Wafa
Keeping one's word — the fulfilment of an obligation undertaken.
- Root
- w-f-y (و-ف-ي)
- Gender
- Female
- Meaning
- Loyalty, keeping faith
- Origin
- Arabic
Meaning and root
From w-f-y (و-ف-ي), 'to complete, to render in full'. *Wafāʾ* is keeping faith: giving what was promised, entire.
In tribal vocabulary
The root is the standard of judgement in the vocabulary of ḥilf, alliance — an ally who keeps the pact has *wafāʾ*, and its absence, *ghadr*, is the gravest charge in that vocabulary. Much of classical poetry's praise and invective turns on this pair.
Frequently asked questions
What does Wafa mean?
Keeping faith — rendering in full what was promised. Its opposite, ghadr (treachery), is the gravest charge in tribal vocabulary.
Sources
- ابن منظور، لسان العرب، 711هـ — مادة: وفي
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27