Ghazi (warrior)

Ghazi (warrior)

Ghazi or ghazah (noun (s. m.): غازي ġāzī; verb (s. m.): غزا ġazā, from غزو ġazw) is an Arabic term that means "to raid/foray." From it evolved the word "Ghazwa" (غزوة ġazwah) which specifically refers to a battle (or "Ghrazwat" in plural form) led by the Prophet Muhammad.

In English language literature the word often appears as razzia, deriving from French, although it probably comes from archaic Portuguese.

In the context of the wars between Russia and the Muslim peoples of the Caucasus, starting as early as the late 18th century's Sheikh Mansur's resistance to Russian expansion, the word usually appears in the form gazavat (газават).