مَرْوَة
Girl Arabic origin Marwa
In the QuranName of the hill of al-Marwa in Mecca; “white, shining stone”
The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, Al-Baqarah 2:158.
The Quran names the hill: “Al-Safa and al-Marwa are among the rites of Allah” (2:158). The walk between them recalls Hajar running in search of water for Ismaʿil: she went from one to the other seven times, and the Prophet ﷺ said: “That is the origin of people walking between them” (al-Bukhari 3364).
Marwa is the unit noun of marw, a white, hard, shining stone, the flint used to strike sparks. Al-Marwa is the small hill in Mecca facing al-Safa, between which the pilgrimage walk (saʿy) is performed. Merve is one of the most given girls’ names in Turkey; Maroua is common in the Maghreb.
Yes: Marwa is named in the Quran once, in one surah.
إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ ١٥٨
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: “While the mother of Isma‘īl was breastfeeding her son Isma‘īl, Ibrahīm (peace be upon him) brought them to a place near the House (the Ka‘bah); under a tree on the spot of Zamzam and the highest place in the Mosque. During those days there was…
أَوَّلَ مَا اتَّخَذَ النِّسَاءُ الْمِنْطَقَ مِنْ قِبَلِ أُمِّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، اتَّخَذَتْ مِنْطَقًا لَتُعَفِّيَ أَثَرَهَا عَلَى سَارَةَ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ، وَبِابْنِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَهْىَ تُرْضِعُهُ حَتَّى…
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Marwa 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.
