Tariq

Tariq is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It derives from the Arabic term Tariq (طارق), commonly understood to mean “one who knocks at the door” or “knocker,” with the broader sense of a visitor who arrives, often at night. In Islamic literature the term is associated with arrival and encounter, and in the Qur’an the name appears in At-Tariq, the 86th surah, translated as The Night-Comer or The Visitor by Night. In poetry and literature the name is sometimes linked to celestial images such as the morning or evening star, though this is more metaphorical than a strict etymology.

Usage and variations: Tariq is widely used across the Arab world and in Muslim communities globally. It is almost exclusively masculine. The name appears in many languages with transliteration variants such as Tarek, Tareq, Tarique, and Tariq, reflecting differences in pronunciation and script.

Notable people: Tariq ibn Ziyad, a 7th-century Muslim general who led the early Islamic conquest of Iberia. Tariq Ali, a Pakistani-British writer and political activist. Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss-born academic and public intellectual. Tariq Aziz, an Iraqi diplomat and senior official. Tariq Anwar, a British-Indian politician. These figures illustrate the name’s historical depth and contemporary presence in politics, literature, and public life.

See also: At-Tariq, the Qur’anic chapter; various transliteration variants of the name.