Karaite facts for kids

The words Karaite and Qaraite can be a bit confusing because they are used for different groups of people and different ideas. It's like having two words that look or sound similar but mean totally different things! Let's explore what these words mean in different situations.

Understanding the Word "Karaite"

The word "Karaite" can refer to a few distinct groups. It's important to know the background of each group to understand what the word means in that specific case.

Karaite People from Central Asia

Some groups of people whose ancestors came from Central Asia are called Karaite people. The languages spoken by some of these groups are also known as Karaite languages. Their ancestors were a type of Christian from the Church of the East, sometimes called Keraites.

Many Karaite people believe the word "Karaite" means "black" in the Turco-Mongol language of their ancestors. This was a traditional way in Central Asia to say they originally came from the Northern Turkic tribes.

Qaraite People and Islam

There are also Qaraite people who are mainly Turkic. They are related to the Karaite people we just talked about. However, most Qaraite people converted to Islam.

Most people think their name also means "black." But some Qaraite people themselves say their name actually comes from an Arabic word. This Arabic word describes someone who is very good at reading the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam.

Karaite Judaism: A Different Meaning

There is a type of Judaism often called Karaite Judaism. It's more accurate to spell it with a "Q" in English, like Qaraite, but "Karaite" is the more common spelling.

In Judaism, the word "Karaite" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to call out." This Jewish word has a completely different origin from the name used by the Karaite people and Qaraite people. The words just happen to look the same in English by accident. People who follow Karaite Judaism are called Karaite Jews. In this religion, the term Karaite Language refers to Hebrew.

Russian Karaite Sabbatarians

Some Russian Christians, including some western groups of the Karaite people, adopted many ideas from Karaite Judaism. However, they did not completely stop believing in Jesus. They became known as Russian Sabbatarians.

They are also called Russian Karaites and Karaite Sabbatarians. There is a big discussion about why they are called Karaite. Is it because of their religious beliefs? Or is it because some of them are descendants of the Karaite people or Qaraite people? It's quite difficult to know for sure.