Farooqui

Farooqui is a surname and, less commonly, a given name used by Muslim communities in the Indian subcontinent and among diaspora populations. As a nisba, it denotes an association with an ancestor named Farooq or Faruk, rather than a geographic region.

Etymology: The given name Farooq/ Faruk comes from Arabic فاروق, meaning “one who distinguishes between right and wrong” or “the discriminator.” With the addition of the suffix -i or -qi, Farooqui/ Farooqi signals lineage or affiliation to that person.

Spelling and transliteration vary: Farooqi, Farooqui, Farouqi, Farooqy are commonly encountered forms in Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, and Persian contexts. In India and Pakistan, the forms Farooqi and Farooqui are particularly prevalent.

Geographic distribution: The surname is widespread in the South Asian Muslim communities, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, and among expatriate communities in the Gulf states, Europe, and North America. It is used by both Sunni and Shia communities and does not indicate a specific sect.

Context: Like many Urdu/Hindi nisbas, Farooqi indicates ancestry or familial affiliation and is not tied to a single clan or tribe. It appears in historical and contemporary records of South Asian Muslims and their descendants.

See also: Farouqi, Farooq, Farooki.