Islamicise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To bring a society, institution or practice into line with Islamic principles and law ; to convert a population or territory so that it adopts the religion of Islam
2. Making a community, system or custom conform to the teachings and legal norms of Islam ; bringing a people or region over to the Islamic faith
3. To reshape laws, institutions or everyday life according to Islamic doctrine ; to bring a group or area into the Muslim religion through conversion

Etymology: The verb formed by adding the suffix "-ise" to "Islamic" captures the idea of making something conform to Islamic principles or culture. This construction follows a common pattern in English where "-ise" (or "-ize" in American English) is appended to nouns or adjectives to create verbs that mean "to make" or "to become" that quality or state. The base adjective "Islamic" itself dates back to the early 19th century, derived from "Islam," which entered English from Arabic through Persian and Turkish intermediaries. "Islam" refers to the religion founded in the 7th century by the Prophet Muhammad, and the adjective "Islamic" relates to anything pertaining to Islam. The suffix "-ise" comes from Greek through Latin and Old French, reaching English by the late Middle Ages. It was popularized in English to form verbs from adjectives and nouns, such as "modernise" or "civilise," enabling a flexible way to express transformation or influence. Thus, this verb's formation is a straightforward morphological process combining a relatively recent adjective with a versatile verbal suffix. While the exact first usage of the verb is uncertain, it likely emerged during the 20th century alongside discussions of cultural, religious, and political changes involving Islamic identity, reflecting the broader linguistic trend of verbing adjectives to describe processes of cultural or ideological adaptation.

Synonyms: islamicize, muslimize