- M'zab - Valley oasis in Algeria with approximately 120,000 inhabitants.
- Maat - Universal ethical principle of ancient Egyptian religion, denoting 'justice', 'order', 'truth'.
- Madina - City in Saudi Arabia with 870,000 inhabitants, situated in Hijaz, in western Saudi Arabia.
- Maghreb - Name of north- western Africa, coming from Arabic word for "the land where the sun sets".
- Mahfouz, Naguib - Egyptian writer, educated at King Fuad 1 University (now University of Cairo).
- Maimonides - Jewish philosopher and physician.
- Manama - Capital of Bahrain with 150,000 inhabitants, situated on the Persian Gulf, north on Bahrain Island.
- Mandeans - The only surviving Gnostic religion, now with no more than 20,000 adherents.
- Mani - Founder of religion, now called Manichaeism.
- Manichaeism - World religion founded by Mani.
- Mark, Gospel of - Christian text, Gospel that has been included in the New Testament, as the second book.
- Marlik - Archaeological site in Northern Iran.
- Marrakech - City in Morocco with 970,000 inhabitants, situated in the interior of middle Morocco.
- Masada - Ancient fortress and national symbol for Israel.
- Mashriq - Another word for the Middle East, coming from the Arabic word for "the land where the sun rises."
- Masinissa - First king of Numidia.
- Matmata - Village in Tunisia with about 5,000 inhabitants.
- Matthew, Gospel of - Christian text, gospel included in the New Testament, arranged as the first book.
- Mauritania - Independent republic, divided into 12 regions and the capital district.
- Mawlid - Meaning 'birthday' is a celebration of a holy person in Islam.
- Mecca - City in Saudi Arabia with 1.4 million inhabitants. The most holy city in Islam.
- Meir, Golda - Israeli politician, prime minister from 1969 to 1974, co-founder of the state of Israel.
- Meknes - City of Morocco with 680,000 inhabitants, situated in northern Morocco.
- Memphis - City of ancient Egypt, situated on the west bank of the Nile, 25 km south of today's Cairo.
- Meshed - City in Iran with 1.9 million inhabitants, at an elevation of 985 metres above sea level.
- MIA - Algerian political and militant groups.
- Middle East - Geographical area without clear borders, with its centre in the eastern Mediterranean basin.
- Mihna - Mu'tazilite inquisition, which represents the final break between cohabitation of religion and state in Islam.
- Mihrab - Niche in a mosque, indicating the qibla, the direction in which a Muslim shall perform his salat.
- Minaret - Tower near to, or built into, the structures of a mosque, used to call out the adhan.
- Minbar - Pulpit in a mosque, placed next to the mihrab.
- Misyar - Marriage institution in Islam, allowing for a lesser form of relationship between man and woman than normal marriage.
- Mohammedia - City in Morocco with 80,000 inhabitants, situated on the Atlantic Ocean.
- Mosque - House of prayer in Islam.
- Mosque of Hassan II - Mosque outside Casablanca, Morocco, in celebration of the 60th birthday of King Hassan 2 of Morocco.
- Mostagenem - City in Algeria with 120,000 inhabitants, situated in north-western Algeria.
- Mount Hermon - Mountain in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, shared between Syria and Lebanon.
- Mu'tazilis - Theological school inside Islam.
- Mubarak, Hosni - Egyptian president (1981- ) and military leader.
- Muezzin - The person calling out for people to come to the mosque to perform salat.
- Muhammad - The central messenger and prophet in Islam.
- Muhammad al Baqir - Fifth Imam of the Isma'ili and Twelver traditions of Shi'i Islam.
- Muhammad al Mahdi - The 12th and last Imam of the Twelver Shi'i, also known as Muhammad al Muntazar.
- Muhammad at Taqi - The 9th Imam of the Twelver Shi'i.
- Muhammad V - Sultan of Morocco 1927-57, king 1957-61.
- Murji'is - Sectarian group in Islam.
- Musa al Kazim - Seventh Imam of the Twelver Shi'i tradition.
- Musandem - Peninsula in Oman, separated from the rest of Oman with a distance of about 40 km.
- Musqat - Capital of Oman with 790,000 inhabitants.
- Muwahhidun - Movement in Islam from mid-18th century, calling for a renewal of the Muslim spirit.
