Nathan Gonzalez
T
ta'ziya: the Shia passion play performed during Ashoura.
Traditionalism: A Islamic juridical movement of ninth century Iraq supporting a literal interpretation of the sources of law, and steering clear of independent judgment.
Twelver Shiism (Arabic: itha'ashari): The majority branch of Shia Islam, and the majority religion of Iran. As the name suggests, Twelvers believe in the existence of Twelve Shia Imams.
U
ulama (lit., "scholars"): a generic term for clerical authorities and jurists in Sunni and Shia Islam.
Umar (d. 644): Second Muslim caliph and leader of an unprecedented expansionist campaign, including the conquest of Jerusalem, Syria and much of Iran; killed by an Iranian slave.
Uthman (d. 656): Third Muslim caliph, killed in Egypt due to an internal insurrection.
Umayyad Dynasty (661-750): First heredical dynasty of the Islamic caliphate, based in Damascus, which came to power following the death of Ali, who served as the Fourth Muslim caliph.
ummah (Arabic: "community"): A reference to the Muslim community of believers; "the Muslim world."
V
velayat-e faqih: see wilayat al-faqih.
W
Wahhabi: A term used to denote a Saudi brand of ultra-conservative Muslims, named as such after Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (1703-92), an Arabian Salafi/fundamentalist, whose fighters helped the House of Saud consolidate power over the Arabian Peninsula.
wilayat al-faqih (Arabic: "Rule by the Jurisprudent"): An ideology developed by Ruhollah Khomeini, under which a qualified jurist is expected to hold religious and political power over the state. It was likely inspired by Plato's philosopher-king concept, and it led to the creation of the office of the Supreme Leader in postrevolutionary Iran. More commonly seen with the Persian inflection, as velayat-e faqih.
Wilson, Arnold (1884-1940): British colonial administrator in Iraq, proponent of a heavy-handed colonialism over the country.
Y
Yathrib: the pre-Islamic name for the city of Medina.
Yazid I (d. 683): Umayyad Caliph, whose forces squared off against those of Imam Husayn in the Battle of Karbala (680).
Z
zakat: Alms-giving; zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Zarqawi, Abu Musab (1966-2006): Jordanian-born founder of al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia, killed in a U.S. air strike.
Zaydi: Branch of Shiism that believes in the existence of Five Imams.
Zaynu al-Abidin: Fourth Shia Imam and son of Husayn. In Iranian tradition, his mother was an Iranian princess, born from Yazdegird III, the last pre-Islamic Iranian king.
Zoroastrianism: Quasi-monotheistic religion based on the holy Avesta texts, and codified largely by the Sasanian Iranian dynasty. It is the only non-Abrahamic faith recognized in the Islamic Republic of Iran.