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Islam
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Islam and its connection to the Arabic language: articles about history, Islamic terms, the style and grammar of the Qur’an, stories from the Prophet Muhammad.
The Netflix series Messiah and the al-Dajjal
Muslim viewers of the Netflix series "Messiah" were irritated - because they were reminded of the al-Dajjal. Who is the Dajjal?
How to learn Arabic calligraphy – an introduction (part 1)
Arabic calligraphy is an exceptional art. Many Arabic students want to learn it - however, it is a long journey.
The word Shaytan: Is there a difference between Satan, Iblis and the Devil in Arabic?
There is a difference between Satan, Iblis, and the Devil in Arabic. Let's analyze the terms and see how to use them.
لبيك (labbaika) – What does it mean?
Labbaika (Labbayka) is said during the pilgrimage/Hajj before the pilgrims enter Mecca. It means: Here I am! At your service! But what kind of word is labbaika?
How a wrong vowel in the Quran may produce blasphemy
The correct vowel endings damma, kasra, fatha in Arabic can be a headache. If you are careless, you could turn verse 9:3 of the Qur'an into blasphemy (kufr).
How do you pronounce Allah correctly?
The word Allah (الله) is a special word in many ways. Especially the pronunciation can be tricky if you don't know the rules. Here is how it works.
Come to prayer! حي على الصلاة – What type of word is hayya حيَّ?
Hayya حَيَّ is used in the call of the Muezzin: Come to prayer! حَيَّ عَلَى الصَّلاةِ. It is a special word type: a Ism al-Fial (اسم فعل).
Are there TV shows in Classical Arabic with English subtitles?
TV shows in Classical Arabic (Fusha) with English subtitles are rare. Omar about the famous Caliph and the Imam about Ahmad bin Hanbal are two good examples.
Interesting facts about the Qur’an – the longest word
The longest word (expression) in the Qur'an is "fa’asqaynākumūhu" فَأَسْقَيْنَاكُمُوهُ and means: so we gave it to you to drink.
What is the plural of كافر – “unbeliever”?
There are many options to form the plural of kafir (كافر) which is unbeliever in Islam. The most common are Kuffār and Kāfirūn. Do they mean the same?