Mukjizat or Mujizat? Tracing the Roots of Arabic Loanwords

The variant 'mujizat' often arises due to phonetic assimilation by Indonesian speakers. The glottal stop consonant (k) representing the letter 'ayn' is often perceived as difficult to pronounce in the middle of a word, leading speakers to omit it for smoother articulation.

The word 'mukjizat' originates from the Arabic 'mu’jizah' (معجزة), derived from the root 'ajaza' meaning 'to weaken' or 'to render powerless'. In theological terminology, it refers to an extraordinary event that transcends natural laws as a proof of prophethood.

The use of this word is deeply embedded in religious discourse in Indonesia. Although the formal form includes the 'k', the variant without it is still frequently found in certain spiritual literature and informal conversations as it is considered more flexible in daily speech.