The Literal Meaning of “Nabi”
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Dr. Alan A. Godlas, commenting on Lisan al-‘Arab , said, “The literal meaning of the Arabic word, ‘ nabi ,’ ‘prophet’, although cognate with the Hebrew ‘ nabi ’ and ‘ navi ’, one etymology given by the grammarian, Shaykh al-Kasa’i is that originally, it meant ‘path’, ‘ thariq ’, with ‘ anbiya’ ’ being ‘paths of guidance.’ Shaykh Abu Mu’adz an-Nahwi said, ‘I heard Arabs saying, ‘Guide me on the nabi ’, meaning ‘on the path.’’”