Sahabi
/səˈhɑːbi/noun
In Islamic usage, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who met him as a believer and died as a Muslim.
Did you know?The Arabic term is traditionally applied only to someone who met Muhammad, believed in him, and remained Muslim until death, making it a precise historical classification rather than a casual title.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ṣ-ḥ-b
“Reconstructed root associated with companionship or accompanying someone”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
ṣāḥib
“Companion, associate, or person accompanying another”
7th Century
Classical Arabic
ṣaḥābī
“A companion of Muhammad; literally, one associated with or accompanying him”
7th Century
Classical Arabic
ṣaḥābah
“The collective body of Muhammad’s companions”
19th–20th Century
English
sahabi
“A member of the first generation of Muslims who personally encountered Muhammad”
Modern English
English
Sahabi
“A historical or religious term for one of Muhammad’s companions”