The First Dynasty of Islam: The Umayyad Caliphate ad 661-750

fils
the copper coin
fiqh
the theory of Islamic law (not the law itself, the
shari‘a
)
fitna
conflict within the Muslim community, especially
that between ‘Ali and Mu‘awiya
 
hajj
the pilgrimage to Mecca in the month of Dhu’l-
Hijja
 

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Glossary
imam
a) the supreme head of the Muslims, particularly
used in this sense by the Shi‘ites b) a prayer
leader in a mosque c) an honorific title applied to
a religious scholar
 
jizya
a tax, in the classical system a poll tax (tax on
individual persons)
jund
‘army’; a military district
 
khalifa
‘deputy’; the caliph
kharaj
a tax, in the classical system a land tax
khutba
a speech; in the early period any speech of
importance delivered by a figure of authority,
especially the caliph or governor; eventually
developing into the sermon delivered at the mid-
day prayer service in the mosque on Fridays
 
majus
‘Magian’; in the strict sense Zoroastrians but used
more widely for followers of religions other than
Judaism or Christianity to whom the Muslims
wished to grant some toleration