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Definition: Literally, this term means "the time and place of the sunset - the west." The name is used to designate to the western Islamic world (northwest Africa) and is distinguished from the Mashriq, or eastern Islamic world (the Middle East).
For Arab conquerors, this region was the "island of the west" (jazirat al-maghrib), the land between the "sea of sand" (the Sahara) and the Mediterranean Sea. Traditionally it includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripolitania (in Libya), but some modern sources include Mauritania as part of this region as well.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: Magjrib, Maghreb
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Islam?
What is Islam? What do Muslims believe? Where did Islam come from? What is jihad? Find the answers to these questions and more in our Islam FAQ.
