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Glossary of Terms: K

Kaaba

Cube-shaped shrine near the center of the Great Mosque in Mecca and considered by Muslims as the most sacred spot on earth; Muslims orient themselves toward this shrine in prayer

Kabbalah

esoteric Jewish mysticism as it developed in the 12th and following centuries C.E.

Kahin

Soothsayer, wizard, or priest

Karamat

Spiritual gifts or powers acquired by a saint; "Marvels" effected by Friends of God

Kashf

Kashf

Khadija

First wife (d. 619 CE) of Muhammad

Kharijite

Earliest Islamic sect, tracing its beginning to a religio-political controversy over the caliphate (in 657 CE)

Khordad Sal Fasli

Khordad Sal (Fasli)

Khordad Sal Qadimi

Khordad Sal (Qadimi)

Khordad Sal Shenshai

Khordad Sal (Shenshai)

Khutbah

The sermon given at the two major Islamic festivals (ids), at celebrations of saintly birthdays, and on extraordinary occasions

Kirtan

Musical worship practiced by the Hindu Vaisnava sects (worshipers of the god Vishnu); a group chorus repeats the verses sung by a soloist, all to the rhythm of percussion instruments.

Kufr

Willful disbelief

Kuttab

Muslim elementary school, traditionally consisting mainly of Quran learning; also called maktab

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa


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