ABAD, Arabic theological term meaning “eternity a parte post” (already in early Muʿtazilite theology); it corresponds to Greek atéleuton. It sometimes also serves as a general term for unlimited time (dahr). Abad and its opposing term, azal (“eternity a parte ante”) represent different aspects of qedam, “eternity.” A suggested derivation is from the Middle Persian *a-pād, “without foot (i.e., without end).” For a surmise on the Iranian origin of azal, see Monnot in bibliography. See also ASAR.