Origin of the word NAMAZ

Origin of the word NAMAZ

Khurshid Imam

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A. Origin

The word Namaz (نماز) does not originate from Arabic or Sanskrit; it comes from Persian. It derives from Middle Persian (Pahlavi) namāč or namāg, meaning reverence, prayer, or act of worship. In Classical Persian literature, it was widely used for Islamic prayer and later spread into Urdu, Turkish, Hindi, Pashto, Kurdish, and several Central Asian languages.

In the Qur’an and Arabic, the term used is always Ṣalāt (صلاة), not Namaz, and Arabs have never used the word Namaz. With the spread of Islam into Persia, South Asia, Central Asia, and Turkey, local Muslims adopted the Persian term Namaz, which is why it is common in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Tajikistan, and Central Asia. In contrast, the Arab world, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Africa continue to use Ṣalāt or its local adaptations, never Namaz.

B. Misconception 

Some people wrongly assume that “Namaz” is a Sanskrit word because it looks similar to “Namas” (नमस्) in Sanskrit.

1. Namaz is not Sanskrit.

None of the Hindu religious texts—such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Darshanas,  Puranas, or the Mahabharata—mention the term 'Namaz'. No classical Hindu scholar has ever referred to Namaz as a Sanskrit word. In an attempt to establish a closer connection with Hinduism, a few Muslims have made this claim – completely ignoring facts. However, it is important to remember that academic facts take precedence over emotional assertions.

2. ‘Namaz’ is not found in Sanskrit dictionary.

Look at the Sanskrit dictionary and try to find the word – Namaz. Result: 0

 

    3. On the contrary, the Persian dictionary contains the word – NAMAZ.

Source: https://www.parsianjoman.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/A-Concise-Pahlavi-Dictionary.pdf

Pahlavi was the official Middle Persian language of the Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE), a significant transitional language between Old Persian and Modern Persian (Farsi).

4. Sanskrit has “Namas” (नमस्), which means salutation, bowing, homage (like in Namaste). This is an older, independent word from the Indo-Aryan branch. Both ‘Namaz’ and ‘Namas’ come from a common ancient root in the Proto-Indo-Iranian language:

Root: nam नम = to bend, bow.

From this root:

Sanskrit → namas (obeisance, salute).

Persian → namaz (prayer, worship).

Instead, Namaz and Namas are 'cousin words' (cognates), both descendants of the same Proto-Indo-Iranian root, but evolving separately in Persian and Sanskrit. These two are different words.

Imagine two cousins who inherited the same family trait of red hair. One grows up in Canada and styles it short, while the other grows up in India and styles it long. Same origin, different expression. These cousins represent two distinct identities.

    C.    Another blunder some people make

❌ The False Claim

Some people say:

• NAM (Sanskrit root = to bow) नमः
• AJ (Sanskrit = unborn, eternal, i.e., God) अज
• Together → नमः + अज = Namaj → नमाज़

It’s completely baseless and a classic case of folk etymology (people making up meanings by breaking words into parts that “sound” similar).

It’s like saying the word “butterfly” comes from “butter” + “fly” because it flies and is yellow like butter. That’s completely baseless—English speakers didn’t name it that way.

✅ Why This Is Wrong

1. The word Namaz is attested in Middle Persian (Pahlavi) as namāč/namāg, long before Islam reached India. It was never built from Sanskrit components.

2. We are discussing about NamaZ and not NamaJ. The -z ending is distinctly Persian, not Sanskrit.

3. In Sanskrit, “Aj” does mean unborn/eternal (a name of God), but it was never compounded with “nam” to mean prayer. Compounds in Sanskrit like namas-te, namaskāra, etc., exist, but “namāj/namaz” is absent in Sanskrit literature.

    4. It is against the rule of Sanskrit language to say that नमः + अज = Namaj → नमाज़

Look at this example:

मनः+ज=मनोज

Similarly : नमः+अज=नमोज and Not Namaz (नमाज़)

    5. To form a word that denote ‘to bow down to unborn (अजन्मे को नमन)’ the resulting word will be as follow:

नमः + अजाय  = नमोऽजाय . Final word will be Namojaae and not namaz.

6. Look at the following Sanskrit text wherein word नमः has been used with different words. See the pattern. So in our context proper word should have been : 'अजाय नमः' i.e. Ajaay Namah.

    6. Another startling fact is that Sanskrit literature uses the exact term – ‘Bowing to AJ (अज, One who is unborn)’, but word NAMAZ is not formed, rather Namojae (नमोऽजाय) is formed.

Reference: Vishnu sahastra naam, 95th name

    7. Look at another example. Same word  NAM (नमः) is used along with sanskrit word AJAR (अजर : Immortal) The resulting word is Namoajraay. It is on similar line of Namojae. Namah + Ajaraay = Namoajraay

There is no scope of NAMAZ word formation in Sanskrit.

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Source: Vaaman Puran, Adhyay 84

D. Conclusion

For nearly 800 years, Persian was the language of power, culture, and spirituality across South and Central Asia. As the official court language of India (11th–19th century), it left a lasting impact on Urdu, Hindi, Turkish, and Central Asian languages.

Persian words such as Namaz, Roza, Mehfil, Dost, Khawab, and Zaban remain embedded in South Asian languages.

The word Namaz is entirely of Persian origin—it is not Sanskrit.