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Ali
Ali (Ali ibn Abu Talib), 598?-661, 4th caliph (656-61). The debate over his right to the caliphate caused a major split in Islam into Sunni and Shiite branches, and he is regarded by the Shiites as the first Imam, or leader: Shiite derives from the phrase shi-at Ali [Ar.=the party of Ali]. ...
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Aliákmon
Aliákmon , longest river of Greece, c.200 mi (320 km) long, rising in the mountains near Lake Préspa, N Greece, and flowing SE then NE into the Thermaic Gulf. The river waters an agricultural region; Kastoría and Véroia are along its course. The Aliákmon forms the ...
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alimentary canal
alimentary canal (ali-ment-er-i) n. the long passage, extending from the mouth to the anus, through which food passes to be digested and absorbed. ...
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Fath Ali Shah
Fath Ali Shah , also spelled Feth Ali Shah, 1762-1834, shah of Persia (1797-1834), nephew and successor of Aga Muhammad Khan , founder of the Qajar dynasty. Most of his reign was spent in internal and external warfare. He managed to maintain himself against other claimants to the throne but was not...
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Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali , 1942-, American boxer, b. Louisville, Ky. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was a 1960 Olympic gold medalist. Shortly after upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavyweight champion, he formalized his association with the Nation of Islam (see Black Muslims ) and adopted the M...
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Hasan
Hasan , c.625-c.669; son of Ali and Fatima (daughter of Muhammad the Prophet). When Ali was killed in 661, Hasan became caliph, but he was not strong enough to withstand the threat of arms of the Umayyads and under pressure abdicated in favor of Muawiya . He retired to Medina and died, reputedl...
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Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali 1769?-1849, pasha of Egypt after 1805. He was a common soldier who rose to leadership by his military skill and political acumen. In 1799 he commanded a Turkish army in an unsuccessful attempt to drive Napoleon from Egypt. As pasha he was virtually independent of his nominal overlord, ...
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Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali
Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali , 1936-, president of Tunisia (1987-). Educated in France and the United States, he entered the army and became minister of national security (1984-86) and interior minister (1986-87). In Oct., 1987, he became prime minister under the aging Tunisian president Habib Bourguiba...
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Liaquat Ali Khan
Liaquat Ali Khan , 1895-1951, first prime minister of Pakistan. He was educated at Aligarh Muslim Univ. and at Oxford and was admitted to the English bar in 1922. A year later he joined the Muslim League. He served (1926-40) in the United Provs. legislative council, and while there he became (1936) ...
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An Najaf
An Najaf , city (1987 pop. 309,010), S central Iraq, on a lake near the Euphrates River. The city, one of Shi'a Islam's holiest, is also called Mashad Ali, after the tomb (in a mosque) of Ali , son-in-law of Muhammad the Prophet. The tomb is an object of pilgrimage by Shiite Muslims and a starting ...
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