Nisba (onomastics): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Element in Arabic names denoting place of origin, tribal affiliation, or ancestry}} |
{{short description|Element in Arabic names denoting place of origin, tribal affiliation, or ancestry}} |
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{{ |
{{Italic title|reason=Arabic loanword}} |
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{{Unreferenced|date=June 2020}} |
{{Unreferenced|date=June 2020}} |
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In [[Arabic name]]s, a '''''{{lang|ar-Latn|nisba}}''''' ({{lang-ar|نسبة}} ''{{ |
In [[Arabic name]]s, a '''''{{lang|ar-Latn|nisba}}''''' ({{lang-ar|نسبة}} ''{{transliteration|ar|ALA|nisbah}}'', "attribution"), also rendered as '''''{{transliteration|ar|nesba}}''''' or '''''{{transliteration|ar|nesbat}}''''', is an adjective [[surname]] indicating the person's place of origin, ancestral tribe, or ancestry, used at the end of the name and occasionally ending in the [[suffix]] ''-iyy'' for males and ''-iyyah'' for females. {{lang|ar-Latn|Nisba}}, originally an Arabic word, has been passed to many other languages such as [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Urdu language|Urdu]]. |
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In Persian, Turkish, and Urdu usage, it is always pronounced and written as ''{{lang|fa|nisbat}}''. In [[Arabic grammar|Arabic usage]], that pronunciation occurs when the word is uttered in its [[construct state#Arabic|construct state]] only. |
In Persian, Turkish, and Urdu usage, it is always pronounced and written as ''{{lang|fa|nisbat}}''. In [[Arabic grammar|Arabic usage]], that pronunciation occurs when the word is uttered in its [[construct state#Arabic|construct state]] only. |
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* [[Al-Almani]], related to or from [[Germany]] |
* [[Al-Almani]], related to or from [[Germany]] |
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* [[Al-Amriki (disambiguation)|Al-Amriki]], related to or from [[America]] |
* [[Al-Amriki (disambiguation)|Al-Amriki]], related to or from [[America]] |
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* |
* [[Al-Andalusi]], related to or from the region of [[Al-Andalus]] (modern day [[Iberian peninsula|Iberia]]) e.g. [[Said al-Andalusi]], Abū ʿAbdallāh Yaʿīsh ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Yūsuf ibn Simāk al-Andalusī al-Umawī |
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* [[Al-Armani]], related to or from [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Greater Armenia]] or Armenians |
* [[Al-Armani]], related to or from [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Greater Armenia]] or Armenians |
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* [[al-Astarabadi]] – from [[Gorgan|Astarabad]] (modern Gorgan), Persia |
* [[al-Astarabadi]] – from [[Gorgan|Astarabad]] (modern Gorgan), Persia |
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* [[al-Baghdadi]], related to or from the city of [[Baghdad]], e.g. [[Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi]], [[Junayd al-Baghdadi]]. |
* [[Baghdadi (disambiguation)|al-Baghdadi]], related to or from the city of [[Baghdad]], e.g. [[Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi]], [[Junayd al-Baghdadi]]. |
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* al-Bakkaniy - from the Royal Town of [[Pekan, Pahang|Pekan]] in the state of [[Pahang]] in [[Malaysia]], Mohammad Faeez Harith al-Bakkaniy |
* al-Bakkaniy - from the Royal Town of [[Pekan, Pahang|Pekan]] in the state of [[Pahang]] in [[Malaysia]], Mohammad Faeez Harith al-Bakkaniy |
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* |
* al-Bangali - from the region of [[Bengal]] or a [[Bengalis|Bengali]] descent (mainly from [[Bangladesh]]) |
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* al-Bantani - from the province of [[Banten]] in [[Indonesia]] e.g. Syeikh Abdur Rauf al-Bantani |
* al-Bantani - from the province of [[Banten]] in [[Indonesia]] e.g. Syeikh Abdur Rauf al-Bantani |
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* al-Basri - from [[Basra]], e.g. [[Ibn Sa'd]] |
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* [[Al-Britani (disambiguation)|al-Britani]], related to or from the [[United Kingdom]] |
* [[Al-Britani (disambiguation)|al-Britani]], related to or from the [[United Kingdom]] |
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* al-Busnawi, related to or from [[Bosnia]], e.g. [[Matrakçı Nasuh]] al-Busnawi. |
* al-Busnawi, related to or from [[Bosnia]], e.g. [[Matrakçı Nasuh]] al-Busnawi. |
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* [[al-Dimashqi]], related to or from the city of [[Damascus]] e.g. [[Al-Dimashqi (geographer)]], [[Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi]], [[Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi]]. |
* [[al-Dimashqi]], related to or from the city of [[Damascus]] e.g. [[Al-Dimashqi (geographer)]], [[Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi]], [[Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi]]. |
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* al-Falembani - from a capital city in the province of South Sumatera in Indonesia, e.g. [[:ms:Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani|Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani]] |
* al-Falembani - from a capital city in the province of South Sumatera in Indonesia, e.g. [[:ms:Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani|Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani]] |
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* al-Fansuri - from the town of Pancur in the [[Central Tapanuli Regency]] in [[North Sumatra|North Sumatera Indonesia]] |
* al-Fansuri - from the town of Pancur in the [[Central Tapanuli Regency]] in [[North Sumatra|North Sumatera Indonesia]] e.g. Hamzah al-Fansuri |
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* al-Farsi, related to or from the region of [[Persis|Pars (Fars)]] or the country of [[Greater Persia|Persia]]; e.g. [[Salman the Persian|Salman al-Farsi]], [[Saud |
* al-Farsi, related to or from the region of [[Persis|Pars (Fars)]] or the country of [[Greater Persia|Persia]]; e.g. [[Salman the Persian|Salman al-Farsi]], [[Saud Al-Farsi]] |
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* al-Fatani - from the province of [[Pattani province|Pattani]] in [[Thailand]] e.g. [[:ms:Syeikh Daud al-Fatani|Syeikh Daud al-Fatani]] |
* al-Fatani - from the province of [[Pattani province|Pattani]] in [[Thailand]] e.g. [[:ms:Syeikh Daud al-Fatani|Syeikh Daud al-Fatani]] |
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* al-Filfulani - from the state of [[Penang]] in [[Malaysia]] e.g. Syeikh Zubeir al-Filfulani |
* al-Filfulani - from the state of [[Penang]] in [[Malaysia]] e.g. Syeikh Zubeir al-Filfulani |
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* al-Lusunji - from [[Losong]], in [[Kuala Terengganu]], [[Malaysia]], e.g. Afif al-Lusunji |
* al-Lusunji - from [[Losong]], in [[Kuala Terengganu]], [[Malaysia]], e.g. Afif al-Lusunji |
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* al-Maghrebi, related to or from the region of [[Maghreb]] e.g. [[Ibn Yaḥyā al-Maghribī al-Samawʾal]], [[Mahmud Sulayman al-Maghribi]], [[Yusuf al-Maghribi]]. |
* al-Maghrebi, related to or from the region of [[Maghreb]] e.g. [[Ibn Yaḥyā al-Maghribī al-Samawʾal]], [[Mahmud Sulayman al-Maghribi]], [[Yusuf al-Maghribi]]. |
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* al-Mankatsi from the city of [[Makassar]] in [[Indonesia]] |
* al-Mankatsi from the city of [[Makassar]] in [[Indonesia]] e.g. Syeikh Yusuf Tajul Khalwati bin Abdullah al-Mankatsi |
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* [[al-Masri]], related to or from [[Egypt]]. e.g. [[Taher al-Masri]], [[Abu Hamza al-Masri]]. |
* [[al-Masri]], related to or from [[Egypt]]. e.g. [[Taher al-Masri]], [[Abu Hamza al-Masri]]. |
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* [[al-Nahawandi]], [[al-Nihawandi]] - from [[Nahavand]], Iran |
* [[al-Nahawandi]], [[al-Nihawandi]] - from [[Nahavand]], Iran |
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* [[al-Quhistani]] - from [[Quhistan]] |
* [[al-Quhistani]] - from [[Quhistan]] |
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* [[al-Qumisi]], [[al-Kumisi]] - from [[Qumis (region)|Qumis]], Iran |
* [[al-Qumisi]], [[al-Kumisi]] - from [[Qumis (region)|Qumis]], Iran |
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* [[Razi|al-Razi]] – from [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], Iran |
* [[Razi (disambiguation)|al-Razi]] – from [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], Iran |
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* al-Rûmani, from [[Rome]] |
* al-Rûmani, from [[Rome]] |
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* al-Shami, related to or from the region of [[Levant]] or from the country of [[Syria]] e.g. [[Nasser al-Shami]], [[Husayn al-Shami]], [[Abu Anas al-Shami]], [[Abu Humam al-Shami]]. |
* al-Shami, related to or from the region of [[Levant]] or from the country of [[Syria]] e.g. [[Nasser al-Shami]], [[Husayn al-Shami]], [[Abu Anas al-Shami]], [[Abu Humam al-Shami]]. |
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* al-Shinqiti, related to or from the city of [[Chinguetti]] or Bilād Šinqīṭ ([[Bilad Chinguetti]], modern-day [[Mauritania]]) e.g. [[Ahmad ibn al-Amin al-Shinqiti]] |
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* [[Al-Shirazi (disambiguation)|al-Shirazi]] – from [[Shiraz]], Fars, Persia |
* [[Al-Shirazi (disambiguation)|al-Shirazi]] – from [[Shiraz]], Fars, Persia |
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* al-Sindhi, related to or from the region of [[Sindh]] e.g. [[Muhammad Hayyat ibn Ibrahim al-Sindhi|Mohammad Hayyat al-Sindhi]] |
* al-Sindhi, related to or from the region of [[Sindh]] e.g. [[Muhammad Hayyat ibn Ibrahim al-Sindhi|Mohammad Hayyat al-Sindhi]] |
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* al-Turki, related to or from the country of Turkey e.g. [[Abu Yusuf Al-Turki]], [[Azjur al-Turki]], [[Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki]], [[Hussain Al-Turki]] |
* al-Turki, related to or from the country of Turkey e.g. [[Abu Yusuf Al-Turki]], [[Azjur al-Turki]], [[Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki]], [[Hussain Al-Turki]] |
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* [[al-Tusi]] – from [[Tus, Iran|Tus]], Khurasan, Persia |
* [[al-Tusi]] – from [[Tus, Iran|Tus]], Khurasan, Persia |
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* al-Yemeni, related to or from the country of Yemen |
* [[al-Yemeni]], related to or from the country of Yemen |
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* al-Yrifani, related to or from [[Yerevan]] |
* al-Yrifani, related to or from [[Yerevan]] |
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* al-Zayla'i, related to or from [[Zeila (historical region)|Zeila region]] in [[Horn of Africa]] e.g. [[Al-Zaylaʽi]] |
* al-Zayla'i, related to or from [[Zeila (historical region)|Zeila region]] in [[Horn of Africa]] e.g. [[Al-Zaylaʽi]] |
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*[[Banu Tamim|al-Tamimi]], from the tribe or clan of [[Bani Tamim]]. e.g. Modher Sadeq-Saba al-Tamimi, [[Talib al-Suhail al-Tamimi]], [[Alaa al-Tamimi]]. |
*[[Banu Tamim|al-Tamimi]], from the tribe or clan of [[Bani Tamim]]. e.g. Modher Sadeq-Saba al-Tamimi, [[Talib al-Suhail al-Tamimi]], [[Alaa al-Tamimi]]. |
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*al-Qurashi, from the tribe or clan of [[Quraish]]. e.g. [[ibn Kathir|ibn Kathir al-Qurashi]], [[Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi]]. |
*al-Qurashi, from the tribe or clan of [[Quraish]]. e.g. [[ibn Kathir|ibn Kathir al-Qurashi]], [[Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi]]. |
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*Al-Hashemi, from the clan of [[Banu Hashim]]. Members of the [[Hashemite dynasty]] are referred to with the nisba "Al-Hashemi". |
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*at-Ta'i, from the tribe of Tai'. e.g. [[Hatem at-Ta'i]]. |
*at-Ta'i, from the tribe of Tai'. e.g. [[Hatem at-Ta'i]]. |
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*[[Al Saud]], from the family/[[Royal house|house]] of Saud. e.g. [[Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud]], [[Al Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Saud]], [[Muqrin bin Abdulaziz]] Al Saud, Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Faisal ibn Turki ibn Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al Saud. |
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*[[Ahl al-Bayt]], from the People of the House. |
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*al-Banjari, from the people of [[Banjar people|Banjar]] ethnicity in [[Indonesia]] e.g. [[:ms:Muhammad Arsyad bin Abdullah al-Banjari|Muhammad Arsyad bin Abdullah al-Banjari]] |
*al-Banjari, from the people of [[Banjar people|Banjar]] ethnicity in [[Indonesia]] e.g. [[:ms:Muhammad Arsyad bin Abdullah al-Banjari|Muhammad Arsyad bin Abdullah al-Banjari]] |
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*al-Minankabawi - from the people of [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]] ethnicity in [[Indonesia]] e.g. [[Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi|Syeikh Ahmad Khatib al-Minankabawi]], [[Ismail al-Khalidi al-Minangkabawi|Syeikh Ismail Khalidi al-Minankabawi]] |
*al-Minankabawi - from the people of [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]] ethnicity in [[Indonesia]] e.g. [[Ahmad Khatib al-Minangkabawi|Syeikh Ahmad Khatib al-Minankabawi]], [[Ismail al-Khalidi al-Minangkabawi|Syeikh Ismail Khalidi al-Minankabawi]] |
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===Faith=== |
===Faith=== |
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* [[al-Nasiri]], with ''nasiri'' meaning "[[Christianity|Christian]]", more literally: "Nazarene" |
* [[al-Nasiri]], with ''nasiri'' meaning "[[Christianity|Christian]]", more literally: "Nazarene" |
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* [[al-Majusi]], with ''majus'' meaning "[[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]]" |
* [[Majus|al-Majusi]], with ''majus'' meaning "[[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]]" |
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* al-Falaki, with ''falak'' meaning "astronomy" e.g. [[Tahir bin Jalaluddin|Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin al-Falaki]] |
* al-Falaki, with ''falak'' meaning "astronomy" e.g. [[Tahir bin Jalaluddin|Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin al-Falaki]] |
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==Examples== |
==Examples== |
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*[[Ansari (nisba)|Ansari]] — from [[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]], [[Medina]] |
*[[Ansari (nisba)|Ansari]] — from [[Ansar (Islam)|Ansar]], the people of [[Medina]] who helped [[Muhammad]] |
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*[[Tabataba'i]] — someone who has two [[Seyyed]] as parents |
*[[Tabataba'i]] — someone who has two [[Seyyed]] as parents |
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*[[Hanbali (nisba) (disambiguation)|Hanbali]] — someone following [[ |
*[[Hanbali (nisba) (disambiguation)|Hanbali]] — someone following [[Ahmad ibn Hanbal]]'s school of Islamic jurisprudence |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Arabic name]] |
*[[Arabic name]] |
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*[[Kunya (Arabic)]] |
*[[Kunya (Arabic)]] |
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* {{ |
* {{annotated link|Patrial name}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:Surnames of Arabic origin| Nisba]] |
[[Category:Surnames of Arabic origin| Nisba]] |
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[[Category:Persian given names| Nisba]] |
[[Category:Persian given names| Nisba]] |
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[[Category:Names by culture]] |
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[[Category:Urdu given names| Nisba]] |
[[Category:Urdu given names| Nisba]] |
Revision as of 21:09, 17 July 2024
In Arabic names, a nisba (Arabic: نسبة nisbah, "attribution"), also rendered as nesba or nesbat, is an adjective surname indicating the person's place of origin, ancestral tribe, or ancestry, used at the end of the name and occasionally ending in the suffix -iyy for males and -iyyah for females. Nisba, originally an Arabic word, has been passed to many other languages such as Turkish, Persian, Bengali and Urdu.
In Persian, Turkish, and Urdu usage, it is always pronounced and written as nisbat. In Arabic usage, that pronunciation occurs when the word is uttered in its construct state only.
The practice has been adopted in Iranian names and South Asian Muslim names. The nisba to a tribe, profession or a town is the most common form of surname in Arabic.
Original use
A nisba "relation" is a grammatical term referring to the suffixation of masculine -iyy, feminine -iyyah to a word to make it an adjective. As an example, the word ‘Arabiyy (عربي) means "Arab, related to Arabic, Arabian". Nisba forms are very common in Arabic names.
Use in onomastics
Traditional Arabic names are patronymics (nasab), where the full name of the person is followed by the name of his father, usually linked by ibn or bin ('son'). Patronymics may be long as they may include all known forefathers. When a name is simplified to one or two ancestors, it may become confusing to distinguish from other similar names; in such cases, the nisba may be added as an additional specifier.
A nisba is usually prefixed by the definite article 'al-' and can take a number of forms:
Places
- Al-Afghani, related to or from Afghanistan
- Al-Albani, related to or from Albania e.g. Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani.
- Al-Almani, related to or from Germany
- Al-Amriki, related to or from America
- Al-Andalusi, related to or from the region of Al-Andalus (modern day Iberia) e.g. Said al-Andalusi, Abū ʿAbdallāh Yaʿīsh ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Yūsuf ibn Simāk al-Andalusī al-Umawī
- Al-Armani, related to or from Greater Armenia or Armenians
- al-Astarabadi – from Astarabad (modern Gorgan), Persia
- al-Baghdadi, related to or from the city of Baghdad, e.g. Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Junayd al-Baghdadi.
- al-Bakkaniy - from the Royal Town of Pekan in the state of Pahang in Malaysia, Mohammad Faeez Harith al-Bakkaniy
- al-Bangali - from the region of Bengal or a Bengali descent (mainly from Bangladesh)
- al-Bantani - from the province of Banten in Indonesia e.g. Syeikh Abdur Rauf al-Bantani
- al-Basri - from Basra, e.g. Ibn Sa'd
- al-Britani, related to or from the United Kingdom
- al-Busnawi, related to or from Bosnia, e.g. Matrakçı Nasuh al-Busnawi.
- al-Buthuni - from the island of Buton in Indonesia e.g. Haji Abdul Ghaniu al-Buthuni
- al-Daylami - from Daylam, northern Iran
- al-Dimashqi, related to or from the city of Damascus e.g. Al-Dimashqi (geographer), Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi, Abu al-Fadl Ja'far ibn 'Ali al-Dimashqi.
- al-Falembani - from a capital city in the province of South Sumatera in Indonesia, e.g. Abdul Samad Al-Falimbani
- al-Fansuri - from the town of Pancur in the Central Tapanuli Regency in North Sumatera Indonesia e.g. Hamzah al-Fansuri
- al-Farsi, related to or from the region of Pars (Fars) or the country of Persia; e.g. Salman al-Farsi, Saud Al-Farsi
- al-Fatani - from the province of Pattani in Thailand e.g. Syeikh Daud al-Fatani
- al-Filfulani - from the state of Penang in Malaysia e.g. Syeikh Zubeir al-Filfulani
- al-Filisṭīnī, related to or from the region of Palestine e.g. Abu Qatada al-Filistini.
- al-Ghari - Literally means cave in Arabic. From the district of Gua Musang (literally meaning Fox Cave in Malay) in the state of Kelantan in Malaysia, e.g. Zamihan al-Ghari
- al-Hadrami, related to or from the region of Hadhramaut e.g. Al-Ala al-Hadhrami, Ahmed Al-Hadrami, Imam al-Hadrami.
- al-Hamadani, from Hamadan, Persia
- al-Hijazi, related to or from the region of Hijaz e.g. Amal Hijazi, Farouk Hijazi, Abu'l Abbas al-Hijazi
- al-Himsi, related to or from the city of Homs e.g. Qustaki al-Himsi, Ibn Na'ima al-Himsi.
- al-Iraqi, related to or from the country of Iraq e.g. Fakhr-al-Din Iraqi, Abdul Hadi al Iraqi, Abu Ayoub al-Iraqi
- al-Isfahani – from Isfahan, Persia
- al-Jannabi - from Jannaba port city, Arrajan province of Persia
- al-Johori - from the state of Johor in Malaysia e.g. Ahmad bin Ya'kob al-Johori
- al-Jurjani – from Jurjan
- al-Juzjani – from Juzjan
- al-Kairouani, related to or from the city of Kairouan in Tunisia.
- al-Kalantani - from the state of Kelantan in Malaysia e.g. Syeikh Ismail bin Abdul Majid al-Kalantani, Syeikh Wan Ali bin Abdul Rahman al-Kalantani
- al-Kedahi - from the state of Kedah in Malaysia e.g. Syeikh Mahmud al-Kedahi
- al-Khwarizmi, related to or from the region of Khwarazm, e.g. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi.
- al-Kuwaiti, related to or from the country of Kuwait e.g. Abu Omar al-Kuwaiti, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, Jandal al-Kuwaiti.
- al-Lubnani, related to or from the country of Lebanon e.g. Bilal al-Berjawi al-Lubnani.
- al-Lusunji - from Losong, in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, e.g. Afif al-Lusunji
- al-Maghrebi, related to or from the region of Maghreb e.g. Ibn Yaḥyā al-Maghribī al-Samawʾal, Mahmud Sulayman al-Maghribi, Yusuf al-Maghribi.
- al-Mankatsi from the city of Makassar in Indonesia e.g. Syeikh Yusuf Tajul Khalwati bin Abdullah al-Mankatsi
- al-Masri, related to or from Egypt. e.g. Taher al-Masri, Abu Hamza al-Masri.
- al-Nahawandi, al-Nihawandi - from Nahavand, Iran
- al-Najdi, related to or from the region of Najd in Saudi Arabia e.g. Qutaybah al-Najdi
- al-Nisaburi, al-Naysaburi - from Nishapur, Iran
- al-Qazwini – from Qazvin
- al-Quhistani - from Quhistan
- al-Qumisi, al-Kumisi - from Qumis, Iran
- al-Razi – from Ray, Iran
- al-Rûmani, from Rome
- al-Shami, related to or from the region of Levant or from the country of Syria e.g. Nasser al-Shami, Husayn al-Shami, Abu Anas al-Shami, Abu Humam al-Shami.
- al-Shinqiti, related to or from the city of Chinguetti or Bilād Šinqīṭ (Bilad Chinguetti, modern-day Mauritania) e.g. Ahmad ibn al-Amin al-Shinqiti
- al-Shirazi – from Shiraz, Fars, Persia
- al-Sindhi, related to or from the region of Sindh e.g. Mohammad Hayyat al-Sindhi
- al-Sinkili - from the town of Singkel in the province of Aceh in Indonesia Abd al-Rauf ibn Ali al-Fansuri al-Sinkili
- al-Sistani, al-Sijistani, al-Sajistani, al-Sijzi – from Sistan, Persia or Greater Iran
- al-Tabari – from Tabaristan, Persia
- al-Tantawi - from Tanta, Egypt, e.g. Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi
- al-Tiflisi, from Tiflis (Tbilisi), Georgia
- al-Tihami, related to or from the region of Tihamah in Saudi Arabia.
- al-Tikriti, related to or from the city of Tikrit, e.g. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti, Abu Raita al-Takriti, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti
- al-Tunisi, related to or from the country of Tunisia e.g. Abu Nasr al-Tunisi, Abu Osama al-Tunisi, Ali ibn Ziyad at-Tarabulsi al-Tunisi al-'Absi, Nabilah al-Tunisi
- al-Turki, related to or from the country of Turkey e.g. Abu Yusuf Al-Turki, Azjur al-Turki, Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki, Hussain Al-Turki
- al-Tusi – from Tus, Khurasan, Persia
- al-Yemeni, related to or from the country of Yemen
- al-Yrifani, related to or from Yerevan
- al-Zayla'i, related to or from Zeila region in Horn of Africa e.g. Al-Zaylaʽi
- ar-Raniri - from the town of Rander, in Surat district in the state of Gujarat, India. e.g. Nuruddin ar-Raniri
- as-Sambasi - from the regency of Sambas in Indonesia e.g. Muhammad Jabir as-Sambasi
- as-Sarawaki - from the state of Sarawak in Malaysia, e.g. Muhtar Suhaili As-Sarawaki
- as-Sembilani - from the state of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia, e.g. Muhammad Musa al-Hafiz as-Sembilani
- as-Subanji - from the city of Subang Jaya in the state of Selangor in Malaysia e.g. Kamarul Afiq as-Subanji
- as-Sumatrani - from the island of Sumatera in Indonesia e.g. Syeikh Syamsuddin as-Sumatrani
- as-Sumbawi - from the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia Syeikh Muhammad Zainuddin as-Sumbawi
- at-Tranjanuwi - from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia e.g. Iskandar at-Tranjanuwi
- al Bukhari - from Bukhara, Uzbekistan
- al-Darbandi, Darbandi - from Derbent, Persia
- El Djezairi, related to or from Algeria e.g. Abdelkader El Djezairi.
- Faridi, related to or from the region of Greater Faridpur in Bangladesh e.g. Abdul Haque Faridi
- al-Khurasani – from Khurasan e.g. Abu Muslim, Abdallah ibn Tahir al-Khurasani
- Islamabadi, related to or from the city of Chittagong (previously known as Islamabad) e.g. Maniruzzaman Islamabadi
- Maneri - from Maner Sharif, India, e.g. Makhdoom Yahya Maneri.
- al-Marwazi, from Marw, Khurasan
- al-Rûmi – from Rûm (The Balkans and Asia Minor)
- Siraji, related to or from the district of Sirajganj in Bangladesh e.g. Ismail Hossain Siraji
Tribes, clans or families
- al-Tamimi, from the tribe or clan of Bani Tamim. e.g. Modher Sadeq-Saba al-Tamimi, Talib al-Suhail al-Tamimi, Alaa al-Tamimi.
- al-Qurashi, from the tribe or clan of Quraish. e.g. ibn Kathir al-Qurashi, Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd ibn Hakam al Qurashi.
- Al-Hashemi, from the clan of Banu Hashim. Members of the Hashemite dynasty are referred to with the nisba "Al-Hashemi".
- at-Ta'i, from the tribe of Tai'. e.g. Hatem at-Ta'i.
- al-Banjari, from the people of Banjar ethnicity in Indonesia e.g. Muhammad Arsyad bin Abdullah al-Banjari
- al-Minankabawi - from the people of Minangkabau ethnicity in Indonesia e.g. Syeikh Ahmad Khatib al-Minankabawi, Syeikh Ismail Khalidi al-Minankabawi
- al-Mandaili - from the people of Mandailing ethnicity in Indonesia e.g. Haji Abdur Rahman al-Mandaili
People
- al-Maliki, related to Malik al-Ashtar. e.g. Nouri al-Maliki.
- al-Faruqi, related to Faruq the Great. e.g. Ismail al-Faruqi.
Faith
- al-Nasiri, with nasiri meaning "Christian", more literally: "Nazarene"
- al-Majusi, with majus meaning "Zoroastrian"
- al-Falaki, with falak meaning "astronomy" e.g. Syeikh Tahir Jalaluddin al-Falaki
Multiples
One can have more than one nisba, one can be related to a city, a clan, a profession and a person at the same time. Examples include:
- Ali ibn Abi Hazm al-Qarshi al-Dimashqi, from the tribe of Quraish and from Damascus (Dimashq).
- Abd al-Qahir ibn Tahir al-Tamimi al-Shafi`i al-Baghdadi, from the tribe of Bani Tamim, from the city of Baghdad and a follower of Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi`i.
- Makhdoom Yahya Maneri al-Suharwardi al-Hashimi al-Muttalabi, from the town of Maner Sharif, of the Sufi order Suhrawardiyya, of the tribe Banu Hashim and clan of Abd al-Muttalib.
The nisba is optional but is quite widespread.
Examples
- Ansari — from Ansar, the people of Medina who helped Muhammad
- Tabataba'i — someone who has two Seyyed as parents
- Hanbali — someone following Ahmad ibn Hanbal's school of Islamic jurisprudence
See also
- Arabic name
- Kunya (Arabic)
- Patrial name – surname indicating geographic origin