Masih (Arabic: مسيح, romanized: Masīḥ), also spelled Mesih or Maseeh, is a name of Arabic origin which means 'Messiah' or 'Christ'. The word Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. is the Arabic form of the Hebrew title Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (מָשִׁיחַ) or the Greek title Script error: The function "transl" does not exist. (Χριστός), meaning "anointed one". It is used as a name and title for Jesus in the Quran, and is also the common word used by Arab Christians for Christ.[1]
Masih is also a common Christian surname in India and Pakistan (Hindi: मसीह, Urdu: مسیح).[2] Some people in India and Pakistan have adopted the surname Masih after their conversion to Christianity.[3]
In Mughal India (1526–1857), Christians such as the Bourbons of India were honoured with the title Masih.[4]
Historical[edit | edit source]
- Dionysius bar Masih (died 1204), leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church
- Mesih Pasha (died 1501), Ottoman Grand Admiral and later Grand Vizier
- Mesihi of Prishtina (c. 1470–1512), Ottoman poet
- Hadim Mesih Pasha (died 1589), Ottoman Grand Vizier
Modern[edit | edit source]
Given name[edit | edit source]
- Bir Masih Saunta (born 1969), Indian politician
- Masih Alinejad (born 1976), Iranian journalist and writer
- Masih Masihnia, Iranian footballer
- Masih Saighani, Afghan footballer
- Masih Ullah Barakzai, Afghan footballer
- Masih Zahedi, Iranian footballer
- Muhammad Masihullah Khan (1911/1912–1992), Indian Deobandi Islamic scholar
Surname[edit | edit source]
- Akram Masih Gill, Pakistani politician
- Arif Masih, (born 1970) Pakistani politician
- Fariborz Maseeh, Iranian-American engineer
- Ijaz Masih, Pakistani politician
- Iqbal Masih (1983–1995), Pakistani boy who became a symbol of abusive child labour in the developing world
- Michael Masih (born 1985), Pakistani football player
- Naeem Masih (born 1987), Pakistani para-athlete
- Rakesh Masih (born 1987), Indian football player
- Shazia Masih (1997–2010), Pakistani torture victim
See also[edit | edit source]
- Christianity in India
- Christianity in Pakistan
- Christianity in the Middle East
- Jai Masih Ki, Hindi-Urdu greeting phrase meaning 'Victory to Christ'
- List of Arabic given names
- Masih (title)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Robinson, Neal (2005). "Jesus". In McAuliffe, Jane Dammen (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān. Brill. doi:10.1163/1875-3922_q3_EQCOM_00099.
- ↑ Kuklin, Susan (2013). Iqbal Masih and the Crusaders Against Child Slavery. Henry Holt and Company. ISBN 9781466860681.
Many Christians in Pakistan have the surname Masih.
- ↑ Sahoo, Sarbeswar (2018). Pentecostalism and Politics of Conversion in India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 9781108553551.
- ↑ The Illustrated Weekly of India. Vol. 93, Part 1. Times of India Press. 1972. p. 51.
The members of the royal family used to give the new-born Bourbons their own names after which "Masih" was added — a Mughal tradition of honouring Christians as well as a common North Indian Christian surname.