Is Misbah an Arabic name? What does it mean? Read on to find out more, including the meaning of the name Misbah, its origin, pronunciation and if relevant, popularity.
What does Misbah mean in Arabic?
Misbah means lamp.
It originates from the root word ص-ب-ح (S B H).
Misbah is mentioned in the Quran, in a verse known as ‘Ayat un-Noor’ (the verse of light):
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونِةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
‘Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not – light upon light – Allah guides to His light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.’ (24:35)
The root word, S B H, is also the root word for the Arabic word for morning (‘sabah).
Misbah is a female name.
Popularity of the name Misbah
Misbah was a popular name in the 90s and 00s, however has declined in popularity since. It ranked in the UK’s top 1000 names up till 2007, and has since dropped off rapidly.
How to write Misbah in Arabic:
Misbah is written as مصباح
How to pronounce Misbah:
Misbah is pronounced MiSS-baaH.
Spelling variations of Misbah
Mesbah, Misbaah, Misbeh