Al-Wasat
/alˈwa.saṭ/noun
An Arabic phrase meaning “the middle,” “the center,” or a balanced position.
Did you know?In Qur’an 2:143, ummatan wasaṭan is commonly translated as “a middle” or “balanced community,” linking the root with moderation, justice, and honorable equilibrium.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*w-s-ṭ
“A root associated with being in the middle or at the center.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wasaṭ
“Middle, center, or central part; also extended to moderation and fair balance.”
7th Century
Quranic Arabic
wasaṭan
“In the phrase ummatan wasaṭan, describing a community characterized by a central or balanced position.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
al-wasaṭ
“The middle or the center, formed by al-, “the,” plus wasaṭ.”
Modern English
English
Al-Wasat
“A transliteration used for Arabic names, titles, organizations, and publications; literally “the middle.””
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