Sahl

Sahl is a proper name of Arabic origin and a toponym used in various parts of the Middle East and North Africa. In Arabic, سهل (sahl) means easy or flat, a sense that underlies several place names and descriptive terms in the region. As a given name, Sahl is typically masculine and can appear alone or as part of longer names such as Abu Sahl. It also appears as a surname in Arabic-speaking communities and among people of Arabic heritage in other regions.

Historically, Sahl has been used by several notable individuals. Sahl al-Tustari, an early Muslim mystic associated with the development of Sufism, is one of the best-documented figures bearing the name. The form is also found in various other historical figures and scholars from the Islamic world, often as part of a kunya or nisba.

In modern times, Sahl continues to be used as a personal name and as a surname in diaspora communities. In toponymy, the term appears in place names and geographic descriptors that denote flat terrain or plains, reflecting its Arabic meaning.

Because of its cross-cultural usage, Sahl may appear in diverse transliterations depending on language and region, including Sahl, Sahl, or Sahl- as part of compound forms. When encountered, context usually clarifies whether the reference is to a person, a family name, or a place.