Glossary

A

ayatollah (lit. God's symbol). Modern term for a high-ranking cleric.

B

bazaar. Marketplace.

bazaari. The people of the marketplace.

C

chador. Full-length veil.

Cossacks . A brigade created by Tsarist officers.

E

ejtehad. Seminary degree.

elteqati. Eclectic.

enqelab. Revolution.

^c erfan. Mysticism, gnostic knowledge.

F

faqih (pl. fuqaha ). Religious jurist.

fatwa. Decree.

fiqh. Religious jurisprudence.

H

hadith. Tradition relating to the Prophet and his companions.

hezbollahis. Members of the Party of God.

hojjat al-Islam. Middle-ranking clerics.

I

imam. Leader.

K

kafer. Unbelievers, infidels.

khoms. Religious taxes.

M

marja ^c-e taqlid (pl. maraje ^c-e taqlid ) (lit. source of emulation). A cleric of the highest rank.

mojahed (pl. mojahedin ). Freedom fighter, crusader.

mojtahed. Senior cleric.

mostakberin. Oppressors, exploiters.

mostazafin. The oppressed, the exploited, and the meek.

Q

qeshr. Stratum.

R

rahbar. Leader.

S

shahid. Martyr.

shari ^ca. Sacred law.

sotun-e panjom. Fifth columnists.

T

tabaqeh (pl. tabaqat ). Class.

U

ulama. Clergy.

V

velayat-e faqih. Jurist's guardianship.