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:

AuA W BKH

can you tell me the meanings of the following names:

1. Simrah

2. Rida

3. Fatma

4. Hunain

5. Zuhair

Also, is Fatma written out as Fatemah or is `th` in the name silent and thus written as Fatma?

Jazak Allah

(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 names faitimah

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Ref: Simrah: The Arabic term ‘Simr’ means the color brown, thus ‘Simrah’ would mean one of brownish color or complexion.

Ref: Rida: would mean a covering, or a sheet used to cover someone.

Ref: Fatimah: the literal meaning of the term ‘Fatimah’ is one who leaves suckling or the age of weaning.

Ref: Hunain: Hunain is a proper noun and was the name of a place situated between Taif and Makkah where the ‘Battle of Hunain’ was fought at the time of the Prophet (saws).

Ref: Zuhair: would mean bright or shining.

Your Question: Also, is Fatma written out as Fatemah or is `th` in the name silent and thus written as Fatma?

Although it is always difficult to exactly transliterate and pronounce a term or name from one language to another, the closest transliteration and nearest to pronunciation would be to spell the term as ‘Faatimah’.

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