The dosah (treading) was a ceremony which used to be performed at Cairo on the return of the holy carpet from Mecca. The sheik of the Sa'di dervishes rode on horseback over the bodies of devotees, killing some, injuring others more or less severely; those who escaped unhurt were deemed to be specially honoured by god. The rite was suppressed by the Khedive in 1884. Research Dosah
Hajj (or Hadj) is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. which every Muslin, ought to perform once in his life, and after which he is entitled to prefix Hadji to his name. The pilgrimage was made in disguise by Burckhardt in 1814, by Burton in 1853, and by T F Keane in 1878, each of whom published accounts of his journey. Research Hajj
Ihram is a sacred state in which a Muslim is required to enter before embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The state of ihram decrees that one must not have sexual intercourse, cut one's hair, shave or cut one's toe nails. Research Ihram More information about Ihram
The Kaaba is the square-shaped building in the centre of the Great Mosque in Mecca. It is towards this building (and not Mecca) that Muslims face when praying. Research Kaaba
Arminius Vambery was a Hungarian traveller and Oriental scholar. He was born in 1832 and died in 1913. He studied at Vienna and Pest universities, and in 1854 went to Constantinople (Istanbul), where he taught French. After studying Arabic and Persian dialects he went to Turkistan in 1861, disguised as a dervish ; thence to Persia, where he joined a caravan of pilgrims returning from Mecca, and travelled with them to Khiva. Thence he passed to Bokhara and Samarkand, making his way back to Persia via Herat, in 1864. Returning to Budapest, he became professor of Turkish and other Oriental languages. His principal works include The Coming Struggle for India, 1885; and Western Culture in Eastern Lands, 1906. He published his Autobiography in 1884, and The Story of My Struggles in 1904. Research Arminius Vambery
Arminius Vambery was a Hungarian traveller and Oriental scholar. He was born in 1832 and died in 1913. He studied at Vienna and Pest universities, and in 1854 went to Constantinople (Istanbul), where he taught French. After studying Arabic and Persian dialects he went to Turkistan in 1861, disguised as a dervish ; thence to Persia, where he joined a caravan of pilgrims returning from Mecca, and travelled with them to Khiva. Thence he passed to Bokhara and Samarkand, making his way back to Persia via Herat, in 1864. Returning to Budapest, he became professor of Turkish and other Oriental languages. His principal works include The Coming Struggle for India, 1885; and Western Culture in Eastern Lands, 1906. He published his Autobiography in 1884, and The Story of My Struggles in 1904. Research Arminius Vambery
Abdullah ibn Hussein was the first king of Jordan. He was born in 1882 at Mecca and died in 1951. After taking a prominent part in the Arab revolt against Turkey from 1916 to 1918, he was appointed emir of the British mandated territory of Transjordan in 1921, and in 1946 with the end of the mandate became king, in 1948 being also proclaimed king of Palestine though with the formation of the state of Israel he lost sovereignty of Palestine. He was assassinated by Arab nationalists in 1951. Research Abdullah ibn Hussein
Abu Bakr was the first caliph from 632 to 634. He was born in 573 at Mecca and died in 634. He was the father of Aisha, the wife of the prophetMohammed. He became Mohammed's most trusted follower, accompanying him on the Hegira. After Mohammed died, Abu Bakr was made caliph, or successor to the Prophet, by an assembly of the faithful. As caliph, he prevented some tribes from reverting to heathenism and fought successfully against Persia and the Byzantine Empire. He was succeeded by Umar I. Research Abu Bakr
Antar was an Arabian warrior and poet of the 6th century. He was author of one of the seven Moallakas (poems) hung up in the Kaaba at Mecca; hero of a romance analogous in Arabic literature to the Arthurian legend of the English. The romance of Antar, which has been called the Iliad of the Desert, is composed in rhythmic prose interspersed with fragments of verse, many of which are attributed to Antar himself, and has been generally ascribed to Asmai who lived between 740 and 830, preceptor to Harun-al-Rashid. Research Antar
Fatima Bint Mohammed The Prophet was the daughter of the prophetMohammed and his first wife, Khadija. She was born in 606 at Mecca and died in 632. She married her cousin, Ali ibn Abi Talib and by him had two sons, Hasan and Husain, who were the only male perpetuators of Mohammed's family. Shiah Muslims believe that Fatima is divine and believe that one of her descendants will return to earth to rule as the divine Mahdi, and hold her in a similar role to the Catholic Virgin Mary. Research Fatima
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Dosah
More information about 
