Abdul
Abdul (also transliterated as Abdal, Abdel, Abdil, Abdol, Abdool, or Abdoul; , ) is the most frequent transliteration of the combination of the Arabic word "Abd" (, "Servant") and the definite prefix "al / el" (, "the"). It is the initial component of many compound names, names made of two words. For example, , "", usually spelled "Abdel Hamid", "Abdelhamid", "Abd El Hamid" or "Abdul Hamid", which means "servant of The Praised" (God). The most common use for "Abdul" by far, is as part of a male given name, written in English. When written in English, "Abdul" is subject to variable spacing, spelling, and hyphenation. The  meaning of "Abdul" literally and normally means "Slave of the", but English translations also often translate it to "Servant of the". Spelling variations. Variations in spelling are primarily because of the variation in pronunciation. Arabic speakers normally pronounce and transcribe their names of Arabic origin according to their spoken Arabic dialects. Therefore, it is pronounced and written "Abdel..." or "Abd El...". However, non-Arabic speakers or Arabic speakers may choose to transcribe the name according to the Literary Arabic pronunciation, which is the language of Quran, pronounced as and written "Abdul...". For other variations in spelling, see the Arabic grammar  section. Etymology. In Arabic language, the word ' means "slave" or "servant", from the triliteral root ', which is also related to the word "", "worshiping". Therefore, the word has the positive connotation, in an Islamic sense, of worshiping and praising God, i.e. being a servant to God rather than idols. Theophoric naming. Essentially there is no "Abdul", without the second part when written in Arabic, thus it appears as a component of many Arabic and specifically Muslim names, where it is the opening of a religiously based name, meaning: "Servant of..." with the last component of the name being one of the  names of God in Islam, which would form a Muslim Arabic theophoric name. Such as Abdullah simply meaning "Servant of God" while "Abdul Aziz" means "Servant of the Almighty" and so on. The name "Abdul Masih", ("Servant of the Messiah") is an Arabic Christian equivalent. In addition, "Abdul" is occasionally, though much more rarely, used in reference to a figure other than God. For example, the Indian name "Abdul Mughal", ("Servant of the Mughal Empire"). Arabic grammar. When followed by a sun letter, the "l" in "al" (normally pronounced colloquially "el") assimilates to the initial consonant of the following noun , resulting in a doubled consonant. For example, "Abdul Rahman", would be pronounced in Literary Arabic: Abdur-Rahman . When the definite article is followed by a moon letter, no assimilation takes place. Therefore, "Abdul" is not always used as the opening part of the name; if the second part starts with a sun letter, it may become forms including Abdun, Abdur, Abdus, or Abdush, the vowel in each name, similarly with "Abdul", is also open to differing transliterations. Independent naming. "Abdul" does not appear on its own as a male given name when written in Arabic. In some cultures, the theophoric  part may appear to be a stand-alone middle name, or surname, thus confusing people as to whether "Abdul" is an accepted given name. Often if someone shortens his/her name, he may equally choose the theophoric part or "Abdul". However, "Abdul" by itself is sometimes used as an independent full given first name outside of Arabic-speaking societies. Sometimes "Abdul" is followed by a word describing Muhammad the Prophet, for example "Abd un Nabi", which means "slave/servant of the prophet".