User-submitted Reference

AbdulPronunciation/ˈæbdʊl/;[1] Arabic: [ʕæbdel, ʕabdɪl, ʕæbdʊl]GenderMaleLanguage(s)ArabicOriginMeaningservant of Other namesSee alsoAbdu, AbdiAbdul (also transliterated as Abdal, Abdel, Abdil, Abdol, Abdool, or Abdoul; Arabic: عبد ال‎, ʿAbd al-) is the most frequent transliteration of the combination of the Arabic word Abd(عبد, meaning 'Servant') and the definite prefix al / el (ال, meaning'the').[2]

It is the initial component of many compound names, names made of two words. For example, عبد الحميد, ʿAbd el-Ḥamīd, usually spelled Abdel Hamid, Abdelhamid, Abd El Hamid or Abdul Hamid, which means 'servant of The Praised' (God).

The most common use for Abdul by far, is as part of a male given name, written in English. When written in English, Abdul is subject to variable spacing, spelling, and hyphenation.

The meaning of Abdul literally and normally means 'Slave of the', but English translations also often translate it to 'Servant of the'.[3][4]

Contents1Spelling variations2Etymology2.1Theophoric naming2.2Derived theophoric names2.3Arabic grammar2.4Independent naming3Given name4Surname5Fictional characters6See also7ReferencesSpelling variations[edit]Variations in spelling are primarily because of the variation in pronunciation. Arabic speakers normally pronounce and transcribe their names of Arabic origin according to their spoken Arabic dialects. Therefore, it is pronounced /ʕabdel/ and written Abdel... or Abd El.... However, non-Arabic speakers or Arabic speakers may choose to transcribe the name according to the Literary Arabic pronunciation, which is the language of Quran, pronounced as /ʕabdul/ and written Abdul.... For other variations in spelling, see the Arabic grammarsection.

Etymology[edit]In Arabic language, the word عبد ʿabdmeans 'slave' or 'servant', from the triliteral root ع-ب-د ʕ-B-D, which is also related to the word عبادة ʿibādah, 'worshiping'. Therefore, the word has the positive connotation, in an Islamic sense, of worshiping and praising God, i.e. being a servant to God rather than idols.

Theophoric naming[edit]Essentially there is no Abdul, without the second part when written in Arabic, thus it appears as a component of many Arabic and specifically Muslim names, where it is the opening of a religiously based name, meaning: 'Servant of...' with the last component of the name being one of the names of God in Islam, which would form a Muslim Arabic theophoric name. Such as Abdullah simply meaning 'Servant of God' while 'Abdul Aziz' means 'Servant of the Almighty' and so on. The name Abdul Masih, ('Servant of the Messiah') is an Arabic Christianequivalent.

In addition, Abdul is occasionally, though much more rarely, used in reference to a figure other than God. For example, the Indian name Abdul Mughal, ('Servant of the Mughal Empire').

Derived theophoric names[edit]Main article: List of Arabic theophoric namesThe most common names are listed belowAbdullah, Servant of AllahAbdulaziz, Servant of the AlmightyAbdulkarim, Servant of the most GenerousAbdurrahim, Servant of the MercifulAbdurrahman, Servant of the BenevolentAbdussalam, Servant of the PeacefulAbdulqadir, Servant of the PowerfulAbdul Latif, Servant of the GentleArabic grammar[edit]When followed by a sun letter, the l in al (normally pronounced colloquially el) assimilates to the initial consonant of the following noun, resulting in a doubled consonant. For example, 'Abdul Rahman', would be pronounced in Literary Arabic: Abdur-Rahman [ʕæbdʊr ræħˈmæːn]. When the definite article is followed by a moon letter, no assimilation takes place.

Therefore, Abdul is not always used as the opening part of the name; if the second part starts with a sun letter, it may become forms including Abdun, Abdur, Abdus, or Abdush, the vowel in each name, similarly with Abdul, is also open to differing transliterations.

Independent naming[edit]Abdul does not appear on its own as a male given name when written in Arabic. In some cultures, the theophoric part may appear to be a stand-alone middle name, or surname, thus confusing people as to whether Abdul is an accepted given name. Often if someone shortens his/her name, he may equally choose the theophoric part or Abdul. However, Abdul by itself is sometimes used as an independent full given first name outside of Arabic-speaking societies. Sometimes Abdul is followed by a word describing Muhammad the Prophet, for example 'Abd un Nabi', which means 'slave/servant of the prophet'.

Given name[edit]DJ Abdel, French DJ and producer of Moroccan descent playing hip hop, funk and contemporary R&BAbdul Diallo (born 1985), Burkina Faso footballerAbdul 'Duke' Fakir (born 1992), American basketball coachAbdul Gaddy (born 1992), American basketball playerAbdul Hodge (born 1983), American football linebackerAbdul Salis (born 1979), British actorAbdul Thompson Conteh (born 1970), Sierra Leonean footballerAbdul Vas (born 1981), Venezuelan artistA. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1931 – 2015), 11th President of India