إِسْرَاء
Girl Arabic origin Isrāʾ
Surah name“The night journey” of the Prophet ﷺ, from Mecca to Jerusalem
Surah 17, al-Israʾ, opens on this journey: “Glory be to Him who took His servant by night from the Sacred Mosque to al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him some of Our signs” (17:1). The noun israʾ itself is not in the Quran: only the verb asra appears.
Israʾ is the verbal noun of asra, “to make travel by night” (root s-r-y of night travel, sura). The word refers to the Prophet’s ﷺ night journey from the Sacred Mosque in Mecca to al-Aqsa Mosque, followed by the ascension (miʿraj). The name is very common: Israa or Isra in the Arab world, Esra in Turkey, where it is among the most given.
The name Isra does not appear as such in the Quran, but its root (س ر ي) occurs 8 times. Examples:
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ١
Exalted is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
قَالُوا۟ يَٰلُوطُ إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَن يَصِلُوٓا۟ إِلَيْكَ فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا ٱمْرَأَتَكَ إِنَّهُۥ مُصِيبُهَا مَآ أَصَابَهُمْ إِنَّ مَوْعِدَهُمُ ٱلصُّبْحُ أَلَيْسَ ٱلصُّبْحُ بِقَرِيبٍ ٨١
They [the angels] said, "O Lot, indeed we are messengers of your Lord; [therefore], they will never reach you. So set out with your family during a portion of the night and let not any among you look back - except your wife; indeed, she will be struck by that which strikes them. Indeed, their appointment is [for] the morning. Is not the morning near?"
فَأَسْرِ بِأَهْلِكَ بِقِطْعٍ مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱتَّبِعْ أَدْبَٰرَهُمْ وَلَا يَلْتَفِتْ مِنكُمْ أَحَدٌ وَٱمْضُوا۟ حَيْثُ تُؤْمَرُونَ ٦٥
So set out with your family during a portion of the night and follow behind them and let not anyone among you look back and continue on to where you are commanded."
All the words of the root س ر ي in the Quran (8 occurrences)
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Isra 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.
