waris

Waris is a term meaning heir or inheritor in several languages, notably Arabic, Urdu, Malay, and Indonesian. In Arabic, the word is وارِث and derives from a root meaning to inherit. The noun forms include waris or warith, referring to someone who inherits or is an heir. In Islamic tradition, Al-Wārith (The Heir) is also one of the 99 names of God, reflecting the concept of ultimate succession and continuity.

In social and legal contexts, waris typically designates a person who inherits property or rights from a deceased relative. In Islamic inheritance law, heirs have prescribed shares according to religiously specified rules, while civil frameworks in Malay and Indonesian contexts use the term waris to indicate heirs and the process of inheritance (harta pusaka). The term thus encompasses both the person who inherits and the broader process of transmission of assets.

Waris is also used as a personal name in various cultures. It is found as a given name in South Asia and the Arab world, and as a surname in different regions. Notable individuals with the name include Waris Dirie, a Somali model and human rights activist, and Waris Hussein, a British-Indian film and television director, illustrating the name’s cross-cultural usage.

Overall, waris functions as a basic term for inheritance and inheritance rights, while also serving as a personal name across diverse linguistic communities.