Buraq

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mythical steed in Islamic tradition that transports prophets, often described as a creature with features of various animals
2. A legendary being in Islamic lore known to carry figures such as the Prophet Muhammad during spiritual journeys, typically depicted with a horse-like body and wings
3. An otherworldly creature symbolizing speed and divine connection, frequently associated with miraculous travels in religious narratives

Etymology: In Islamic tradition, the buraq is the steed that carried the Prophet Muhammad on his night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then up through the heavens. The name comes from Arabic "al-burāq," which is related to "barq," the Arabic word for lightning, a link that fits the animal's dazzling speed. Its exact form varies in the accounts, but traditional descriptions picture it as a white creature, smaller than a mule and larger than a donkey, that could cover a stride as far as the eye could see. English borrowed the term directly from Arabic, so it keeps the article "al-" that is part of the Arabic form. The word has stayed a specialist term, used mainly in discussions of Islamic religion, art, and literature, where it names a single celestial mount rather than horses in general.