nafiy

Nafiy is a transliteration that can refer to Arabic terms as well as a personal name in some communities. In Arabic, nafiy (نافي) means “negator” or “one who negates,” while al-nafi (النفي) denotes negation or denial. As a linguistic and philosophical concept, nafī describes the act of negating a proposition or the attribution of a property to something.

In Arabic grammar, negation is a fundamental aspect of sentence construction and is expressed with various particles and forms that constitute nafī. In logic and semantics, nafī refers to the operation of negating statements, often contrasted with affirmation (tathbīt).

In Islamic theology and philosophy, nafī is used to denote the negation of improper or undesired attributes, descriptions, or propositions about God or creation. The term frequently appears in discussions about how to describe divine unity and transcendence without implying anthropomorphism or contradiction. Scholars use nafī in tandem with positive affirmation to articulate a coherent doctrinal position.

Nafiy also occurs as a given name or surname in some Muslim-majority regions, with several transliterations such as Nafī, Nafi, Nafiy, or Nafie. Spelling variations arise from differences in local languages and transliteration systems. When used as a personal name, nafiy can carry cultural or religious significance and is not tied to a single, globally prominent individual.

See also: Nafi; negation; Arabic grammar.