Ruh
/ruːh/noun
In Islamic thought, the ruh is the spirit or soul, especially the divine life-giving breath within a human being.
Did you know?In the Qur’an, the ruh is described as belonging to the command of God, preserving an enduring mystery about the nature of spirit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*rūḥ-
“Reconstructed root associated with breath, wind, and spirit”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
rūaḥ
“Wind, breath, or spirit; later especially the divine or animating spirit”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
rūḥ
“Spirit, soul, breath, or life-giving force”
7th Century
Quranic Arabic
rūḥ
“Spirit or divine command, discussed as a profound mystery beyond ordinary human knowledge”
Medieval Islamic Thought
Arabic
rūḥ
“The immaterial spirit or soul, distinguished in theological and philosophical discussions from the body”
Modern English
English
ruh
“A transliterated Islamic term for spirit or soul”