Tahirul

Tahirul is a masculine given name commonly used in South Asia among Urdu- and Arabic-speaking Muslim communities. The name is derived from the Arabic root “ḥ‑y‑r” meaning “to cleanse” or “to make pure.” As a compound, Tahirul is often combined with another element such as “Allah,” forming Tahirul‑Allah (“pure of Allah”) or Tahirul‑Nabi (“pure of the Prophet”). The name can also be written as Tahir-ur or Tahirur in transliteration variants.

Historically, the name appears in colonial-era prayer registers and modern civil records, indicating steady usage through the 20th and 21st centuries. It is sometimes part of a hereditary naming tradition in certain families, where the name passes from father to son to signify continuity of religious devotion.

Notable individuals bearing the name include Tahirul Islam, a Pakistani politician who served in the National Assembly in the early 2000s, and Tahirul Islam (1934‑2020), a Bangladeshi physicist known for his contributions to theoretical particle physics and for his leadership at the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology. Another prominent bearer is Tahirul Ehsan, a Sri Lankan Muslim activist recognized for his work in interfaith dialogue during the post‑civil war reconciliation period.

In contemporary usage, the name Tahirul remains popular among parents seeking to emphasize spiritual purity, often appearing alongside other traditional Arabic names such as Ahad, Karim, or Saad. It is gendered strictly as a male name and is seldom used as a surname.