Zahid is a male given name particularly popular in several Asian countries. It has its roots in the Arabic language. In Arabic, there are a few variations based on the exact pronunciation of the name thus having different meanings. One of the meanings of Zahid in Arabic is Altruistic. Zahid is also defined as "the noble man who stops other from wrong doing of 'respectable' belief",[1] explained as: "The Zahid is the literal believer in the letter of the Law, opposed to the Sufi, who believes in its spirit: hence the former is called a Zahiri (outsider), and the latter a Batini, sider."[2]

Notable persons with the name include:

References

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  1. ^ p.16 Islamic History. London: The Octagon Press, 1974
  2. ^ Burton 1974, p.104