alQasim

Al-Qasim is a male given name of Arabic origin that is widely used in the Muslim world. It is commonly written as al-Qasim, al-Qasem, al-Qasem, Qasim, Kasim, Qasem, or Qassem, reflecting different transliteration conventions. The form with the definite article al- is the standard Arabic rendering, and the concatenated form alQasim is also encountered in some contexts.

Meaning and etymology: al-Qasim derives from the Arabic root Q-S-M, meaning to divide, apportion, or distribute. Accordingly, the name can be interpreted as “the distributor” or “the one who apportions.” It is used as a given name and also appears as a kunya (for example, Abu al-Qasim, the father of Qasim).

Usage and distribution: The name is common across the Arab world and in Muslim communities in South Asia, Iran, Turkey, and Indonesia, among others. Variants and transliterations reflect local languages and orthographic conventions, including Qasim, Kasim, Qasem, Qasem, and Qassem. The name is used across both Sunni and Shia communities.

Notable associations: In Islamic tradition, Muhammad is commonly known by the kunya Abu al-Qasim, referring to his son Qasim, and the name al-Qasim appears in historical and religious texts as part of that epithet. Beyond that, al-Qasim appears in various historical and contemporary contexts as a personal name.

See also: Qasim (disambiguation); Abu al-Qasim.