Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asalam-o-Aliakum,

I really appreciate your effort for helping out the muslim community this way. My question is: My daughter name is "Alishba" I was told that it was an Arabic name, I liked it so I kept it, regardless of the fact that i didnt know the meaning of this name, but I heard it does have an impact on a child`s behaviour, attitude and conduct. Can you please guide me and let me know what does it mean? Looking forward for your co-operation. Thank you.

Allah-hafiz. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Meaning of name Alishba

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Although the term ‘Alishba’ does not have any particular meaning in the Arabic language, ‘Ali’ means ‘high’ and ‘shba’ could be a derivative of the land of Saba (English ‘Sheba’) as narrated in the story of Prophet Sulaimaan (a.s.) in the Glorious Quran. 

But ‘Alishba’ itself is not a proper Arabic term and does not have a meaning. 

Although it is not encouraged, there is no harm and absolutely no restriction in Shariah if one has named one’s loved one by a name in a language other than Arabic, or by a term which does not particularly have a meaning.  What is absolutely discouraged is that one assign a loved one a name which connotes the abomination of ‘shirk’, or the term or name has an evil or derogatory meaning. 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan