Arabic Culture

Islam and Belief in Prophets Belief in Prophets of Allah is unquestionably incumbent upon every follower of Islam. It goes without saying that the start of humanity did not commence with Prophet Muhammed’s call of prophethood, and neither it did on the birth of Jesus. It began long centuries before. During these times, God Almighty did not leave human beings muddled and at los…

What is Fasting in Islam? Fasting in Arabic is صَوْم or صِيَام. Linguistically, both words are verbal nouns of the verb صَامَ. Generally speaking, صَامَ means to refrain from doing something. To say صَامَ عَنِ الْكَلَام means to refrain from talking; to say صَامَ عَنِ التَّدْخِيْن means to refrain from smoking; صَامَ عَنْ فِعْلِ الشَّر means to refrain from doing evil; and so …

عِيْدُ الفِطْرِ Eid ul-Fitri When Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) entered Madinah, after migration from Mecca, he found the people of Madinah having two days of big celebrations—the Day of Nairooz نَيْرُوز and the Day of Mahrajan مَهْرَجَان. The Nairooz is the first day of the solar calendar, while the Mahrajan is another day of the year during which day and night are the same in len…

A picture is worth a thousand words. The picture below, Arabic gum sellers in Bab al-Yemen just outside Old Sana’a City, illustrates an aspect of real-life situations in Yemen.

A picture is worth a thousand words. The picture below, a spice seller in souk al-Milh in Old Sana’a City, illustrates some aspects of real-life situations in Yemen.

What is Ramadan? What is Ramadan? Ramadan (also written Ramadhan) is the name of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. It is the only month that is mentioned in the Holy Quran, namely in Surat al-Bagarah, verse 185: "شَهْرُ رَمَضَان الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ فِيهِ القُرْآنُ" ‘the month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was revealed.’ There are three views on why this month is …