Al Qaeda- Muslim group devoted to the exclusion of a Western existence in Arab countries and aggressively against Western foreign rule. Started by Osama bin Laden in 1988.
Al Qaeda has carried out several attacks on non-Muslims.
Christianity- A monotheistic religion that focuses on teachings about Jesus Christ out of the sacred scripture known as the Bible.
Christianity is the most popular religion in the world. However, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.
Taliban- A certain group of Muslim extremists in Afghanistan.
The Taliban ruled large parts of Afghanistan and its capital (Kabul) from September 1996-October 2001.
Judaism- A monotheistic religion pertaining to Jews. They worship Jesus Christ.
Judaism has a sacred text called the Torah; Jewish people also worship in synagogues.
Jihad- In defense of the Islamic faith, Muslims started a holy war called Jihad.
Jihad was a bloody war and Muslims started it because they wanted to protect the Islamic faith.
OPEC- an international association created in 1960 that distributes big quantities of petroleum. (It was created to start oil-exporting policies and to set prices.)
OPEC helps a lot of countries because it supplies them with petroleum.
Yom Kippur- A holy day pertaining to Jewish people on the 10th day of the month of Tishri (Most holy Jewish month) They fast from food and drink and they spend the day praying in the synagogue.
Jews fast from food and drink on the tenth day of every month due to Yom Kippur.
Arab- A part of a Semitic group, or someone who speaks the Arabic language.
There are many Arabs in the middle east whom belong to Semitic groups.
Zionism- A global Jewish movement that concluded in the founding and growth of the state of Israel.
Zionism is a form of nationalism of Jews and Jewish culture; it supports a Jewish nation state known as the Land of Israel.
Islam- The monotheistic religion of Muslims that is based off of teachings out of the Koran. They worship Allah (God).
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, specifically in Indonesia.
Ramadan- The ninth month on the Muslim calendar.
Ramadan is a very holy and religious month for the followers of Islam.
Palestinian- An Arab person who formerly lived in Palestine.
Palestinian people previously live in the hot and unwelcoming region of Palestine.
Sunni-Someone that is a part of the two religious separations of Islam, they stress the importance of Sunna as a base for life.
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam; its believers are referred to in Arabic.
PLO-Stands for: Palestine Liberation organization.
PLO is a political and terrorist society which was created in 1964.
Fundamentalism- A group that has the same beliefs and traditions.
The followers of Islam are a fundamentalism because they all share the same beliefs and values.
Shiite- Someone that is part of the two religious separations of Islam, they honor Ali (the son-in-law of Muhammad)
Shiite’s worship and honor Ali, who is the son-in-law of Muhammad.
Middle East Vocabulary
Bedouin- An Arab that lives in the desert in the Middle East.
Bedouin are a part of a primarily Arabian ethnic group that usually lives in the desert; they are traditionally divided into tribes.
By: Heidi Bertsch
Mosque- The Muslim place of worship.
In the Islamic religion, Muslims would go to the Mosque to worship. Also, they read selections out of the Koran.
Hamas- a Palestinian Islamic terrorist group dedicated to tormenting Israel.
Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Mahmoud Zahar.
Terrorism- The use of violence and threats to frighten a certain group of people.
Syria uses terrorism on Iran because they threaten to kill Shiite’s if Tehran and Damascus do not follow up with their demands.
Synagogue- The Jewish place of worship.
Jews go to the synagogue to pray. They also read sections from the Torah to grow deeper in their faith.
Hijab- A traditional Muslim head scarf worn by women. It is supposed to cover up everything except for the face.
The Koran states that women must wear a Hijab to be conservative and to show respect.
Intifada- A rebellion that begun in December 1987 by Palestinian Arabs to object Israel's existence of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Intifada is often used as a term for popular resistance to oppression.