Zagros Mountains - Range in Western Iran, with many peaks higher than 3,000 meters.

Zainab bint Jash - Married to the prophet Muhammad from 626 CE (4 H) until his death in 632 CE (10 H).

Zainab bint Khuzaima - Wife of Muhammad for a period of two or eight months in 626 CE (4 H).

Zainab bint Muhammad - Daughter of Muhammad and Khadija. She had two children, Ali, who died as a child, and Umama, who married Ali after Fatima died.

Zakat - Obligatory alms, about 1/40 of a person's income in Islam, given by a Muslim to the needy inside their own society.

Zamzam - Sacred well in Mecca, situated a few meters to the east of the Ka'ba. Depth is thirty-five meters.

Zarathustra - Iranian prophet, founder of the religion Zoroastrianism.

Zawiyya - Shrine found in North Africa. The zawiyya is built around the residence or the grave of a holy man, waliy or woman, waliya.

Zayyidism - Shi'i group, that diverged from the dominant Shi'i Islam in the years following the death of Zayd in 740.

Zeroual, Liamine - President of Algeria (1994- 1999). (1932- )

Zionism - Jewish ideology that has focused on establishing a homeland. The name is derived from the hill Zion, on which the Temple of Jerusalem was situated.

Zoroastrianism - Religion which originated in ancient Iran. Includes details of the cult and theology.

Zouerate - Central town in northern Mauritania, with about 25,000 inhabitants. Economy is based on mining and related activities.

Zurvanism - Sect inside the Zoroastrian tradition, belonging to the time of the Sassanids (226- 651 CE).