The term is an abstract noun from the term "disciple". Muhammed defined "disciple" correctly as "hawari" , but you are looking for the abstract noun, not the common noun. Although Linda's is theoretically correct, it applies more to "fellowship", another Christian concept, where "followers" stay together for prayer and work, creating a "fellowship". The concept is rather absent in Islam, although you could look at the Sufi brotherhood for a common relationship between a sheikh and his "murideen".