alNaqi

Al-Naqi, also spelled al-Naqi or An-Naqi, is an Arabic nisba meaning “the pure” or “the virtuous.” It functions as both a surname and an honorific title within Muslim naming traditions, especially among Shia communities. The definite article al- attached to Naqi yields the form al-Naqi, literally “the pure one.” The root naqā conveys purity, cleanliness, and virtue, and related names appear across Arabic-speaking populations.

In Shia Islam, al-Naqi is best known as an epithet of Ali al-Naqi (also called Ali al-Hadi), the tenth of the Twelve Imams. He is a central religious figure in Twelver Shi’ism, and his epithet reflects the emphasis on spiritual purity in Shia tradition. His tomb in Iraq is a site of pilgrimage for many believers, and his teachings are preserved in Shia sources.

Outside religious contexts, al-Naqi is used as a family surname and nisba by people in the Arab world and among the global Shia diaspora. It is most commonly found in Iraq, Iran, and Gulf countries, though transliteration varies, with spellings such as al-Naqi, al-Naqi, or An-Naqi appearing in English-language texts.

In summary, al-Naqi serves as both a religious epithet associated with a major Shia figure and a hereditary surname in Arabic-speaking communities, signifying lineage or association with purity in its cultural and historical contexts.