salik

Salik is a term of Arabic origin meaning “one who travels along a path” or “traveler,” derived from the root s-l-k. In classical and Islamic usage, salik denotes a seeker on a spiritual journey who treads a Sufi path toward God, often undergoing disciplines and stages of purification as part of a tariqa (Sufi order). The salik’s progress is described in terms of maqamat (stations) and ahwal (states) as they seek closeness to the divine.

In contemporary usage, Salik is also a masculine given name in Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities, sometimes transliterated as Salīk, Sālik, or Salik. As a name, it carries the same connotations of journey or ascent and appears in various cultural and regional contexts.

Salik is also the name of Dubai’s electronic toll collection system. Operated by the Roads and Transport Authority, Salik enables toll payment for vehicles using designated roads. Vehicles carry a Salik tag or sticker that is read at toll points, with charges deducted from a prepaid account. The system is designed to facilitate toll collection without cash transactions and is used across Dubai’s motorway network.