Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Muhammad, prophet of Islam

(Encyclopedia)Muhammad məhămˈəd [key] [Arab.,=praised], 570?–632, the name of the Prophet of Islam, one of the great figures of history, b. Mecca. The traditions concerning Muhammad's life, deeds, and sa...

Murad III

(Encyclopedia)Murad III, 1546–95, Ottoman sultan (1574–95), son and successor of Selim II. He was dominated by his harem, and although his generals were successful against Persia, his reign marked the beginning...

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...

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, 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...

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...

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...

Browse by Subject