Browse Tag
Basra
20 posts
Basra (البصرة) is a port city in southern Iraq, known for its historical significance, economic importance and location along the Shatt al-Arab (شط العرب) waterway. It is Iraq’s main port and a major industrial center.
Arabic Conditional Sentences Explained: The Basics & The Jussive Mood
This first part of a series on Arabic conditional sentences (جُمْلةُ الشَّرْطِ) breaks down their core elements: condition, answer, and linking device. It also explains the jussive mood, crucial for understanding these complex structures.
Sunnah.com & Shamela.ws: Investigating the Authenticity of Their Digital Sources
sunnah.com and shamela.ws are popular Islamic resources, but their digital sources are often unverified. This guest article by an open-source developer examines their origins and raises critical questions about the authenticity of online Hadith and Islamic texts.
How to Learn Iraqi Arabic: A Diplomat’s Tips on Grammar & Resources
Canadian Ambassador Ulric Shannon, a fluent Arabic speaker, offers insights into Iraqi Arabic in this interview. He discusses its distinct features, compares it to Egyptian and Levantine dialects, and shares resources for learning its grammar and vocabulary.
The 5 Greatest Arabic Grammarians of the Classical Era
This subjective list ranks the top five Arabic grammarians from the classical Islamic era. It covers giants like Sibawayhi (al-Kitab) and Ibn Mansur (Lisan al-Arab), detailing their pivotal roles in shaping Arabic grammar and lexicography.
10 Famous Arabic Proverbs and Their Meanings (With English Translation)
Arabic is rich in proverbs and sayings that encapsulate wisdom and cultural insights. This article explains common Arabic proverbs, their literal translations, and deeper meanings for language learners.
“I’ve been driven half-crazy by the sheer number of untranslatable expressions” | Brian Powell | 9273 Roots #18
As the translation manager for Industry Arabic, Brian Powell has been "driven half-crazy by untranslatable expressions." He discusses the beautiful complexity of his job, why he loves the word برزخ (barzakh) for its Sufi meaning, and the "Elizabethan exuberance" of Egyptian Arabic.
Kitāb al-‘Ayn: How the world’s first Arabic dictionary was created
Al-Khalīl ibn ’Ahmad al-Farāhīdī was the 8th-century grammarian who created Kitāb al-‘Ayn, the first Arabic dictionary. It was uniquely arranged by the phonetic place of articulation in the throat.
Al-Kindi: The Arab Pioneer of Cryptology & Frequency Analysis
One of the greatest Arab scholars, al-Kindi (الْكِنْدِي), was one of the pioneers of cryptology. How did he manage to decrypt messages?
The Question of the Wasp: The Legendary Arabic Grammar Debate That Ended in Tragedy
The "Question of the Wasp" (المسألة الزنبورية) details one of the most famous grammar disputes in Arabic history, involving the esteemed grammarians Sibawayhi and al-Kisa'i. This article dissects their debate over the correct case (nominative or accusative) of a pronoun in a specific sentence, showcasing the depth and complexity of classical Arabic linguistic analysis.
TV Series in Classical Arabic (الفصحى) with English Subtitles
Finding TV series in Classical Arabic (الفصحى) with English subtitles can be challenging. This guide presents notable historical dramas like Musalsal Fath al-Andalus and the Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal series (all 31 episodes with English subtitles), and also discusses Bible stories in Classical Arabic, offering valuable resources for language learners.
