Meaning of the title Habib
Question
Assalamualaikum
What is the meaing of the title Habib? I saw that some scholars in Malaysia and Yemen have this title before their names.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Habib literally means beloved in English.[1] However in Yemen and Malaysia, it is used as a praiseworthy term for individuals from the lineage of Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. [2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Aboobakr Siddeeq bin Mufti Amjad Mohammad
Student Darul Iftaa
Azaadville, Johannesburg, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[1] لسان العرب – (283 /2)
[2] Habib
In other countries, especially in Yemen and Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, it is an honorific to address a Muslim scholar of Sayyid (a descendant of Muhammad) families and where it is one of the names of Muhammad - حبيب الله Habib Allah(Habibullah/ Habiballah).
- Answered by
- Aboobakr Siddeeq bin Mufti Amjad Mohammad
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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