the Hashishiyya’s were able to fight back the Christian invaders. In some instances, Hashishiyya members were known to have
undertaken covert missions with the intent of not returning alive in order to kill their target. Modern day scholars believe that the
misnomer surrounding the meaning of this word was brought about by the Crusaders themselves who wished to portray the
Hashishiyya as a group of godless people who were less than human and who were always under the influence of the drug, Hashish.
Hungry Ghosts - Written in the Buddhist Petavatthu (c. 6th century) writings. A hungry ghost is a mischievous or mean spirited
ghost. In the Petavatthu, there are several examples of how a hungry ghost is born. The categories are as follows:
1. To die without ancestors to worship the deceased at a gravesite.
2. To die with no one to bury the deceased.
3. To die at sea or in childhood or to be murdered.
A mischievous hungry ghost will not harm the living. A group of hungry ghosts, as is written in the Petavatthu, will act like gangs
of mean bullies, beggars, and bandits with the exception of murdered victims.
The worst of the hungry ghosts are those who were murdered. Murdered victims are known to haunt the scene of their death
seeking violent revenge. Hungry Ghosts born from being murdered have been able to take lives in an attempt to appease their
hunger. A special religious day exists within Buddhist cultures, which allows for appeasing the hungry ghosts.
Indus - Archeologist and scholars have determined that India was known as Indus from c2550 B.C.E. to 1550 B.C.E.
Islam - Has existed in Morocco since c. 685.
Isis – Egyptian Goddess who was the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Isis was seen as the protective goddess and it was
believed that with her magic spells, she could assist people in need. Because it was believed that the Pharaohs were the living
embodiment of Horus on earth, the Pharaohs considered Isis an important Goddess.
Isle of Philae – Located south of the city of Aswan in the Nile River. It is estimated to have been constructed during the third
century B.C.E. The temple was dedicated to the Egyptian Goddess Isis, and remains to this day a protected landmark, which houses
the original architecture and hieroglyphs of the ancient Egyptian religions.
Jihad - Literal translation means, “Struggle.” The mention of Jihad can be found in the Qu’ran, the holy book of Islam. Within the
Qu’ran, it states that Jihads are sometimes necessary, even though distasteful, when evil rules over the weak, or when injustice rises
against the followers of Allah. Note; it is strictly forbidden to call a Jihad against women, children, or the innocent. (Q., 2:216) The
Qu’ran gives promise that all who fall (die) in Jihad shall be granted automatic entrance into the Gardens of Eden (Q., 61:10-13).
An early scholar of Islamic teachings, Abu Soorah as-Saffof, gave further support that any who give their all, wealth, intellect and
lives, in a fight in a Jihad shall be forgiven of all sins and will gain automatic entrance in the “Gardens of Eternity,” (Soorah as-Saff.,
61:10-12)
Khat (pronounced cot) - Khat is a natural stimulant from the Catha Edullis plant commonly found in East Africa and Southern
Arabia. When chewed, Khat acts as an anti-depressant. Users claim it lifts the spirits and sharpens thinking. Khat is still commonly
used in Yemen, Somalia, and Ethiopia.
Kshatriya - India’s social stratification once operated with a caste system. The Brahmins were at the top of the social system and
were the spiritual guides and acted as teachers as well as interpreters of the laws and religious doctrine’s of the country. The
Kshatriyas were the warriors, princes and kings, in essence, the nobility of India. The Vaishyas were the merchant class who were
responsible for the distribution of mercantile as well as food supplies. The Shudra included people who were manual and agricultural
laborers, artisans, and masons. The outcastes or untouchables were the 5th group in the hierarchy, and their duties including
scavenging, cleaning up after funerals and anything considered to be an unclean task. The final one level in the caste system was
called Malecha. Malecha comprised of outsiders or foreigners living in India.
Marrakech - Was originally founded 1062 as a capital for the Almoravids. Its founder, Yussuf bni Tashufin named the city "Marra
Kouch", which means "Land of the Kouch-men". Kouch was the name given to warriors with black complexion from modern
Mauritania tribes.
Morocco - Has been a governing country since c. 788.
Moroccan Flag - According to the Islamic History Source book, published by Fordham University, The current red flag with green
star was not used as a symbol of the state until 1062, when the Almoravide dynasty came into control of Morocco. Prior to the
Almoravide dynasty, white silk banners were often carried into battle, sometimes with Quranic inscriptions written on them. The
most often used scripture was “Allah is powerful to do all things.”
Persia – The original Persian Empire once covered the territory of modern Iraq and Iran, to the tip of the Indus Valley. It is
estimated that the Sumerians settled and established the first known civilization in Persia, and created the first functioning
government. In addition to creating a stable government, the Persians are known to have invented the wheeled vehicle and the use of
a written language.
Potidaea - The spelling of Gabrielle’s hometown is taken from The Times Atlas of World History (Atlas 75).
Prayers - According to 2:142-150 of the Qu'ran, prayers are to be held while facing the holy mosque of Mekkah, the Ka’bah.
Ra – The Egyptian sun god.
Ramadan - A holiday observed in the Islamic religion, which occurs during their lunar new year and lasts for 35 days. From sunrise
to sunset, believers fast and abstain from drinking, eating, luxuries, and partaking in sexual activities of any kind. The day hours of
fasting are used as a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. It is believed that through fasting and inner
reflection, a measure of ascendancy is given one’s spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to Allah. Ramadan is
also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur’an, giving to charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds.
Safihah - Commonly known as an astrolabe. At this time, there were two forms of astrolabe used; one was a slender piece of wood,
which held a silver ball that gave the location readings. This astrolabe could be used during the day. The second form of astrolabe
is the one most commonly known of today, which is made of metal and was used for night navigation. The primary wooden
astrolabe, and the metal compass were invented by Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Yahya al-Zarqali (1028-1087 B.C.E), a Spanish Arab.
Sarasvati - The Holiday of Sarasvati Puja is celebrated on February 17, and is a Hindu festival honoring the Goddess
Sarasvati. Sarasvati is the Goddess of wisdom, intellect, knowledge as well as inspiration for arts and music.
Sefarad - Sefarad is the ancient name once used for Sephardic Jews. There are two dominant branches within Judaism. The
Ashkenazic and the Sephardic Jews. While many people are under the misunderstanding that the Yiddish language is the
international language of Judaism, it is really the language of Ashkenazic Jews. The word "Ashkenazic" is derived from the
Hebrew word for Germany. The Ashkenazic are descended from Jews that once lived in Germany and Eastern Europe.
Owing to segregation, either from laws or self-imposed, much of the Ashkenazic culture was not influenced by the Christians
living in their regions. The only influence they had from the European Christians was their Yiddish language, which was based
on the German and Hebrew languages. In the mid- to late-1800’s, a large majority of the Ashkenazic Jews immigrated to the
U.S.A., and demographically, they are the largest Jewish population in America today. Despite this great migration, the first
Jewish congregation founded in New York City in 1684, Shearith Israel, was Sephardic and is still active. The first Jewish
congregation in the city of Philadelphia, Congregation Mikveh Israel, was founded in 1740, is also Sephardic, and is still
active.
The word "Sephardic" is derived from the Hebrew word for Spain. Sephardic Jews are the Jews of Spain, Portugal, North
Africa (Morocco) and the Middle East. Sephardic flourished predominately in Spain
