Zahra (epithet)

Zahra is one of the epithets of Lady Fatima (a), meaning a radiant whiteness that shines like a pearl. Al-Allama al-Majlisi, in his interpretation of a narration from Imam al‑Sadiq (a), explains that Lady Fatima (a) was given the epithet ‘Zahra’ because of her radiance with spiritual light. The term ‘Zahra’ or ‘Fatimat al‑Zahra’ is frequently used in hadiths and ziyara texts as a form of address to Lady Fatima (a). Moreover, the Imams of the Shia are commonly referred to as the ‘sons of Fatimat al‑Zahra (a).

In Shia hadiths, several reasons are mentioned for Lady Fatima (a) being given the epithet ‘Zahra.’ One narration from Imam al‑Sadiq (a) states that she was called ‘Zahra’ because her face shone with radiance before Imam Ali (a). Other narrations state that when Lady Fatima (a) stood for worship, her light illuminated the inhabitants of the heavens, just as the stars of the sky give light to the people of the earth.

It is also narrated that God created Fatima (a) from His Light of Grandeur, and when He created her, the heavens and the earth were illuminated by the radiance of her face, which dazzled the eyes of the angels. A narration from A'isha likewise reports the spiritual brilliance of Lady Fatima's (a) face.

Concerning the names of Lady Fatima (a), a narration from Imam al‑Sadiq (a) reports that she has nine names and honorific epithets before God: Fatima, Siddiqa, Mubaraka, Tahira, Zakiyya, Radiya, Mardiyya, Muhadditha, and Zahra. According to the narrations, the selection of these names and epithets is based on her virtues.

In Shia hadith collections, certain sections are devoted to explaining the epithet ‘Zahra.’ For instance, al-Shaykh al‑Saduq dedicated a chapter of his work 'Ilal al‑Shara'i' to this subject, and al-Allama al-Majlisi discussed it in part of volume 43 of Bihar al‑Anwar.

Among the names registered in Iran, Zahra is one of the most common female names. For example, in 2013, this name was reported as the second most frequently used female name in the country. Zahra is also widely popular in other Muslim communities. According to demographic data, the name is predominantly chosen for girls in Islamic countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and in Türkiye and the Balkans, the form ‘Zehra’ is likewise very popular. In Indonesia and Malaysia, more than 99% of the use of the name Zahra is for females. In addition, among Muslim immigrant communities in Europe and the United States, Zahra is a common female name; in the United States, for instance, more than 550 newborn girls were registered with the name Zahra in 2024.