Isha
/ˈɪʃ.ə/; Arabic prayer: /ˈʕɪʃaːʔ/noun
Isha is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin and, in Islamic usage, the name of the night prayer.
Did you know?The Arabic Isha prayer is traditionally named for the onset of night, while Sanskrit Īśā belongs to the same divine “lordship” family as Īśvara, a title for God.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁eis-
“To possess, rule, or be powerful; the reconstructed root associated with Sanskrit īśa.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
īśa
“Lord, ruler, master, or divine sovereign.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
īśā
“A female ruler, mistress, or goddess; the feminine form of īśa.”
Early Islamic Arabic
Arabic
ʿishāʾ
“Evening, nightfall, or the period after twilight.”
Medieval Islamic tradition
Arabic
ṣalāt al-ʿishāʾ
“The night prayer, literally “the prayer of evening/nightfall.””
Modern English
English
Isha
“A personal name of Sanskrit origin and an English transliteration of the Islamic night prayer.”