Islam: A Glossary  Answers to your questions about the news.
Sept. 24 2001 6:40 PM  Islam: A Glossary  (Continued from Page
1)  Medina: Also located in western Saudi Arabia, Medina is
Islam's second-holiest place. Muhammad migrated to Medina with
70 Muslim families in 622 after being persecuted by the Meccan
establishment. It is also the site of Muhammad's tomb.   Mosque:
The Arabic word is masjid, meaning "place of prostration" before
God. Muhammad built the first mosque in Medina. A mosque should
be oriented toward Mecca. In many Islamic societies, mosques
serve social and political functions in addition to religious
ones.  Muslim: In Arabic, "one who surrenders to God"; a
follower of Islam. There are 1 billion Muslims in the world and
6 million in the United States.  Shii: The "partisans" of Ali,
the fourth caliph, the Shiis eventually became a distinct Muslim
sect. The largest Shii Muslim sect is the "Twelver Shii," named
after the first 12 leaders (or imams) of Shii Muslims. Twelver
Shii believe that the