Dāʿī
/ˈdɑː.iː/noun
An Islamic missionary or religious propagandist, especially one associated with Ismaili Islam.
Did you know?In medieval Ismaili Islam, dāʿīs served as trained missionaries who carried religious teachings across regions, sometimes through clandestine networks opposed by ruling powers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*dʕw
“To call, summon, or invite”
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
daʿā
“He called, summoned, or invited”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
dāʿī
“One who calls or invites others, especially to religious belief”
Medieval Period
Arabic/Persian
dāʿī
“A religious missionary, notably an Ismaili propagator of doctrine”
19th–20th Century
English
da'i / dai
“An Islamic missionary or religious teacher”
Modern English
English
dāʿī
“A Muslim missionary or proselytizer”