sahabat

Sahabat is a Malay and Indonesian noun meaning friend or companion. In everyday language it denotes someone with whom one shares a close, loyal relationship. While synonyms such as kawan, teman, and rakan exist, sahabat often implies a stronger bond. Phrases like sahabat sejati (true friend), persahabatan (friendship), and bersahabat (to befriend) illustrate its usage.

The term is borrowed from Arabic sahib (صاحب), meaning owner, holder, or companion. In Malay and Indonesian, sahabat has come to denote a person who accompanies another in a social or personal sense, emphasizing mutual trust and support.

In Islamic contexts, the term Sahabah refers to the companions of Prophet Muhammad, the early Muslims who met him, believed in him, and transmitted his sayings and actions. The phrase Sahabat Nabi is commonly used in religious education and literature to refer to these individuals, who are regarded as models of piety and loyalty in Islamic tradition.

Today, sahabat remains a common, respectful word for a close friend in Indonesia and Malaysia. It appears in everyday speech, literature, media, and education, and it embodies the idea of camaraderie, loyalty, and mutual support within social bonds.