The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (175 page)

 
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(Aramaic, ‘spokesmen’). Jewish scholars who interpreted the
Mishnah
in Palestine and Babylonia between 200 CE and 500 CE. Those scholars ordained by the
nasi
and the
Sanhedrin
in Palestine were given the title
‘Rabbi’
whereas the Babylonian scholars were known as ‘Rav’.

 
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(8th cent. BCE).
A
prophet
of the northern kingdom. The biblical book of his prophecy is considered to be the earliest of the prophetic books.

 
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‘Amr b. ‘Ubaid
(co-founder of Islamic theological school)
:

see
MU‘TAZILITES
.

 
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(d. 663 (AH 42)).
Muslim statesman. A Qurayshite, ‘Amr was a late convert to Islam, but the Prophet
Mu
ammad
recognized his talents and immediately sent him as an envoy to Oman where he met with great success. His real fame rests as the conqueror of Egypt during ‘Umar's caliphate. He held Egypt by his political skills and even seems to have gained the support of the
Coptic Church
. At the battle of Siffin, ‘Amr commanded
Mu‘awiyyah's
cavalry against
‘Al
, and devised the plan of arbitration by
Qur’
n
. Mu‘awiyyah rewarded ‘Amr's faithful service by appointing him governor of Egypt, where he remained until his death.

 
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