Ussher, James
(1581–1656)
. Anglican
archbishop
of Armagh, Ireland. A scholar of vast learning, he was an authority on such diverse subjects as the letters of
Ignatius
(of which he distinguished the seven genuine ones) and the early history of Ireland. He is probably best remembered today in connection with his scheme based on the genealogies, according to which, e.g. the world was created in 4004 BCE.
U
l
(Arab. pl. of
a
l
). Root or principle. In Islam, the word is used for a branch of learning, especially u
l al-had
th, u
l al-f
qh, and u
l al-
kal
m
(earlier u
l al-d
n); and also for the sources of those disciplines,
Qur’
n
,