arabic type

Check out this article on arabic type. It was posted a while back by Pascal Zoghbi MD, May 2007. and i recently ran across it. enjoy!

http://29letters.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/arabic-type-history/

 

Best arabic thing ever!!!

One of my friends just told me about this program that google offers, and i honestly have to admit it is the coolest thing i’ve ever come across. Its basically an instant translator from arabic to english or vice versa. I mean instantly!!! Its an amazing program and to make it even sweeter…. its free!!! All you have to do is add “en2ar@bot.talk.google.com” to your buddy list (on google talk) and start typing english. The program will instantly translate what you type into arabic! And if you want to translate arabic to english all you have to do is add “ar2en@bot.talk.google.com” to your buddy list (on google talk) and you can translate arabic text to english instantly!!! See its stuff like this that gives google the right to take over the internet. =)

check this blog out for more info.

http://googletalk.blogspot.com/2007/12/merry-christmas-god-jul-and.html

 

Mob Arabic?

I came across a pretty interesting website. It’s a well developed site and has a few pretty interesting features.  For one it teaches the alphabet, numbers, and some basic vocab. It also has some pretty funny Egyptian slang. (Of course they will refer to it as colloquial Egyptian) Overall the site is great for beginners. I recommend taking the quiz where you will come across the phrase ( فين الفلوس؟)  -which of course means “where is the money?- Now the question is… why would you need to ask anyone in any language “Where is the money?”? Unless of course you are the type of person who lends out money quite often and can deal with the consequence of a “no”. =)

the site is:

www.funwitharabic.com

 

new links.

Here are some new links for you all to enjoy.

1. Islam Spirit- this site has a bunch of arabic books… for free!!!

www.islamspirit.com

2. Study Arabic- resources for arabic students.

www.study-arabic.info

3. Al Waqfeya- More free arabic books.

www.waqfeya.com

4. Maktaba Al Shamela- More free books

http://www.shamela.ws/

 

arabic question

I came across a blog (arabicclass.wordpress.com) that had a couple questions on it. I replied and for some strange reason it wasn’t posted so i decided to put the questions (and the answers) up on my blog in hopes that someone out there will benefit from them.

here are the questions

Q.1 Whats the origins of saying السلام عليكم (as-salaamu 3alaykum)

Q.2 What does (اهلا وسهلا (ahlan wa-sahlan, welcome)) stand for?

Arabic can be pretty tricky. Almost always you will find a huge explanation behind expressions. So here’s the story behind السلام عليكم (as-salaamu 3alaykum) and

اهلا وسهلا (ahlan wa-sahlan, welcome)

A.1 The phrase السلام عليكم is mentioned quite a few times in the quran. It is used by angels as a greeting to those who enter paradise in chapter 7 verse 46. It is also used by the prophet Abraham (with out عليكم) when he greeted the visiting angels in chapter 11 verse 69. But the “command” to use السلام عليكم is found in the quran in chapter 6 verse 54.

(وَإِذَا جَاءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآَيَاتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ) “And if those who believe in our proofs come to you, say: May peace be upon you”

Before islam the arabs used to greet each other with (عم صباحا) -im sabahan- which means good morning or (عم مساء) -im masaan- which means good evening. When islam came it changed this expression as well as a lot of other expressions that were common amongst the arabs.

A.2 With regards to أهلا و سهلا the original meaning of أهل is “family” or “people”. When the word is used as a verb it basically means to “relate” (blood relation) to someone, or it could even mean to “marry”. This expression was originally said to someone who was passing by and would want to stop and rest. The person inviting would say أهلا و سهل meaning “You have found “ease” (سهلا) and comfort with these (أهلا) people”. This explanation can be found in the book “Uncommon Quranic Vocabulary” by Ragib AL Asfahani. The book hasn’t been translated but its pretty useful with etymology.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask at www.arabicarabic.wordpress.com

 

every arabic book… ever!

Rather than spending all that hard earned money on books and trying to find some place on your shelf for them, why don’t you just download them for free? (See what happens when there are no copyright laws!) Saaid al fawaid / صيد الفوائد (which literally means “hunter of benefits”) is a website where you can download almost every arabic book ever. Most of the books on the website are reference books but there’s pretty good selection of other books as well. Many of the books are pretty old (some go as far back as the 8th century) but there is some new stuff as well. There’s thousands of books available. I like to use the site for reference books (since i don’t read reference books cover to cover and they just end up gathering dust on my shelf. (you wouldn’t believe how dusty Riyadh can get)). I also use the site for books that are out of print.

www.saaid.net

 

if you have any questions….

if you have any questions about arabic feel free to ask…

i know this blog is empty but i’m still getting used to using this thing.

 

Salams

Once i get things figured out i’ll post some stuff.