إِبْرَاهِيم
Boy Hebrew origin Ibrāhīm
ProphetFamily of the Prophet ﷺIn the QuranSurah nameName of the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham); “father of a multitude” according to the Bible
The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, An-Nisa 4:125.
Ibrahim is Khalil Allah, the “intimate friend” of Allah: “Allah took Ibrahim as an intimate friend” (4:125). Named 69 times in the Quran, he gives his name to Surah 14, and the Quran holds him up as a model: “Ibrahim was an exemplar (umma), devoutly obedient to Allah, a ḥanīf” (16:120). The Prophet ﷺ gave his name to his own son: “A boy was born to me tonight, and I named him after my father Ibrahim” (Muslim 2315).
Ibrahim is the Arabic form of the Hebrew Avraham, which the Bible explains as “father of a multitude of nations”; his earlier name, Avram, means “exalted father”. Arab lexicographers regard it as a foreign (aʿjami) name and record the variant forms Ibraham and Ibrahim. Some commentators, quoted by al-Qurtubi, explained it as “merciful father” (ab rahim). The name is borne throughout the Muslim world, from Brahim in the Maghreb to Ibrahima in West Africa.
Yes: Ibrahim is named in the Quran 69 times, in 25 surahs.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا ١٢٥
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend.
إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ١٢٠
Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allāh, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allāh.
قُلْنَا يَٰنَارُ كُونِى بَرْدًا وَسَلَٰمًا عَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ٦٩
We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O fire, be coolness and safety upon Abraham."
وَإِذِ ٱبْتَلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُۥ بِكَلِمَٰتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّى جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِى ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ١٢٤
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with words [i.e., commands] and he fulfilled them. [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people." [Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [Allāh] said, "My covenant does not include the wrongdoers."
وُلِدَ لِيَ اللَّيْلَةَ غُلاَمٌ فَسَمَّيْتُهُ بِاسْمِ أَبِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ " . ثُمَّ دَفَعَهُ إِلَى أُمِّ سَيْفٍ امْرَأَةِ قَيْنٍ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَبُو سَيْفٍ فَانْطَلَقَ يَأْتِيهِ وَاتَّبَعْتُهُ فَانْتَهَيْنَا إِلَى…
يَا خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّةِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " ذَاكَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ "
إِنَّكُمْ مَحْشُورُونَ حُفَاةً عُرَاةً غُرْلاً ـ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ – {كَمَا بَدَأْنَا أَوَّلَ خَلْقٍ نُعِيدُهُ وَعْدًا عَلَيْنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ} وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يُكْسَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، وَإِنَّ…
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Ibrahim in particular: the general rules of Islam apply.
Read the rules for choosing a name
This page is an aid to reflection, not a fatwa. For a personal case, ask a person of knowledge.
