jahiliyyah

J8A1H4I1L1I1Y4Y4A1H4

proper noun

The supposed condition of ignorance, barbarism and unbelief, that, according to Islamic tradition, was prevalent in Arabia before the coming of Islam.

OriginArabic جَاهِلِيَّة (jāhiliyya) →
Scrabble 29
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Meanings

jahiliyyah1

proper noun
  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of Jahiliyyah.

Jahiliyyah2

proper noun

alternative al-Jahiliyah · alternative jahalia · alternative jahhiliya · alternative jahiliya · alternative Jahiliyya

  1. religiousIslamThe supposed condition of ignorance, barbarism and unbelief, that, according to Islamic tradition, was prevalent in Arabia before the coming of Islam.

    Some valuable chapters are occupied with the drawing of parallels between the Arabian Jāhiliyyah, or pre-Islamic period, and Greek heroic antiquity; some others with the history of Arabic poetry, and an endeavour to define the characteristics of the different periods and their chief representatives.

    1834: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, page 422 (Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society)

Origin

  1. Arabicجَهِلَ (jahila)
  2. Arabicجَاهِل (jāhil)
  3. Arabicـِيّ (-iyy)
  4. Arabicـَة (-a)
  5. Arabicـِيَّة (-iyya)
  6. Arabicجَاهِلِيَّة (jāhiliyya)
  7. EnglishJahiliyyah

Borrowed from Arabic جَاهِلِيَّة (jāhiliyya, “ignorance”).

More words from Arabic

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

jahiliyyah. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jahiliyyah

MLA

“jahiliyyah.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jahiliyyah. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “jahiliyyah,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/jahiliyyah.

Source: jahiliyyah on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.