kutub

Kutub is a term with multiple meanings across Arabic-speaking and Muslim-majority regions. In Arabic, kutub (كُتُب) is the plural of kitab and means "books." The concept extends into related languages such as Urdu, Persian, and Turkish, where forms of the word denote books, literature, or libraries and appear in scholarly and religious contexts.

In religious and literary discourse, kutub is used to refer to scriptures or collections of writings. Notably, Kutub al-Sittah refers to the six major hadith collections in Sunni Islam, and the broader term can indicate scriptural literature within a tradition.

Outside language use, Kutub also appears as a toponym or surname in various regions, reflecting historical associations with learning. Spelling variants reflect transliteration from Arabic, with forms such as Kutub, Kutûb, and Kitāb used in different languages.

See also Kitab, Kutub al-Sittah.