wujud

Wujud is an Arabic term meaning existence or being. It is widely used in Arabic-speaking contexts and in languages influenced by Arabic, such as Malay, Indonesian, Persian, and Turkish. In everyday language, wujud denotes the state of existing or being present; in religious and philosophical discourse, it can refer to the existence of entities, events, or phenomena. The related noun mawjud (existent) and the verbal forms from the root wajada (to find) appear in many languages. In Malay and Indonesian, the verb mewujudkan means to realize, bring into existence, or materialize.

Etymology and usage: Wujud comes from the triliteral root w-j-d in Arabic, with the noun form denoting existence, presence, or actuality. The term is central to discussions of ontology and metaphysics in Islamic thought, where wujud is contrasted with adam (nonexistence). The categories wajib al-wujud (necessary existence) and mumkin al-wujud (possible existence) are used by philosophers such as Avicenna (Ibn Sina) and later Muslim scholars to explain how beings exist and depend on a source.

Philosophical and theological context: In Islamic ontology, wujud can refer to the existence of anything that is actualized by being. The concept underpins debates about creation, causation, and the nature of God as the necessary being. In Sufism, the doctrine of wahdat al-wujud (the unity of being) holds that all creation is a manifestation or reflection of the divine reality, a view that has been the subject of both influence and controversy.

Modern usage: In contemporary Malay and Indonesian, wujud remains common in philosophical and religious discussions and in everyday language through the verb mewujudkan, meaning to realize or materialize ideas, plans, or entities.