fakir

American  

[fuh-keer, fey-ker] / fəˈkɪər, ˈfeɪ kər /

Also faqir,

noun

1. a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk commonly considered a wonder-worker.

2. a member of any Islamic religious order; dervish.

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fakir British  

/ fəˈkɪə, ˈfeɪkə, fəˈkɪə /

noun

1. a Muslim ascetic who rejects wordly possessions

2. a Hindu ascetic mendicant or holy man

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Etymology

Origin of fakir

First recorded in 1600–10, fakir is from the Arabic word faqīr “poor”

Explanation

A fakir is a Muslim Sufi holy man or woman who lives on only what he or she gets by begging. A fakir is a kind of wandering Middle Eastern or South Asian monk. Most fakirs follow the Islamic faith, or its more mystical practice, Sufism, though there are also fakirs in Hinduism. As many religions do, Islam places importance on the idea of giving up worldly goods — a fakir owns nothing, only eating what he begs for. In Arabic, in fact, faqir means "poor man." Pronounce fakir with an emphasis on the last syllable, which sounds like "keer."

Example Sentences

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving founding member of the Motown vocal group the Four Tops, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2024

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of beloved Motown group The Four Tops, has passed away at the age of 88.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2024

Gordy noted that the original Four Tops — Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson — “always amazed me with their showmanship, class and artistry.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2024

"Unless he's given something like deputy president, moving him out of that portfolio would jeopardize Ramaphosa's causes," Fakir said.

From Reuters • Dec. 22, 2022

On the morning of the third day the bearer came and reported that a certain Indian Fakir had invited Mr. Anderson to go and breakfast with him.

From Indian Ghost Stories Second Edition by Mukerji, S.