ansar
|an-sar|
🇺🇸
/ænˈsɑr/
🇬🇧
/ænˈsɑː/
helpers; supporters
Etymology
'ansar' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'anṣār', the plural of 'nāṣir', where the root n-ṣ-r meant 'to help' or 'to grant victory'.
'ansar' entered English usage via transliteration from Arabic; the Arabic 'anṣār' (ٱنصَار) referring to the Medinan helpers was borrowed into English-language Islamic history and scholarship and became 'ansar'.
Initially, it specifically meant 'the helpers (of the Prophet in Medina)', but over time it has also come to be used more generally as 'supporters' and as a component in modern organization names.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
historically, the residents of Medina who sheltered and supported the Prophet Muhammad and the emigrants (muhajirun) after their migration; 'the helpers' in early Islamic history.
Early Islamic histories record how the ansar welcomed the emigrants and provided them shelter.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a general term for 'supporters' or 'those who give help'; used in modern contexts as part of organization names (e.g., Ansar al-Islam) or as a descriptor for supporters of a cause.
Several groups have used the name ansar to indicate their role as supporters of a cause.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/19 21:07