Iqra, name meaning in Islam

Iqra (اِقْرَأ) is an Arabic name for girls, taken from a word in the Quran. It means read!. Iqra is a command, not a noun, so some scholars prefer a name with a clear noun meaning. It is widely used in South Asia.

Meaning and root

In Arabic, words are built from a root of usually three letters. Iqra comes from the root ق ر أ, and words from the same root share its core meaning. Similar names from the same family of words are listed below.

Is Iqra in the Quran?

The first revelation begins: "Read in the name of your Lord" (96:1).

How to say and write Iqra

Say it IQ-ra. The capital letters show the stressed part. In English it is also spelled Iqraa and Ikra. In Arabic it is written with 4 letters, from right to left: ا alif + ق qaf + ر ra + أ alif with hamza.

Choosing Iqra

Names taken from words in the Quran are a popular choice. Before choosing one, read the verse it comes from, as above, so you know the context the word is used in. With the father's name it becomes Iqra bint (and the father's name): see what bin, bint and abu mean.

Names like Iqra

• Ayah
• Huda
• Dua

1. Quran 96:1, translation by Sahih International.
2. Sahih Muslim 2315.
3. Sahih Muslim 2132.
4. Meanings follow classical Arabic usage and the standard name dictionaries; our teachers will check each one.

Our teachers will check the Arabic spelling and meaning on this page before launch.