Dai
/ˈdɑː.i/noun
A Muslim missionary or religious teacher, especially in Ismaili Islam.
Did you know?In Ismaili tradition, a Dai is not merely a preacher but an authorized teacher who transmits religious knowledge and guides initiates toward deeper understanding.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*d-ʿ-w
“To call, summon, invite, or appeal”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
daʿā
“He called, summoned, or invited”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
dāʿī
“One who calls or invites; a religious propagator”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
duʿāt
“Missionaries or religious callers, the plural of dāʿī”
19th–20th Century
English
dai / da'i
“A Muslim missionary or religious teacher”
Modern English
English
Dai
“A title for a religious teacher or missionary, especially in Ismaili communities”