hafiz

Persian, from Arabic حَافِظ (ḥāfiẓ), present participle of حَفِظَ (ḥafiẓa, “to guard, know by heart”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɑːfɪz/

hafiz (plural hafizes or huffaz)

1. A Muslim who has memorized the whole Qur'an.
   • 2001, Yann Martel, Life of Pi, Canongate, published 2003, →ISBN, pages 61–62:

     He was a hafiz, one who knows the Qur’an by heart, and he sang it in a slow, simple chant.

• hafis