Book Review: The Top 1,000 Words for Understanding Media Arabic

The Top 1,000 Words for Understanding Media Arabic

Elisabeth Kendall

Georgetown University Press

90 Pages

Softcover

This is an awesome book that I just bought a couple of weeks ago. I was expecting it to be bigger but the content more than made up for it. It contains 1,000 words used in the Arabic Media. The common contemporary media terminology found in this book is what makes it so unique. It has the definitions of words that are not usually found in other Arabic dictionaries. You will find the latest vocabulary such as “Axis of Evil”, “Neo-Nazism” to “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and “financial aid”.

The book is divided into eight sections; General, Politics, Elections, Military, Economics, Trade & Industry, Law & Order, and Disaster & Aid. The Arabic word is listed then its English equivalent. The Arabic vocabulary is also fully voweled so as to avoid any confusion in pronunciation. One word of notice: It contains only nouns, noun constructions and verbs. There is no reference to the particles unless they are attached to the verb.

The type is easy on the eyes and makes for a great reference book. You can keep up with the latest words used in Arabic media whether in newspapers or just surfing online. I bought this one used online for $5.00 and it was well worth it. Overall it is a book worth having to expand your vocabulary.

Ramadhaan Book Review: Sifatu-Sawm-in-Nabiyee Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam fee Ramadhaan

The last book out of five books that I have been reviewing for the blessed month of Ramadhaan is the excellent:

صِفَةُ صَوْمِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و سلم فِي رَمَضَان

Sifatu-Sawm-in-Nabiyee Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam fee Ramadhaan

The Description of the Fast of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in the month of Ramadhaan

Written by both Shaykh ‘Alee Hasan al-Halabee & Shaykh Saleem bin ‘Eeed al-Hilaalee (hafithahumaa Allah). This edition was printed by Daar Ibn Hazam by the Maktabah Islaamiyyah. It is 138 pages and contains 24 sections on how the Prophet, peace be upon him observed his fast. Some sections include but not limited to; the Benefits of Fasting, the Benefit of the month of Ramadhaan, the Obligation to fast in Ramadhaan, a section on Suhoor, the Iftaar, those things that nullify the Fast, making up the days of fast that are missed, Laylat-ul-Qadr, I’tikaaf, Taraweeh, Zakaat-ul-Fitr and weak narrations that have been spread concerning Ramadhaan.

Ramadhaan Book Review: Qiyaamu-Ramadhaan

The fourth book in five books that I have been reviewing in the blessed month of Ramadhaan is the classic:

قِيَامُ رَمَضَان فَضْلُهُ وَ كَيْفِيَّة أدَائِهِ وَ مَشْرُوعِيَّة الجَمَاعَة فِيهِ وَ مَعَهُ بَحْثٌ قَيِّم عَنِ الإعْتِكَافِ

Qiyaamr-Ramadhaan Fadhluhu wa Kayfiyyatu-Adaaihi wa Mashroo’iyyat-ul-Jamaa’ati feehi wa ma’ahu Bahthun Qayyimun ‘an-il-‘Itikaaf

The Qiyaam (the Taraweeh Prayer) in Ramadhaan: Its Benefit, How it is to be performed, and the legislated affairs of the People of the Sunnah regarding it along with an insightful study concerning the I’tikaaf

Written by the Noble Hadeeth Scholar ash-Shaykh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee (rahimahullah). It is a brief 46 page treatise covering the aforementioned topics. This edition was the third copy printed by al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah in ‘Amman, Jordan.

It was written after the Shaykh’s Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh and is the third treatise from a larger book that the Shaykh had written entitled Tasdeed-ul-Isaabah. Dr. Muhammad al-Jibaaly (hafithahullah) had translated sections from both this book that I am reviewing and Salaat-ut-Taraaweeh in his book regarding the topic, but to this date I do not think that the entire book has been translated and Allah knows best.

The Shaykh brings the evidence for praying eleven units of prayer in Taraweeh, detailing the chain of narrators and the grades of the narrations. He covers the reason why the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not continue leading the companions into group prayer, the appointing of an Imam specifically for the women, the time for the prayer, the manner in which he, peace be upon him, prayed (this section is excellent and has been translated by the brother of Salafi Publications), the manners of recitation, and then an explanation of the Witr, it’s Qunoot and what is said after performing it.

The last portion of the book contains the section on I’tikaaf, its rulings, conditions and what is permissible for the one making I’tikaaf to do, as well as the permissibility of women making I’tikaaf based on evidences and with the condition that there will not be any trial or seclusion of the women with the men. For the Arabic readers reference the last part of the book with Shaykh Muhamad ‘Abdil-Wahhaab al-‘Abdaalee’s Ieedhaah-ud-Dalaalah which is excellent within itself. For the English readers brother Isma’eel Alarcon (hafithahullah) has translated it on his excellent site al-Ibaanah so reference it.

I will end this month with the final book review for the month of Ramadhaan before the Eeed, inshaAllah.

Press Release: Tafsir of Suratul Fatiha, Al Ikhlaas and Mu'athatayn

Coming Soon!

Al Hujjah Publication would like to inform you of one of our new and up coming publications titled " Tafsir of Suratul Fatiha, Al Ikhlaas and Mu'athatayn" by Shaikh ul Islaam Muhammad ibn Abdil Wahaab Al Humbali Died 1206 Hijri with extra references from Imaam As'Saadee Died 1376 Hijri

Translated by:

Abu Sulayman Muhammad Ibn Baker

Barakallahu Feekum

AHP Admin.

Ramadhaan Book Review: Sawmu-Ramadhaan Ahkaamuh-ul-Fiqihiyyah wa-Tibiyyah

The third book in five books that I am reviewing in this blessed month of Ramadhaan is a detailed book covering the Fiqh and medical benefits of fasting entitled:

صَوْمُ رَمَضَان أحْكَامُهُ الفِقْهِيَة وَ الطِّبية

“Sawmu-Ramadhaan Ahkaamuh-ul-Fiqihiyyah wa-Tibiyyah”

The Fast of Ramadhaan; its Legal Rulings and Medical Benefits

Written by Mahmood Mahdee al-Istanboolee with notes by ‘Alee Hasan ‘Abdul-Hameed

This 128 page book is very detailed and contains almost every section from the moon sighting, the permissible and impermissible acts during Fasting, Taraweeh, Laylat-ul-Qadr, Zakaat-ul-Fitr and Eeed Prayer.

Ramadhaan Book Review: Majaalis Shahri-Ramadhaan

This is the second in five books that I wanted to review briefly in this blessed month of Ramadhaan as I am very occupied with tending to my family’s needs in addition to increasing my acts of worship for Allah.

This second book is a personal favorite that I enjoy reading every Ramadhaan. That is because every time I read it, it is as if I missed a benefit from the last time that I read it. It is none other than:

مَجَالِسُ شَهْرِ رَمَضَان

Majaalis Shahri-Ramadhaan

by ash- Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah)

Printed by the Charitable Organization of Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullah) ran by one of the Shaykh’s sons, may Allah reward them for their efforts. It is listed as number 29 in a series of works put out by the noble Shaykh may Allah place light in his grave and shower it with His Mercy.

Majaalis is the plural form of Majlis and here the word is meant to denote the sittings that the Shaykh had during the blessed months of Ramadhaan where he would give beautiful and beneficial lectures to the students of Knowledge and the lay people. The book consists of the following thirty lectures given by the Shaykh:

Gathering One: Concerning the benefit of the Month of Ramadhaan
Gathering Two: Concerning the benefit of Fasting
Gathering Three: Concerning the ruling of Fasting in Ramadhaan
Gathering Four: Regarding the ruling of establishing Ramadhaan
Gathering Five: Concerning the benefit of reciting the Quraan and its categories
Gathering Six: Concerning the types of people who fast
Gathering Seven: Concerning the groups of the types of people who fasts
Gathering Eight: Regarding the remaining types of people who fasts and the ruling of making up days that are missed
Gathering Nine: Concerning the wisdom of fasting
Gathering Ten: Concerning the manners of observing the obligatory fast
Gathering Eleven: Concerning the manners of observing the optional fast
Gathering Twelve: Concerning the second category of reciting the Quraan
Gathering Thirteen: Concerning the manners of reciting the Quraan
Gathering Fourteen: Concerning those things that break ones fast
Gathering Fifteen: Concerning the conditions of what breaks the fast and what does not break the fast and what acts are permissible for the one who is fasting
Gathering Sixteen: Concerning Zakaah
Gathering Seventeen: Regarding the people of Zakaah
Gathering Eighteen: Concerning the Battle of Badr
Gathering Nineteen: Concerning the battle of the opening of Makkah, may Allah honor it
Gathering Twenty: Concerning the causes of real assistance
Gathering Twenty One: Concerning the benefit of the last ten days of Ramadhaan
Gathering Twenty Two: Concerning the effort that one should take in worshipping in the last ten days and the night of Power
Gathering Twenty Three: Concerning the description of paradise
Gathering Twenty Four: Concerning the descriptions of the people of paradise
Gathering Twenty Five: Concerning the description of the hellfire
Gathering Twenty Six: Concerning the causes for entering the hellfire
Gathering Twenty Seven: Concerning the second type of causes to enter the hellfire
Gathering Twenty Eight: Concerning Zakaat-ul-Fitr
Gathering Twenty Nine: Concerning Tawbah (Repentance)
Gathering Thirty: Concerning the end of the month of Ramadhaan

It is 232 pages of pure benefit and contains reference to all of the Quranic verses and prophetic narrations. Although some of the poetry that the Shaykh cites is not referenced. If you do not have this book then you need to get it before the Angel of Death comes. May Allah shower His vast Mercy on the noble Shaykh, and please remember to make Duaa for him and for his family in this blessed month.