Iman
/iːˈmɑːn/noun
In Islam, faith or belief in God and the essential doctrines of the religion.
Did you know?In Arabic, īmān belongs to the same root family as amān, meaning safety or security, linking religious faith with a sense of inner protection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʔ-m-n
“A root associated with firmness, trustworthiness, safety, and security”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
amina
“To be safe, secure, or trustworthy”
Quranic Arabic
Arabic
īmān
“Faith, belief, or sincere religious trust”
Medieval Islamic usage
Arabic/Persian
īmān / imān
“Religious faith, especially belief in Islamic doctrines”
19th–20th Century
English
iman
“Faith or belief in Islam, used as an English loanword”
Modern English
English
Iman
“Islamic faith; also used as a personal name”