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:

aswk
respected brother,
i wanted to know the meaning of the name `arshia`. i also wanted to know the meaning of `ikram`,`sabiha`,`nimair`,`anas`,.Does the meanings of our names have effect on us? 

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Answer:

Meaning of various names

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.

The name one assigns to one’s child is no more than a sign of recognition and address for that individual, and the name by itself does not effect the character or behavior or the deeds or outcome of that person in the least. One’s parents may chose to name their child ‘Abd-Allah’ (Abd-Allah ibn Abbas (r.a.), Abd-Allah ibn Umar (r.a.), etc.) and that child may grow up to be amongst the noblest companions of the Prophet (saws) and be counted amongst the most pious and best scholars of the Muslim Ummah; or another person by the same name ‘Abd-Allah’ (Abd-Allah ibn Ubayy) may grow up to be one amongst the biggest enemies of Allah, His Messenger (saws), and Islam!!! One who is named ‘Salmaan’ by one’s parents may grow up to become a ‘Salmaan al-Faarsi (r.a.)’, or one by the same name may grow up to be a Salman Rushdie!

It is not the name of an individual which will determine one’s rank or status or deeds or character in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, but it is one’s belief, level of piety, and one’s righteous good deeds which will earn one the Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness of their Lord Most Gracious.

Arshia....derived from the Arabic term ‘arsh’ which means throne; thus ‘arshia’ would mean one who is a ruler or wears a crown.

Ikram…would mean honor, hospitality, or generosity.

Sabiha…means one who is beautiful or graceful

Nimair…probably derived from the Arabic term ‘Nimr’ which means a tiger.

Anas….means love or affection.

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