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Muhammad Abduh

(Encyclopedia)Muhammad Abduh 1849–1905, Egyptian Muslim religious reformer. His encounter in 1872 with Jamal ad-Din al-Afghani, in the Cairo mosque-university of al-Azhar, led to his transition from asceticism to...

Ali, Muhammad

(Encyclopedia)Ali, Muhammad məhămˈəd älēˈ [key], 1942–2016, American boxer, b. Louisville, Ky. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was a 1960 Olympic gold medalist. Shortly after upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964...

Muhammad, Elijah

(Encyclopedia)Muhammad, Elijah, 1897–1975, American black-nationalist and religious leader, b. near Sandersville, Ga. Originally named Elijah Poole, he left home at 16 and worked at various jobs. In 1923 he settl...

Dost Muhammad

(Encyclopedia)Dost Muhammad dōst mo͞ohämˈmäd [key], 1793–1863, emir of Afghanistan. He and his family struggled to get the emirate for years before he finally succeeded in establishing himself in 1826. He wa...

Iqbal, Muhammad

(Encyclopedia)Iqbal, Muhammad məhămˈĭd ĭkhbälˈ [key], 1877–1938, Indian Muslim poet, philosopher, and political leader. He studied at Government College, Lahore, Cambridge, and the Univ. of Munich, and the...

Muhammad Ahmad

(Encyclopedia)Muhammad Ahmad: see Mahdi.

Tughluq, Muhammad

(Encyclopedia)Tughluq, Muhammad: see Delhi Sultanate. ...

Mussadegh, Muhammad

(Encyclopedia)Mussadegh, Muhammad mo͞ohämˈmäd mo͞oˈsädāg [key], 1880–1967, Iranian political leader, prime minister of Iran (1951–53). He held a variety of government posts (1914–25) but retired to pr...

Muhammad Zahir Shah

(Encyclopedia)Muhammad Zahir Shah zäˈhĕr shä [key], 1914–2007, last king of Afghanistan. In 1933 he became king after his father, Muhammad Nadir Shah, was assassinated. During his reign power was exercised ma...

Aga Muhammad Khan

(Encyclopedia)Aga Muhammad Khan or Agha Muhammad Khan both: äˈgämo͞ohämˈmäd khän [key], 1742–97, shah of Persia, founder of the Qajar dynasty. He was emasculated by family enemies at the age of five. He w...