The `rm` command is destructive. Here's a command to move files to the trash, with a prompt, instead of deleting permanently.

del.sh

# Add this to your .bash_profile, .bashrc, .zshrc or wherever you keep your bash functions and aliases.

del() {
  RED="\e[31m"
  YELLOW="\e[33m"
  WHITE="\e[97m"

  if [[ $# -eq 0 ]] ; then
    echo -e "Sorry dude, I can't do anything with that. Nothing specified."
  else
    echo  -ne "${YELLOW}You're about to move the following items to the trash:${RED}\n > $*\n${YELLOW}Are you sure? [y/n] "
    read answer
    finish="-1"
    while [ "$finish" = '-1' ]
    do
      finish="1"
      if [ "$answer" = '' ];
      then
        answer=""
      else
        case $answer in
          y | Y | yes | YES )
            echo "$reset_color"
            mv -v $* $HOME/.Trash/;
            answer="y";
            ;;
          n | N | no | NO ) answer="n";;
          *) finish="-1";
             echo -n '\nInvalid response -- please reenter:';
             read answer;;
         esac
      fi
    done
  fi
}

delete-no-prompt.sh

# If you don't want to be prompted, use this one

del() {
  mv -v $* $HOME/.Trash/;
}

rm-prompt.sh

# If all you want is to be prompted, and don't care about moving
# files to the trash, you could use the following:

alias rm="rm -i"