alGhifari

al-Ghifari, also transliterated as al-Ghifaari or al-Ghaffari, is an Arabic nisba meaning "of Ghifar," referring to the Ghifar, a historical Arab tribe of pre-Islamic Arabia (Arabic: الغفاري). The nisba is used to indicate origin or affiliation and appears in historical texts as well as in modern personal names.

Historically, the Ghifar tribe is mentioned in early Islamic sources, and individuals bearing the al-Ghifari nisba are recorded among the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. A notable bearer is Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, a companion of Muhammad known for his asceticism and his advocacy of social justice, including critiques of wealth concentration.

In contemporary usage, al-Ghifari serves as a surname in many Arabic-speaking communities and in Muslim communities around the world. Spelling variants occur due to transliteration differences, including al-Gifaari, al-Ghaffari, and al-Ghafari. The surname typically signals ancestral or cultural affiliation with Ghifar rather than implying current tribal membership.