacred state of ihram.

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jahiliyya: denoting childlike foolishness or ignorance, the word is commonly

applied to the period prior to the advent of Islam.

jamra (pl. jamrm): ancient stone pillars symbolizing Satan at Mina. These are
pelted with pebbles during the pilgrimage rites, the stones being known as
jamrrtt.

kacba: the ancient cube-like structure within the great mosque in Mecca

positioned some feet from the sacred spring zamzam (q.v.). It is towards this

site that Muslims direct their prayers (see qibla).

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al-Khalit 1) a town, also known as Hebron, some 32 miles south of Jerusalem

and the site of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, sacred both to Jews and to I

Muslims. 2) a name or attribute implying close friend or confidant; the word

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is particularly associated with Abraham. I

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liwrt': 1) a flag, banner or signpost. 2) the issuance of this to those making the I i

pilgrimage to the kacba. i

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maqrtm Ibrahim: the 'station' of Abraham. A sanctuary positioned a few feet

from the kacba where Abraham and his co-religionaries would stand for prayer

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during the summer months.! i

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maghrib: the west or direction in which the sun sets. Also, the fourth canonical

Islamic prayer performed at dusk. It consists of three rak'at; at the first two

of these the prayers are spoken audibly, the third in silence.

masjid: the place where the Muslim prostrates in prayer, usually a mosque. I I

Mina: a location some four miles east of Mecca on the road to 'Arafat. i

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hadith mursat a hadith which is considered by scholars to have a fault or

inconsistency in the chain of its transmission.

al-Muzdalifa: a location some half way between Mina and 'Arafat. It is there

that pilgrims returning from 'Arafat spend the night. 1