Later he took his son to the cave and taught him the secret of how to enter it and, in time, the two of them passed this on to their descendants. They lived in great splendour, being held in honour as the leading dignitaries in the city. They had profited from their good fortune but used it with restraint.
When she had finished telling this story to King Shahriyar, Shahrazad, seeing it was not yet light, began to recount the story we are now going to hear.
Many of the Arabic terms used in the translation are to be found in The Oxford English Dictionary, including ‘dinar’, ‘ghazi’ and ‘jinn’. Of these the commonest – ‘emir’ and ‘vizier’, for instance – are not entered in italics in the text and, in general, are not glossed here. Equivalents are not given for coins or units of measure as these have varied throughout the Muslim world in accordance with time and place. The prefix ‘al-’ (equivalent to ‘the’) is discounted in the alphabetical listing; hence ‘al-Mansur’ is entered under ‘M’. Please note that only the most significant terms and figures, or ones mentioned repeatedly, are covered here.
al-‘Abbas see ‘Abbasids.
‘Abbasids the dynasty of Sunni Muslim caliphs who reigned in Baghdad, and for a while in Samarra, over the heartlands of Islam, from 750 until 1258. They took their name from al-‘Abbas (d. 653), uncle of the Prophet. From the late ninth century onwards, ‘Abbasid rule was nominal as the caliphs were dominated by military protectors.
‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Qilaba the discoverer of the legendary city of Iram.
‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan the fifth of the Umaiyad caliphs (r. 685–705).
‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (c.1077–1166) a Sufi writer and saint.
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq after the death of the Prophet, Abu Bakr was the first to become caliph (r. 632–4). He was famed for his austere piety.
Abu Hanifa (699–767) a theologian and jurist; founder of the Hanafi school of Sunni religious law.
Abu Hazim an eighth-century preacher and ascetic.
Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur see al-Mansur.
Abu Muhammad al-Battal a legendary hero of popular tales, in which he plays the part of a master of wiles.
Abu Murra literally, ‘the father of bitterness’, meaning the devil.
Abu Nuwas Abu Nuwas al-Hasan ibn Hani (c.755–c.813), a famous, or notorious, poet of the ‘Abbasid period, best known for his poems devoted to love, wine and hunting.
Abu Tammam (c.805–45) a poet and anthologist of the ‘Abbasid period.
‘Ad the race of ‘Ad were a pre-Islamic tribe who rejected the prophet Hud and who consequently were punished by God for their impiety and arrogance.
‘Adi ibn Zaid (d. c.600) a Christian poet in Hira.
Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780–855)a hadith scholar (student of traditions concerning the Prophet) and a legal authority; founder of the Hanbali school of Sunni religious law.
al-Ahnaf al-Ahnaf Abu Bakr ibn Qais, a shaikh of the tribe of Tamim. A leading general in the Arab conquests of Iran and Central Asia in the seventh century, he also had many wise sayings attributed to him.
‘A’isha (d. 687) the third and favourite wife of the Prophet.
‘Ali ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin of the Prophet and his son-in-law by virtue of his marriage to Fatima. In 656, he became the fourth caliph and in 661 he was assassinated.
‘Ali Zain al-‘Abidin Zain al-‘Abidin meaning ‘Ornament of the Believers’ (d. 712), the son of Husain and grandson of the caliph ‘Ali, he was recognized as one of the Shi‘i imams.
alif the first letter of the Arabic alphabet. It takes the shape of a slender vertical line.
Allahu akbar! ‘God is the greatest!’ A frequently used exclamation of astonishment or pleasure.
aloe aloe was imported from the Orient and the juice of its leaves was used for making a bitter purgative drug.
aloes wood the heartwood of a South-east Asian tree, it is one of the most precious woods, being chiefly prized for its pleasant scent.
al-Amin Muhammad al-Amin ibn Zubaida (d. 813), the son of Harun al-Rashid, succeeding him as caliph and reigning 809–13. He had a reputation as an indolent pleasure lover.
al-Anbari Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad al-Anbari (855–940), hadith scholar and philologist.
‘Antar ‘Antar ibn Shaddad, legendary warrior and poet of the pre-Islamic period who became the hero of a medieval heroic saga bearing his name.
ardabb a dry measure.
Ardashir the name of several pre-Islamic Sasanian kings of Persia. A great deal of early Persian wisdom literature was attributed to Ardashir I (d. 241) and there were many legends about his early years and his reign.
al-Asma‘i (740–828?) an expert on the Arabic language and compiler of a famous anthology of Arabic poetry. Harun al-Rashid brought him from Basra to Baghdad in order to tutor his two sons, al-Amin and al-Ma’mun.
‘Atiya see Jarir ibn ‘Atiya.
‘aun a powerful jinni.
Avicenna the Western version of the Arab name Ibn Sina (980–1037), a Persian physician and philosopher, the most eminent of his time, whose most famous works include The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine.
balila stewed maize or wheat.
ban tree Oriental willow.
banj frequently used as a generic term referring to a narcotic or knock-out drug, but sometimes the word specifically refers to henbane.
banu literally, ‘sons of ’, a term used to identify tribes or clans, e.g. the Banu Quraish.
Barmecides see Harun al-Rashid, Ja’far.
Bilal an Ethiopian contemporary of the Prophet and early convert to Islam.The Prophet appointed him to be the first muezzin.
Bishr al-Hafi al-Hafi meaning ‘the man who walks barefoot’ (767–841), a famous Sufi.
bulbul Eastern song thrush.
Chosroe in Persian ‘Khusraw’, in Arabic ‘Kisra’ – the name of several pre-Islamic Sasanian kings of Persia, including Chosroe Anurshirwan – ‘the blessed’ (r. 531–79).
Dailamis Dailam is a mountainous region to the south of the Caspian Sea whose men were celebrated as warriors.
daniq a medieval Islamic coin equivalent to a sixth of a dirham.
dhikr a religious recitation, particularly a Sufi practice.
dhimmi a non-Muslim subject, usually a Christian or a Jew, living under Muslim rule.
Di‘bil al-Khuza‘i (765–860) a poet and philologist who lived in Iraq and who was famous for his satirical and invective poetry.
dinar a gold coin. It can also be a measure of weight.
dirham a silver coin, approximately a twentieth of a dinar.
diwan council of state, council hall or reception room.
fals plural flus, a low-value copper coin.
faqih a jurisprudent, an expert in Islamic law.
faqir literally, ‘a poor man’, the term also is used to refer to a Sufi or Muslim ascetic.
al-Fath ibn Khaqan (d. 861) the caliph al-Mutawwakil’s adoptive brother, chief scribe and general.
Fatiha literally, the ‘opening’; the first sura (chapter) of the Quran.
Fatima (d. 633) daughter of the Prophet. She married ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Fatimid caliphs of Egypt, whose dynasty lasted from 909 to 1171, claimed descent from her.
fidda silver, a small silver coin.
flus see fals.
ghazi a holy warrior, a slayer of infidels or participant on a raiding expedition.
ghul a cannibalistic monster. A ghula is a female ghul.
Gog and Magog evil tribes dwelling in a distant region. According to legend, Alexander the Great built a wall to keep them from invading the civilized parts of the earth, but in the Last Days they will break through that wall.
hadith a saying concerning the words or deeds of the Prophet or his companions.
Hafsa daughter of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, she married the Prophet in 623 and died in 665.
hajj the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi (c.661–714) a governor of Iraq for the Umaiyad
caliph ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, he was notorious for his harshness, but famous for his oratory.
al-Hakim bi-amri-’llah Fatimid caliph in Egypt (r. 996–1021), he was notorious for his eccentricities and capricious cruelty. After his murder, he became a focus of Druze devotion.
al-Hariri (1054–1122) a poet, prose writer and government official. He is chiefly famous for his prose masterpiece, the Maqamat, a series of sketches involving an eloquently plausible rogue.
Harun al-Rashid (766–809) the fifth of the ‘Abbasid caliphs, reigning from 786. In Baghdad, he presided over an efflorescence of literature and science and his court became a magnet for poets, musicians and scholars. Until 803, the administration was largely in the hands of a Persian clan, the Barmecides, but in that year, for reasons that are mysterious, he had them purged. After his death, civil war broke out between his two sons, al-Amin and al-Ma’mun. In retrospect, Harun’s caliphate came to be looked upon as a golden age and in the centuries that followed numerous stories were attached to his name.
Harut a fallen angel who, together with another fallen angel, Marut, instructed men in the occult sciences (Quran 2.102).
Hasan of Basra Hasan ibn Abi’l-Hasan of Basra (642–728), a preacher and early Sufi ascetic to whom many moralizing sayings were attributed.
Hatim of Tayy a pre-Islamic poet of the sixth century, famed for his chivalry and his generosity. Many anecdotes and proverbs have been attributed to him.
hijri calendar the Muslim calendar, dating from the Hijra, or year of Muhammad’s emigration from Mecca to Medina, each year being designated ah – anno Hegirae or ‘in the year of the Hijra’.
Himyar a pre-Islamic kingdom in southern Arabia.
Hind India.
Hisham ibn ‘Abd al-Malik the tenth of the Umaiyad caliphs (r. 724–43).
houri a nymph of the Muslim Paradise. Also a great beauty.
Iblis the devil.
Ibn ‘Abbas ‘Abd Allah ibn al-‘Abbas (625–86 or 688), a cousin of the Prophet and transmitter of many traditions concerning him.
Ibn Zubair ‘Abd Allah ibn Zubair (624–92), a grandson of the Prophet and a leading opponent of the Umaiyads. He was besieged by the Umaiyad caliph ‘Abd al-Malik in Mecca (where the Ka‘ba is situated) and he was eventually killed.
Ibrahim Abu Ishaq al-Mausili (742–804) a famous musician and father of the no less famous musician Ishaq al-Mausili. Like his son, he features in a number of Nights stories.
Ibrahim ibn Adham (730–77) a famous Sufi ascetic.
Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi (779–839) the son of the caliph al-Mahdi and brother of Harun al-Rashid. From 817 to 819, Ibrahim set himself up as the rival of his nephew al-Ma’mun for the caliphate. He was famous as a singer, musician and a poet and as such he features in several Nights tales.
‘Id al-Adha the Feast of Immolation, also known as Greater Bairam, is celebrated on the 10th of Dhu’l-Hijja (the month of hajj or pilgrimage). During this festival those Muslims who can afford it are obliged to sacrifice sheep, cattle or camels.
Ifranja Europe; literally, ‘the land of the Franks’.
‘ifrit a kind of jinni, usually evil; an ‘ifrita is a female jinni.
imam the person who leads the prayers in a mosque.
Iram ‘Iram, City of the Columns’ is referred to in the Quran. Shaddad, king of the Arab tribe of ‘Ad, intended Iram to rival Paradise, but God punished him for his pride and ruined his city.
Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Mausili (757–850) was the most famous composer and musical performer in the time of Harun al-Rashid. Like his father, Ibrahim al-Mausili, he features in a number of Nights stories.
Ja‘far the Barmecide a member of a great Iranian clan which served the ‘Abbasid caliphs as viziers and other functionaries. In the stories, he features as Harun’s vizier, though in reality it was his father, Yahya, who held this post. For reasons that are mysterious, Ja‘far and other members of his clan were executed in 803.
Jamil Buthaina Jamil ibn Ma‘mar al-‘Udhri (d. 701), a Hijazi poet who specialized in elegiac love poetry, famous for his chastely unhappy passion for Buthaina.
Jarir ibn ‘Atiya (d. 729) a leading poet of the Umaiyad period, famous for his panegyric and invective verse.
Jawarna Zara, a port on the east coast of the Adriatic.
jinni a (male) spirit in Muslim folklore and theology; jinniya is a female spirit. Jinn (the collective term) assumed various forms: some were servants of Satan, while others were good Muslims and therefore benign.
Joseph features in the Quran as well as the Bible. In the Quran, he is celebrated for his beauty.
jubba a long outer garment, open at the front, with wide sleeves.
Ka‘b al-Ahbar (d. c.653) a Jew who converted to Islam and a leading transmitter of religious traditions and an expert on biblical lore.
Ka‘ba the cube-shaped holy building in Mecca to which Muslims turn when they pray.
kaffiyeh a headdress of cloth folded and held by a cord around the head.
khalanj wood tree heath (Erica arborea), a hard kind of wood.
Khalid ibn Safwan (d. 752) a transmitter of traditions, poems and speeches, famous for his eloquence.
khan an inn, caravanserai or market.
al-Khidr ‘The Green Man’, features in the Quran as a mysterious guide to Moses as well as appearing in many legends and stories. In some tales, this immortal servant of God is guardian of the Spring of Life, which gives eternal life to those who drink from it.
Khurasan in the medieval period, this designated a large territory that included eastern Persia and Afghanistan.
Kuthaiyir (660–723) a Hijazi poet who specialized in the theme of unfulfilled love, since the object of his passion, ‘Azza, was married to another man.
Luqman a pre-Islamic sage and hero famed for his longevity. Many fables and proverbs were attributed to him.
Magian a Zoroastrian, a fire worshipper. In the Nights, the Magians invariably feature as sinister figures.
al-Mahdi (b. c.743) the ‘Abbasid caliph who reigned from 775 to 785.
mahmal the richly decorated empty litter sent by a Muslim ruler to Mecca during the hajj (pilgrimage).
maidan an exercise yard or parade ground; an open space near or in a town.
maisir a pre-Islamic game of chance involving arrows and in which the stakes were designated parts of slaughtered camels.
Majnun Qais ibn Mulawwah al-Majnun (‘the mad’), a (probably) legendary Arabian poet of the seventh century, famous for his doomed love for Laila. After she was married to another man, Majnun retired into the wilderness to live among wild beasts.
Malik the angel who is the guardian of hell.
Malik ibn Dinar an eighth-century Basran preacher and moralist.
mamluk slave soldier. Most mamluks were of Turkish origin.
al-Ma’mun (786–833) son of Harun al-Rashid and the ‘Abbasid caliph from 813 until his death. He was famous for his patronage of learning and his sponsorship of the translation of Greek and Syriac texts into Arabic.
Ma‘n ibn Za’ida (d. 769) a soldier, administrator and patron of poets under the late Umaiyads and early ‘Abbasids.
mann a measure of weight.
al-Mansur (r. 754–75) ‘Abbasid caliph.
marid a type of jinni.
Maslama ibn ‘Abd al-Malik (d. 738) son of the Umaiyad caliph ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and a leading general who headed a series of campaigns against the Byzantines.
Masrur the eunuch who was sword-bearer and executioner to Harun al-Rashid.
al-Mausili see Ibrahim Abu Ishaq al-Mausili and Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Mausili.
mithqal a measure of weight.
months of the Muslim year from the first to the twelfth month, these are: (1) al-Muharram, (2) Safar, (3) Rabi‘ al-awwal, (4) Rabi‘ al-akhir, (5) Jumada al-ula, (6) Jumada al-akhira, (7) Rajab, (8) Sha‘ban, (9) Ramadan, (10) Shawwal, (11) Dhu’l-Qa‘da, (12) Dhu’l-Hijja.
Mu‘awiya Mu‘awiya ibn Abi Sufyan, first of the Umaiyad c
aliphs (r. 661–80). He came to power after the assassination of ‘Ali.
al-Mubarrad Abu al-‘Abbas al-Mubarrad (c.815–98), a famous Basran grammarian and philologist.
muezzin the man who gives the call to prayer, usually from the minaret or roof of the mosque.
muhtasib market inspector with duties to enforce trading standards and public morals.
Munkar and Nakir two angels who examine the dead in their tombs and, if necessary, punish them.
al-Muntasir ‘Abbasid caliph (r. 861–2).
al-Musta‘in ‘Abbasid caliph (r. 862–6).
al-Mustansir bi’llah ‘Abbasid caliph (r. 1226–42).
al-Mutalammis sixth-century pre-Islamic poet and sage.
al-Mu‘tatid bi’llah ‘Abbasid caliph (r. 892–902).
al-Mutawakkil (822–61) ‘Abbasid caliph, and great cultural patron, who reigned from 847 until he was assassinated by murderers probably hired by his son, who became the caliph al-Muntasir.
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1,001 Nights: Volume 1 Page 125