Religion & Culture in Modern Standard Arabic
50 essential words with English translations and example sentences.
الله
Allah
God / Allah
In the name of God, I begin my study.
بسم الله
Bismillah
In the name of God
In the name of God, we begin this project.
الحمد لله
Alhamdu lillah
Praise be to God
Praise be to God for all the blessings.
إن شاء الله
In sha Allah
God willing
I will visit you tomorrow, God willing.
صلاة
Salah
Prayer
Prayer is the pillar of religion.
رمضان
Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the month of fasting.
صيام
Siyam
Fasting
Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory.
مسجد
Masjid
Mosque
We go to the mosque to pray.
حج
Hajj
Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage is a pillar of Islam.
عيد
3id
Religious holiday
We celebrated Eid with the family.
زكاة
Zakat
Almsgiving
Almsgiving is obligatory for the wealthy.
قرآن
Quran
Quran
The Quran is the word of God.
مبارك
Mubarak
Blessed / Congratulations
Happy birthday, my dear friend.
تراث
Turath
Cultural heritage
Arab heritage reflects an ancient and profound civilization.
ثقافة
Thaqafa
Culture
Islamic culture is rich in science and art.
وضوء
Wudu
Ablutions (wudu)
I perform my ablutions before praying.
حديث
Hadith
Hadith
The sheikh reads a hadith at the mosque.
سنة
Sunna
Sunnah
The Sunnah teaches us how to live.
حلال
Halal
Halal
This meat is halal and good to eat.
حرام
Haram
Haram
Usury is haram in Islam, my dear.
دعاء
Du3a
Invocation / Supplication
I make a supplication before eating.
منارة
Manara
Minaret
I saw the mosque's minaret from afar.
شيخ
Shaykh
Sheikh
Sheikh Ali is known for his wisdom here.
إمام
Imam
Imam
The imam leads the people in prayer.
مؤذن
Muadhdhin
Muezzin
The muezzin calls to prayer in the morning.
صلاة الجمعة
Salat al-jumu3a
Friday prayer
Friday prayer is obligatory for everyone.
إفطار
Iftar
Breaking of the fast / Iftar
Iftar is the first thing after sunset.
سحور
Suhur
Pre-dawn meal (Suhoor)
Suhoor is important before dawn, brother.
عيد الأضحى
3id al-Ad7a
Eid al-Adha
We celebrate Eid al-Adha with the whole family.
ليلة القدر
Laylat al-qadr
Night of Destiny
The Night of Destiny holds great blessing.
قسيس
Qassis
Priest
The priest leads the prayer at church.
راهب
Rahib
Monk
The monk lives a life of meditation and prayer.
راهبة
Rahiba
Nun
The nun serves the community with devotion.
معمودية
Ma3mudiyya
Baptism
I attended the newborn's baptism yesterday.
شمعة
Sham3a
Candle
The candle lit up the church at night.
بخور
Bukhur
Incense
The smell of incense fills the temple every day.
حج صغير
Hajj saghir
Umrah / Lesser pilgrimage
I decided to perform the Umrah this summer.
تأمل
Ta'ammul
Meditation
Meditation helps calm the mind and soul.
أساطير
Asatir
Mythology
We studied Greek mythology at school.
أسطورة
Ustura
Legend
The ancient legend tells the story of the famous hero.
فلكلور
Fulklur
Folklore
Folklore reflects the deep culture of the people.
كرنفال
Karnifal
Carnival
The carnival attracts thousands of tourists every year.
موكب
Mawkib
Procession / Parade
The royal procession passed through the streets of the city.
تمثال
Timthal
Statue
The huge statue adorns the city's main square
عطلة رسمية
3utla rasmiyya
National holiday / Public holiday
Tomorrow is a public holiday, so there is no work at the offices
خرافة
Kharafa
Superstition
Some people believe in superstitions without thinking
مقدس
Muqaddas
Sacred / Holy
Mosques are sacred places that believers revere
تبجيل الأسلاف
Tabjil al-aslaf
Ancestor worship / Ancestor veneration
Ancestor veneration is an ancient custom in Arab culture
قربان
Qurban
Offerings
They present offerings out of respect and reverence for the gods
كتاب مقدس
Kitab muqaddas
Holy book
The Quran is a holy book for Muslims around the world
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