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Search Home : Reference : Encyclopedias : Subject Encyclopedias : Encyclopaedia of the Orient : M
- M'zab: Valley oasis in Algeria with approximately 120,000 inhabitants.
- MIA: Algerian political and militant groups.
- Maat: Universal ethical principle of ancient Egyptian religion, denoting 'justice', 'order', 'truth'.
- Madina: City in Saudi Arabia with 870,000 inhabitants, situated in Hijaz, in western Saudi Arabia.
- Maghreb: Name of north- western Africa, coming from Arabic word for "the land where the sun sets".
- Mahfouz, Naguib: Egyptian writer, educated at King Fuad 1 University (now University of Cairo).
- Maimonides: Jewish philosopher and physician.
- Manama: Capital of Bahrain with 150,000 inhabitants, situated on the Persian Gulf, north on Bahrain Island.
- Mandeans: The only surviving Gnostic religion, now with no more than 20,000 adherents.
- Mani: Founder of religion, now called Manichaeism.
- Manichaeism: World religion founded by Mani.
- Mark, Gospel of: Christian text, Gospel that has been included in the New Testament, as the second book.
- Marlik: Archaeological site in Northern Iran.
- Marrakech: City in Morocco with 970,000 inhabitants, situated in the interior of middle Morocco.
- Masada: Ancient fortress and national symbol for Israel.
- Mashriq: Another word for the Middle East, coming from the Arabic word for "the land where the sun rises."
- Masinissa: First king of Numidia.
- Matmata: Village in Tunisia with about 5,000 inhabitants.
- Matthew, Gospel of: Christian text, gospel included in the New Testament, arranged as the first book.
- Mauritania: Independent republic, divided into 12 regions and the capital district.
- Mawlid: Meaning 'birthday' is a celebration of a holy person in Islam.
- Mecca: City in Saudi Arabia with 1.4 million inhabitants. The most holy city in Islam.
- Meir, Golda: Israeli politician, prime minister from 1969 to 1974, co-founder of the state of Israel.
- Meknes: City of Morocco with 680,000 inhabitants, situated in northern Morocco.
- Memphis: City of ancient Egypt, situated on the west bank of the Nile, 25 km south of today's Cairo.
- Meshed: City in Iran with 1.9 million inhabitants, at an elevation of 985 metres above sea level.
- Middle East: Geographical area without clear borders, with its centre in the eastern Mediterranean basin.
- Mihna: Mu'tazilite inquisition, which represents the final break between cohabitation of religion and state in Islam.
- Mihrab: Niche in a mosque, indicating the qibla, the direction in which a Muslim shall perform his salat.
- Minaret: Tower near to, or built into, the structures of a mosque, used to call out the adhan.
- Minbar: Pulpit in a mosque, placed next to the mihrab.
- Misyar: Marriage institution in Islam, allowing for a lesser form of relationship between man and woman than normal marriage.
- Mohammedia: City in Morocco with 80,000 inhabitants, situated on the Atlantic Ocean.
- Mosque: House of prayer in Islam.
- Mosque of Hassan II: Mosque outside Casablanca, Morocco, in celebration of the 60th birthday of King Hassan 2 of Morocco.
- Mostagenem: City in Algeria with 120,000 inhabitants, situated in north-western Algeria.
- Mount Hermon: Mountain in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, shared between Syria and Lebanon.
- Mu'tazilis: Theological school inside Islam.
- Mubarak, Hosni: Egyptian president (1981- ) and military leader.
- Muezzin: The person calling out for people to come to the mosque to perform salat.
- Muhammad: The central messenger and prophet in Islam.
- Muhammad V: Sultan of Morocco 1927-57, king 1957-61.
- Muhammad al Baqir: Fifth Imam of the Isma'ili and Twelver traditions of Shi'i Islam.
- Muhammad al Mahdi: The 12th and last Imam of the Twelver Shi'i, also known as Muhammad al Muntazar.
- Muhammad at Taqi: The 9th Imam of the Twelver Shi'i.
- Murji'is: Sectarian `group` in Islam.
- Musa al Kazim: Seventh Imam of the Twelver Shi'i tradition.
- Musandem: Peninsula in Oman, separated from the rest of Oman with a distance of about 40 km.
- Musqat: Capital of Oman with 790,000 inhabitants.
- Muwahhidun: Movement in Islam from mid-18th century, calling for a renewal of the Muslim spirit.
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