Aniconism (Adm tajoid al-Lah)

Prohibition of manufacture of any "form" or "image" (in Arabic "sura") to be alive. The Koran itself does not refer to, even if it contains violent diatribes against the Arab pagan religion of course imply the destruction of idols These are actually the words and instructions issued by the Prophet Muhammad, the "hadith "who reported, and sparked the jurisprudence in this area. The prophet has indeed recommended the use of any object decorated with a figurative any reason. Tradition says that he asked one of his wives to remove a cloth decorated the room where he was preparing to perform the prayer, so as not to risk being distracted. Moreover, Muhammad says that the Angel of Revelation refused to approach her house if she was home any image. Finally, he threatened to have the artists to appear before God on Judgement Day, to be ordered to give life to their works and to their inability to do so to be confused and thrown into the torments of hell. These few traditions, and others, led the Muslims from the older generations, to consider reproduction as reprehensible figurative and stylized prefer, at least with regard to religious art. This reluctance to represent God in any form whatsoever is most probably its origin in the will of Islam born to stand out from the pre-Islamic idolatrous polytheism. This distrust of divine anthropomorphism then naturally extended to the person of the Prophet itself. However, it should relativize the absolute nature of this ban. The latter was in fact violated many times in the iconography Sufi, in Persian and Turkish miniatures and in the writings of the great exegetes of the Qur'an as Tabari or Ghazali.

ALLAH

This is the name of the one God preached by Muhammad, in which one can recognize a contraction of "al-ilah" (Hebrew: Elohim), "the god". In pre-Islamic Arabia that name was already in use. There was less than a particular god incarnate deity in general in many local gods and / or tribal. The purpose of preaching was Muhammadan to accept the oneness of Allah and one of the first sura of the Koran (Sura CXIII) calls the prophet to declare that Allah is unique: "It does not create and it does is not created. " The God of Islam, because it is unique, is naturally endowed with all perfections imaginable. These perfections are expressed in the Qur'an by the adjectives that God gives himself: the "Holy", the "Very High ", the" Protector ", the" Giver ", ... God is alive and eternal ("The life that never dies" (XXV, 58)). He is almighty and the heavens and earth are submitted ("The King", "The Lord of the Worlds," "the winner ", etc ...). He is omniscient (" Well-Informed, "" Witness "," Vigilant ", ...). God is just what it means that it acts according to what the believer's reason tells him to justice. This justice is supposed to occur on the last day when it will reward those who believe in him and acted in his name. God is good and His goodness is manifested in its support to the men for their salvation in the hereafter, that his grace. It is also "one who forgives." Otherwise God is not a body and it did not fit. In fact it does not resemble anything that exists. Thus Islam has from the outset, prohibited all forms of pictorial representation of God. God is the creator and he created everything that exists. being designed as the creation ex nihilo. Throughout the history of mankind God has continued to raise prophets in Humanity to recall the latter to the true religion. Of course there are the prophets Moses, Man of the Torah and the prophet most often cited in the Koran, but also Jesus, Noah, Aaron, Abraham (as the Qur'an presents the first "subject" ("Muslim", in other words "Muslim"), Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David, Solomon, ...

Small lexicon of Islam and Islamic civilization

"Islam is the ideology and faith, fatherland and nationality, religion and state, spirit and action, book and sword" (Hassan Al-Banna)

ABBASID

This is the second caliph of Islam dynasty who reigned from 750 (fall of the Umayyads) to 1258 (taking of Baghdad by the Mongols). The Abbasid caliphs resided still in Iraq, which they had made the central province of their empire. It resided in Baghdad, founded in 762. Over time the caliphs lost their authority over several provinces and were forced to recognize some governors invested by them some independence (Aghlabids Tahirids, Saffarids, Samani, Tulunids, etc ...) sometimes, helplessly, to the secession of provinces: Andalus, Maghreb, Egypt, the Fatimids, ...

ABRAHAM

The prophet of the Old Testament is mentioned in the Koran under the name of "Ibrahim al-Khalil (" The Friend of God "). He is considered the forefather of the Arabs through his son Ishmael and builder the Ka'ba. It is considered the most perfect representative of the monotheistic religion before it is distorted by the Jews and Christians and reinstated in its entirety first by the Prophet Muhammad.

Aghlabids

Dynasty of governors who led relatively autonomous Ifriqiya the ninth century on behalf of the Abbasids. It established his capital at Kairouan and successively built two other cities: al-Abâssiyya and Ruqâda.

ALCAZAR

Spanish word derived from Arabic "al-Qasar" which means "house", "fortified palace" and who himself comes from the Latin "castrum".

ALI

Cousin and son of the Prophet, he had married his daughter Fatima, he was a companion of the first hour and the fourth of the caliphs Rashidun. He was behind the bursting of the "umma" and the birth of Shiism.

AMIR AL-Mu'minin

"Commander of the Faithful" (a term of Arab origin). It is from Umar (second caliph) an honorific title reserved for the Caliph.


ANDALUS

The term of obscure origin, designated in the medieval world the Muslim part of the Iberian peninsula. Its population was very diverse, including indigenous or not converted to Islam, Moslem Arabs, Berbers, black slaves and slave . Andalus was the headquarters of various local dynasties including the Umayyad West.

ARABESQUE

Type of ornamentation specifically Islamic, which appeared in the Abbasid art, consisting of stylized plant driven by a rhythmic movement and to completely cover the surface to decorate.

ASIA MINOR

This is the first name that the ancients gave to the western part of Asia, south of the Black Sea. Geographically "Asia Minor" is Anatolia. It is a land bridge between Asia and Europe. It is a world that has seen through an infinite diversity of civilizations, populations, migration, religion.

"ASSASSINS" (Nizari "," hashashin)

The Nizari, Hashâchines, or Assassins were a sect of militant Muslim (Ismaili shii'te) activates the eighth century to the fourteenth century. But it is mostly from the eleventh century (in 1094, following a major split in the current Ismaili) and throughout the Middle Ages, in Persia and Syria, which was waged the most out Hashâchines (or H'ashashines, "so named by the Crusaders), under the influence of their leader Hassan al Sabah '(also called the" Old Mountain "or the" Old Man of the Mountain "), from Fort Alamut , south-west of the Caspian Sea. In the late Middle Ages, their virtual disappearance coincided with the rise of the main branch (fifteen million followers today) of the Ismailis, and their modern descendants are the Ishmaelites, headed by the Aga Khan.

BARAKA

The term means blessing, luck, destiny favorable. This is beneficial force of divine origin. The term can also refer to the force are equipped with the holy men and they can transmit. Finally, this force can imbue places or objects regarded as sacred. The Muslim can get this charisma by going on pilgrimage to a holy place.

Bismillah (or "Bismillah")

It is a formula borrowed from the opening sura of the Koran that Muslims are recommended to be repeated in many circumstances of life which generally began and all the texts and written documents. This formula in the beginning of every sura of the Qur'an: "Llêh BICM-Er-Er-Rahmen Rahim (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم), literally means:" In the name of God, the Origin, the Agreement ", translated by "In the name of God, el Compassionate, the Merciful." The purpose of this opening called "Bismillah" (بسملة) is to remember that everything begins and is the Name of God. " It is for this reason that Muslims are accustomed to precede their actions by "BICM-Llêh": "In the name of God".

BAZAR

It is a market characterized by strong professional specialization and a strong spatial concentration. The Ottoman bazaar is not only a place specializing in the exchange of goods, it also focuses a number of crafts and industrial activities. C ' is also the hub around which the Turkish city: there is often a mosque and baths. It can also be reduced to a simple alignment of shops on either side of a street. To protect the barges against the rigors of sun, some streets could be covered. In large cities each business, each type of trade, occupied a particular street and some streets could be closed at night and placed under surveillance by guards. A town usually had several but the main bazaar was located near the bedesten, the most active shopping center.

Bedesten, Edirne, Turkey

Bedesten

The original term is "Bezistan." This is the part of the bazaar that sold textiles (the word "Bez" is still a factory of linen or cotton and "Bezzari" means the seller of textiles).

BERBER:

They are grouped into ethnic tribes independent and localized mainly in mountainous areas of the Maghreb. The Berbers were Islamization of the eighth century but remained rebels vis-à-vis the authorities. These people do not identify themselves as "Berber", a term they do not know, but as "Imazhigen" ("free men"). Their language is TAMAZGHA which is subdivided into three distinct sets: it riftain ("Tariffs") , Brabant (TAMAZGHA) and chleuh (tachelhit).

CALIPHATE

The term "Caliph" is derived from the Arabic "Khalifa" ("successor" and by extension "vicar", "lieutenant"). The term refers to the successors of Muhammad to lead the Muslim state. It is an institution born Muslim after the Prophet's death (632) to denote the load carried by Abu Bakr, the first successor of Muhammad and temporal leader of the Community of Believers.

CHARI'AH

This is the "Way Forward" ("Law of Islam"). It is a set of requirements which the Muslims must abide in the fields of religion, social relations and legal issues. Sharia is based on three elements: - The Quran (114 Surahs or chapters and 6226 verses). Is the word of God (Allah) in Arabic revealed by the archangel Gabriel (Jebril) of God to the Prophet Mohammed (Mohammed in Arabic), the Sunnah (Tradition of the Prophet "), which consists of hadiths (" short stories ") reporting his words, advice, actions, behavior-Fiqh (root meaning" to know "," consider "), ie the Islamic law developed by fuquahû (singular:" Fiqh ")" jurists-theologians "interpreting how it should enforce the Act.

Chiism

In Arabic "Shi'a", that is to say, "Shi'a Ali" or "party of Ali." It is a politico-religious movement widespread in the Muslim world today. The birth of Shiism result of the refusal of some Muslims to accept the legitimacy of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties and will book the Caliphate, that is to say the direction of the community (Umma) Ali and his descendants. It is from this dissent on the choice of the imam that individualizes Shiism.

Pagoda

The word "pagoda" was invented by the Portuguese settled in India. It means in the Chinese world, a monument to Buddhist destinations Votive, or used as a memorial shrine. This building has a dual origin: one that comes from the Chinese pavilion at stages Han period, the other Indian, from the "stupa" and "sikhara. The pagoda is usually at the center of the Buddhist monastery, to the Buddha hall. In large monasteries the monument was sometimes split. First built in wood, the pagodas were increasingly built from stone from the sixth century. The building still has several floors, with several successive roofs with curved and often with hanging bells ringing which symbolizes the spread of the Act. Inside is a central pillar (a symbol of the Universe) from which the stairs are ordered. The pagoda houses relics often and can sometimes serve as a tomb to a great master. The two oldest preserved Chinese pagodas, one brick (Songyue Monastery in Henan) and the other stone (Shentong Monastery in Shandong),back to the the sixth century.

Mahayana

Mahayana is a Sanskrit term meaning "Great Vehicle". He opposes the Theravada (or Hinayana ("Lesser Vehicle") - willingly pejorative appellation). It develops from the first century AD, but can trace its origin to the first schism that divided the Buddhist Sangha in the fourth century before JCDeux distinct schools emerged and then Mahasamghika sthaviravadin. It is in school Mahasamghika that manifested themselves the beginnings of Mahayana thought. The source of the Mahayana is the oldest Prajnaparamitra Sutra, whose perpetrators remain unknown. Mahayana underwent a major development in the third century AD linked to the great master Nagarjuna, Madhyamakashastra author and founder of the Madhyamika school. Mahayana posits that the monastic life is not a prerequisite to obtaining enlightenment. This can be achieved by laymen. Moreover, unlike the Theravada, which encourages the faithful to practice for his own salvation, the Mahayana is the compassionate one supreme value. Mahayana gives particular Bodhisattva (or "perfect candidate for the awakening '). A cult is rendered to some Bodhisattva considered great disciples of Buddha, as Avalokitesvara. Furthermore the state of Bodhisattva is presented as the ideal to be achieved by each ordinary faithful. Moreover, the historical figure of the Buddha is in the doctrine of the Three Corps emanation of a cosmic Buddha, Dainichi. Nowadays the "Great Vehicle" is the predominant form of Buddhism. It is present in northern India, China, South East Asia, Korea, Japan. The Vajrayana, which is derived is found in Tibet and Mongolia in Lamaism.

The ideal of the Bodhisattva in the Prajna Paramita Sutra Vajracchedika or Diamond Sutra (extr)

"O Subhuti, the Buddha replied, if that proclaim: 'I want to follow the Bodhisattva Path because I want to save all sentient beings' - they are creatures born of a matrix or hatched an egg, their life cycle is comparable to that of earthworms, to that of insects and butterflies, or they arise and appear like a miracle, such as mushrooms or gods, they are capable of deep thoughts, or incapable of any thought, since I have vowed to drive the individual beings to Nirvana and do not enter until they are all saved, you must remember, Subhuti, this making but nevertheless wish to remind you that even if things are released in huge numbers, in reality none of these people has been released. A Bodhisattva must not cling to the illusion of separate individuals, a ego or self-identity. In reality, there is no I or freeing that they are released. "

"Furthermore, Subhuti, a Bodhisattva should be detached from all desire - a desire to see or hear, smell, touch, taste, or some other desire whether it expects to guide the multitudes of Awakening. A Bodhisattva should not eat ambition. his love is infinite and can not be limited by ambition and attachments. In infinite love, immeasurable merits. "

Tropical Rain Forests

This forest occurs in the intertropical zone subject to an equatorial climate. The vegetation is characterized by strong vertical stratification. Can be found between 80 and 200 tree species per hectare. The canopy forms the upper floor of the forest in direct contact with the free atmosphere. Usually located several tens of meters high, the canopy forms a layer several meters thick which receives maximum sunshine and a specific microclimate. The complexity of the rainforest is sustained by falling trees created windfalls ("forest canopy gap"). A tree falling in several other leads in his fall, creating a skylight and the rapid regrowth of species pioneers. Indonesia has 80% of the last great tropical forests of Southeast Asia. These forests are home to 11% of known plant species, 10% of mammals and 16% of birds. 2.1 million hectares of forest disappear each year in Indonesia. Accelerating deforestation will lead to the disappearance of 98% protected area by Indonesian 2020.Les illegal loggers operating in 37 of the 41 national parks in Indonesia. Indonesia is currently the second largest producer of palm oil, with a total cultivated area of 5,000,000 hectares. By 2010, the government plans to plant 2 to 3 million hectares of forest to the detriment, especially to meet the growing demand for biofuels.

Borobudur

Buddhist temple dating from the eighth and ninth centuries, is located in central Java. It was built by Sailendra dynasty around 800 AD and abandoned around 1100.Il was rediscovered in 1815 by Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor of Java. The building, which forms a square of 113 meters square, is both a temple and a mandala. It is composed of four superimposed galleries covered with bas-reliefs recounting episodes from the life of Buddha Sakyamuni. A fifth underground gallery contains bas-reliefs depicting the depravity of life on earth. Three concentric circular terraces upper crown the building, they are lined with 72 bell-shaped stupa of stone openwork containing statues of bodhisattvas. Borobur on top of a large stupa covers a Buddha unfinished. In the 1970s the deterioration of the building forced the Indonesian government to call on UNESCO to save the monument. It took 10 years of work (1973-1983) and more than $ 20 million to complete the salvage company of the monument. The tripartite division of the monument alludes to the three worlds: the lower level would be the earthly realm, that of mere mortals "chained" by the law of karma ("Kamadhatu" or "sphere of desires"), followed by the heavenly world ("Rupadhatu "or" sphere of desires) is the "mean sphere", those "enlightened" who are learning the cessation of the grant, overcame the world of formlessness (Arupadhatu "or" Sphere of formlessness ") is the" high ball ", that of" enlightened "who have mastered the desire to have attained nirvana.