Da'i
/ˈdɑːʕiː/noun
An Islamic religious teacher or missionary who calls people to faith, especially within Ismaili Islam.
Did you know?In the Qur’an, dāʿī is connected with the phrase “caller to God,” while Ismaili tradition later used the title for authorized missionaries who spread esoteric teachings.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*dʕw
“To call, invite, or summon”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
daʿā (دعا)
“He called upon, invited, or invoked”
Qur’anic Arabic
Arabic
dāʿī (داعٍ)
“A caller or one who summons people toward God”
Medieval Islamic period
Arabic
dāʿī
“A religious preacher or missionary, especially an Ismaili agent”
19th–20th Century
English
da'i / dai
“An Islamic missionary or religious teacher”
Modern English
English
da'i
“A Muslim religious teacher or missionary”