Where does “ayatullah” come from?
ayatullah (Indonesian) comes from Classical Persian آیَتُاللّٰه, from Arabic آيَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ, from Arabic اللّٰه, from Proto-Semitic ʾil- — deity; god.
ayatullah (Indonesian): sign from the God Almighty
Definitions
- sign from the God Almighty
Ancestry of “ayatullah”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classical Persian | آیَتُاللّٰه | — |
| 2 | Arabic | آيَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ | — |
| 3 | Arabic | اللّٰه | God, Allah; the All-highest”, “God; the... |
| 4 | Proto-Semitic | ʾil- | deity; god |