Millat

Millat (Arabic: ملة) is an Arabic word that translates roughly to "nation," "people," "religious community," or "religious law." Its precise meaning is context-dependent and can vary significantly. Generally, it refers to a group of people bound together by a shared religious identity and, often, a common culture and history. It carries connotations of a divinely ordained community, distinct from other communities defined solely by political or ethnic factors.

The term is often used to describe a religious community recognized under law. In some contexts, particularly in historical settings, it was used to refer to non-Muslim religious communities living under Islamic rule, who were granted certain rights and protections as dhimmis.

The word "millat" should be distinguished from other terms like umma, which generally refers to the global Muslim community, and qawm, which is often used to refer to an ethnic group or nation-state in a more secular sense.

The term's nuances and specific usage are frequently debated and reinterpreted in contemporary political and religious discourse. The concept of millat plays a role in discussions concerning national identity, religious pluralism, and the relationship between religion and state in various Muslim-majority societies.