Khizr

Khizr, also transliterated as Khidr or Khizr, is a name and a figure in Islamic and broader Middle Eastern and South Asian cultural contexts. The name is derived from Arabic al-Khidr, commonly interpreted as "the Green One" or "the Verdant One."

In Islamic tradition, al-Khidr is associated with wisdom, guidance, and protective acts. The Qur'an mentions Moses meeting "a servant of God" who possesses special knowledge; traditional exegesis identifies that figure with al-Khidr. He is often described as immortal or granted long life, and as a teacher whose hidden knowledge is revealed only to Moses gradually. He appears in poetry, folk tales, and Sufi hagiography as a wandering guide who helps seekers of spiritual insight.

Khizr is venerated in many Muslim communities, especially in Sufism, where he is seen as a spiritual guide who helps travelers and cultivates mercy; he is also associated with water and irrigation, and is sometimes depicted wearing green. Shrines and sites dedicated to Khizr are found across the Muslim world, including South Asia and the Balkans, reflecting syncretic local beliefs and practices.

Beyond religious myth, Khizr is used as a given name in many Muslim-majority cultures. One historical figure is Khizr Khan, founder of the Sayyid dynasty who ruled in the Delhi Sultanate in the 15th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as Khidr in Persian and Turkish sources.

The term has several transliterations across languages, including Khidr, Hizir, and Hızır.