زَهْرَاء
Girl Arabic origin Zahrāʾ
Family of the Prophet ﷺ“The radiant one, shining bright”; al-Zahraʾ, epithet of Fatima
Al-Zahraʾ is one of the epithets of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and mother of al-Hasan and al-Husayn; this is why the name is often given in a compound, Fatima al-Zahraʾ. The Quran uses a word of the same root for the passing splendour of worldly life, zahrat al-hayat al-dunya (20:131).
Zahraʾ is the feminine of azhar, “shining white, luminous” (root z-h-r of brightness and of the flower, zahra): a woman with a radiant face. Al-Zahraʾ is the epithet of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet ﷺ. In the Maghreb, Zahra is often confused with Zohra or Zahra (زهرة), “flower” or “Venus”, another word of the same root. Zehra is very popular in Turkey.
The name Zahra does not appear as such in the Quran, but its root (ز ه ر) occurs once. Examples:
وَلَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَيْنَيْكَ إِلَىٰ مَا مَتَّعْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّنْهُمْ زَهْرَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ وَرِزْقُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰ ١٣١
And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Zahra 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.
