Arabic Cuisine

Arabic cuisine has its roots in tent cookery.Nomadic tribes could use only transportable foods such as rice and dates, or ambulatory stock like sheep and camels in their recipes - which tended to be rough sketches rather than strict formulae.Originally, the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula relied heavily on a diet of dates, wheat, barley, rice and meat,with a heavy emphasis on yogurt products, such as laben (لبن).The nomadic Bedouin influence is broadened by other cuisines from the Arab world, notably from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt.Arabian cuisine today is the result of a combination of richly diverse cuisines, incorporating the Levant Cuisine,Egyptian Cuisine and the distinctive Cuisines of the Arabian Gulf & Yemen and The North African Arab countries resulting in a highly diverse food and drink culture.The Levant countries primarily Syria and Lebanon `s contributions,have been the greatest influence on modern Middle Eastern cuisine, and has helped to spread Arabic cuisine throughout the world from its centre in the Levant in such areas as Aleppo, Damascus, Beirut and Nablus.
Hospitality in the Arab world is second to none, and nowhere is it better expressed than in the age-old custom of serving freshly-brewed coffee or mint tea to every guest, whether the gathering be business or social.Essential to any cooking in the Arabian Peninsula is the concept of hospitality. Meals are generally large family affairs, with much sharing and a great deal of warmth over the dinnertable. Formal dinners and celebrations generally entail large quantities of lamb, and every occasion entails large quantities of Arabic coffee.In an average Arab gulf state household, a visitor might expect a dinner consisting of a very large platter, shared commonly, with a vast mountain of rice, incorporating lamb or chicken, or both, as separate dishes, with various stewed vegetables,sometimes with a tomato sauce. Most likely, there would be several other items on the side. Tea would certainly accompany the meal,as it is almost constantly consumed. Coffee would be included as well.There are many regional differences in Arab cuisine. For instance mujadara which is a rice lentil dish in Syria or Lebanon is different from mujadara in Jordan or Palastine or Egypt.Some dishes such as mansaf (the national dish of Jordan) are native to certain countries and rarely if ever make an appearance in other countries.Cinnamon is used in meat dishes as well as in sweets such as Baklava.Other desserts include variations of rice pudding and fried dough. Ground nut mixtures are common fillings for such treats. Saffron is used in everything, from sweets, to rice, to beverages. Fruit juices are quite popular in this often arid region.
The foreigner who takes time to learn and experiment with this excellent cuisine will be immediately won over and rewarded with many wonderful surprises. Arabic food can rival any international gastronomy for originality and good taste, and, because it basically comprises simple, natural and easily digested foodstuffs, it ranks high in nutritional value with today's fitness-conscious society.
Photos-clockwise:Mammoul,Manakeesh,Safiha,Maklouba,Appetizers,Dips,Falafel .

Five Pillars of Islam - أركان الإسلام

The Five Pillars of Islam (Arabic: أركان الإسلام) is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahadah (profession of faith), Salah (ritual prayer), Zakah (alms tax), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Islamic Calender -التقويم الهجري

The Islamic calendar or Muslim calendar (Arabic: التقويم الهجري; at-taqwīm al-hijrī; also called the Hijri calendar) is the calendar used to date events in many Arab Muslim countries, and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic holy days. It is a lunar calendar having 12 lunar months in a year of about 354 days. Because this lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, Islamic holy days, although celebrated on fixed dates in their own calendar, usually shift 11 days earlier each successive solar year, such as a year of the Gregorian calendar. Islamic years are also called Hijra years because the first year was the year during which the Hijra occurred— Prophet Muhammad's(PBUH) emigration from Mecca to Medina. Thus each numbered year is designated either H or AH, the latter being the initials of the Latin anno Hegirae (in the year of the Hijra).
The Islamic months are named as follows from pagan times.Their names are derived from and relevant to occurances in pre-Islamic tribal Arabia:
Muharram محرّم (long form: Muuarram ul Haram)
Safar صفر (long form: Safar ul Muzaffar)
Rabi' al-awwal (Rabī' I) ربيع الأول
Rabi' al-thani (or Rabī' al Thānī, or Rabī' al-Akhir) (Rabī' II) ربيع الآخر أو ربيع الثاني
Jumada al-awwal (Jumādā I) جمادى الأول
Jumada al-thani (or Jumādā al-akhir) (Jumādā II) جمادى الآخر أو جمادى الثاني
Rajab رجب (long form: Rajab al Murajab)
Sha'aban شعبان (long form: Sha'abān ul Moazam)
Ramadan رمضان (long form: Ramadān ul Mubarak)
Shawwal شوّال (long form: Shawwal ul Mukarram)
Dhu al-Qi'dah ذو القعدة
Dhu al-Hijjah ذو الحجة
Meaning of the months:
1.Muharram( a holy month where no warfare or fighting is allowed)
2.Safar (Safar literally means ‘the void month’as when the pagan Arabs went on their looting expeditions or persued tribal reprisals or wars since they could not do that in the four sacred month,they would leave their houses would be empty or ‘sifr’ meaning void.
3.Rabia al awal ("First spring")
4. Rabia Thani ("Second spring")
5. Jumaada Awal ("First freeze")
6. Jumaada Thani ("Second freeze")
7. Rajab ("To respect" - this is another holy month when fighting is prohibited)
8. Sha'ban ("To spread and distribute")
9. Ramadan ("Parched thirst" - this is the month of daytime fasting)
10. Shawwal ("To be light and vigorous")
11. Dhul-Qi'dah ("The month of rest" - another month when no warfare or fighting is allowed)
12.Dhul-Hijjah ("The month of Hajj" - this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, again when no warfare or fighting is allowed)
Days of the week are named:
yaum al-ahad يوم الأحد (first day - Sunday)
yaum al-ithnayn يوم الإثنين (second day - Monday)
yaum ath-thulaathaa' يوم الثُّلَاثاء (third day - Tuesday)
yaum al-arbia`aa' يوم الأَرْبِعاء (fourth day - Wednesday)
yaum al-khamis يوم الخَمِيس (fifth day - Thursday)
yaum al-jumu`a يوم الجُمُعَة (gathering day - Friday)
yaum al-sabt يوم السَّبْت (Saturday)

Ramadan Mubarak -رمضان

Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holiest month in Islam described as Ramadan Kareem or the generous month.
The word Ramadan is derived from the word ramd "to burn". Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The entire month is spent fasting from dawn to dusk. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought to figuratively burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the earth during this month. Furthermore,Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed.Zakāt also transliterated zakaat or zakah; "to grow" (in goodness), "increase," "purifying," "foster," "making pure" is one of the Five
Pillars of Islam given to the needy muslims during Ramadan.It is one of the basic principles of Muslim economy, based on social welfare and fair distribution of wealth.Zakāt (Arabic: زكاة) is the Islamic concept of tithing and alms.It is an obligation on Muslims to pay 2.5% of their wealth to specified categories in society when their annual wealth exceeds a minimum level(nisab).The first day of the next month is spent in great celebrations and rejoicings and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.Ramadan is observed according to the Islamic calendar which is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons.Most Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but some insist on using the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day or two.This month of religious observances consists of fasting and extra prayers as the Qur'an was bestowed on Prophet Muhammad PBUH in this month.Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Destiny) is also observed during one of the last five odd numbered days of the month, being the 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29 th of Ramadan. The Qur'an states that this night is better than a thousand months. This is often interpreted as praying throughout this night is rewarded equally with praying for a thousand months. Millions of Muslims spend the entire night in prayer and the entire Qoran (Holy Book) is recited.
Who has to fast?
The fast is obligatory on all mature adult Muslims. Those who are mentally handicapped or insane are not considered "adult" and do not have to fast. People who are ill do not have to fast if it would further damage their health; however, they should make up the missed fasts later when they become well again. Women who are pregnant or nursing are considered "ill" because fasting would harm their babies. As well, women who are having their menstrual period or who are experiencing post-partum bleeding should refrain from fasting during the days of their bleeding; the combination of blood loss and fasting could damage their health. Children who have not yet reached puberty are not required to fast. However, it is good for them to practice, and for this reason many Muslim children do fast starting from age seven or nine. A doctor should be consulted about how much fasting is safe for a growing child. People who are traveling may also break their fast if they feel that keeping it would harm them; as well, soldiers on guard duty for whom maximum readiness is a must may break their fast. In all cases of illness or fear of illness, the missed days need to be made up later.For the elderly who are incapable of fasting due to age and health reasons a "kafaara" is given out, it`s equivalent to a sum of money or
a number of daily Iftar meals to be given during Ramadan to the poor and needy Muslims.
Why fast?
to develop patience and self-control
to learn sympathy for the deprived
to cleanse the body and mind
to gain appreciation for Allah's(god)Subhanahu Wa taalla(The Almighty)bounty
to demonstrate the depth of one's commitment
to protect against sin
There are, then, three levels of the Ramadan fast:
refraining from the physical things that are forbidden (performed with the mouth/stomach/sexual organs)
restraining oneself from saying, hearing and looking at forbidden things (performed with the senses)
renewing one's devotion to Allah Subhanahu Wa taalla (performed with the heart and mind).
Observances or customs attached to Ramadan:
The Muslim world has an almost staggering diversity of cultures and each Muslim country may have its own customs and rites associated with Ramadan. Some customs that are observed by most Muslims include the following:
Recitation of the entire Quran, in imitation of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who did so. This is usually done for the community from the mosques or (in Muslim countries) on the radio; individuals or families may also get together for their own recitation.
Observance of special night vigil prayers in the late evening called Taraweeh and in the middle of the night past 12 am called Qeyam Al lail .
Withdrawing to the mosque during the last ten nights of Ramadan for prayer and Quran recitation, which is called itikaf meaning "seclusion" .
Celebration of the "Night of Power" or Laylat Al-Qadr marking the specific date of the beginning of the revelation of the Quran on the 27th of Ramadan.
As well, the fast is broken each evening with a meal called "iftar" (meaning "breaking the fast"), and the last meal in the morning before dawn prayers is called "suhur" (meaning "morning meal"). In Muslim countries it is quite common to have feasts that last all night and run from iftar to suhur. These feasts are a time of celebration and community.The evening meal often eaten communally and often including dates as a Sunnah meaning following with the practice of Prophet Mohammad PBUH. There is also a special holiday marking the end of Ramadan, called Eid al-Fitr.
Photos:Traditional Ramadan Lantern and Greeting

Mother`s Day يوم الأمّ (Yaum al-Umm)

Mother's Day or يوم الأمّ (Yaum al-Umm) in Arabic is a holiday honouring mothers, celebrated on various days in many places around the world where mothers often receive gifts on this day.Different countries celebrate mother's day on various days of the year because the day has a number of different origins.March 21st which is the first day of spring marks the celebration of mother`s day in the majority of Arab countries such as Bahrain,Egypt,Lebanon, Syria,Jordan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Yemen,in Algeria however it is celebrated on March 8.

Arabic Language اللغة العربية

Arabic language اللغة العربية al lugatu-l-arabiyyah or just عربي arabi ranks sixth in the world's league table of languages and is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. Classified as Central Semitic it is closely related to Aramic ,with an estimated 186 million native speakers. As the language of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, it is also widely used throughout the Muslim world.Classical Arabic – the language of the Qur'an was originally the dialect of Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia. An adapted form of Classical Arabic known as Modern Standard Arabic, is used in books, newspapers, on television and radio, in the mosques, and in conversation between educated Arabs from different countries .There are many local spoken dialects that vary widely throughout the Middle East. Arabic is written from right to left and it`s alphabets consist of 28 consonants and 3 vowels which can be short or long and some of the sounds are unique to Arabic only.Arabic has lent many words to other languages of the Islamic world, akin to the role Latin has in Western European languages . The influence of Arabic has been most profound in those countries dominated by Islam and is a major source of vocabulary for languages as diverse as Berber, Kurdish,Farsi,Swahili,Urdu,Turkish and Bahasa.During the Middle Ages Arabic was also a major vehicle of culture, especially in science, mathematics and philosophy, with the result that many European languages have also borrowed numerous words from it, many English words are derived from Arabic, often through other European languages, especially Spanish and Italian.

The meaning of Arabesque

Arabesque is an element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls of mosques, the arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals. The choice of which geometric forms are to be used and how they are to be formatted is based upon the Islamic view of the world. To Muslims these forms taken together, constitute an infinite pattern that extends beyond the visible material world. To many in the Islamic world they in fact symbolize the infinite and therefore uncentralized nature of the creation of the one God ,furthermore the Islamic Arabesque artist conveys a definite spirituality without the iconography.The word Arabesque is derived from latin meaning of Arabic design .