وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ إِدْرِيسَ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا ٥٦
And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
إِدْرِيس
Idris: meaning of the name
Boy Other origin Idrīs
ProphetIn the QuranName of the prophet Idris, of uncertain origin; often linked to Arabic dars, “study”
The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, Maryam 19:56.
Idris in Islam
The Quran names Idris only twice: “And mention Idris in the Book: he was a man of truth and a prophet, and We raised him to a high station” (19:56-57), then among the patient (21:85). During the Ascension, the Prophet ﷺ met him in the fourth heaven, and Idris greeted him: “Welcome, brother and prophet” (al-Bukhari 3207).
Meaning of the name Idris
Idris is the name of a prophet mentioned twice in the Quran. It is often explained by the Arabic darasa, “to study”: he would have been so called for his long study of the Scriptures. Al-Zamakhshari, quoted by al-Qurtubi, rejects this etymology: if the name were Arabic it would take nunation; it is therefore foreign, and its original meaning may have been similar, hence the confusion. Tradition identifies him with Enoch (Akhnukh), an ancestor of Nuh.
- In Arabic
- إِدْرِيس إدريس
- Transliteration
- Idrīs
- Gender
- Boy
- Origin
- Other
Is Idris in the Quran?
Yes: Idris is named in the Quran 2 times, in 2 surahs.
وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ كُلٌّ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ٨٥
And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.
In the hadiths
Authentic
Sahih al-Bukhari 3207
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While I was at the House in a state midway between sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized me) as the man lying between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of the `Abdomen and then…
بَيْنَا أَنَا عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ بَيْنَ النَّائِمِ وَالْيَقْظَانِ ـ وَذَكَرَ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ ـ فَأُتِيتُ بِطَسْتٍ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ مُلِئَ حِكْمَةً وَإِيمَانًا، فَشُقَّ مِنَ النَّحْرِ إِلَى مَرَاقِّ الْبَطْنِ، ثُمَّ غُسِلَ…
Is this name permissible?
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Idris 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.
Writing Idris in each language
- French
- Idriss, Idris, Driss
- English
- Idris, Idrees, Driss
- Spanish
- Idris, Driss
- Turkish
- İdris
- Arabic
- إِدْرِيس
Similar names
See also
- Adamآدَم Name of the first man, Adam; in Hebrew “man”, taken from the earth
- Nuhنُوح Name of the prophet Nuh (Noah); in Hebrew, a name linked to “rest”
- Ismailإِسْمَاعِيل Name of the prophet Ismaʿil (Ishmael); in Hebrew, “God hears”
- Dhul-Kiflذُو الْكِفْل “The one with the portion” or “with the pledge”; a prophet named twice in the Quran
