As Europeans spent the 5th through 14th centuries in the “Dark Ages”, Arabs went through an age of Enlightenment. During this time Arab scholars would nourish and add to what had already existed and created new scientific fields. Indeed, they also brought forth ideas and inventions that eventually would help bring Europe out of the dark. Here are just a handful of those Arab inventors...
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So, you’ve already planned on visiting some of the most beautiful places in the Middle East. However, what if we said that the most beautiful cities in the Middle East really shine after the sun sets? It’s true! So, if you’re looking for Middle East tourist attractions that come alive after dark, here are some of our recommendations: La Perle / Dubai, UAE Prepare yourself for a...
Read MoreAlkaline, alcohol, chemistry, astrology… Did you know that there are many Arab scientists that contributed to so many fields of study? In fact, they were so many Arab scientists that were so ahead of their time and their European counterparts! The list of fields and contributions they made goes on and on but today we’ll discuss a few! Who is Ibn Batuta? Ibn Batuta was an Arab...
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What makes an Arab an Arab? This is a question whose answer has filled books and lecture halls for centuries. Indeed, this question also requires a more thorough answer than one can easily provide in a simple blog post. Nonetheless, today we attempt to give you an overview of the more common traits that make up an Arab. It is therefore hoped that the reader...
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For many of us, nothing gets us going in the morning quite like a hot cup of coffee or tea. This is just as true for Arabs as it is for, well pretty much everyone else in the world. However, every Arab knows that shay wa qahweh (“tea and coffee” in Arabic) ain’t only for breakfast in their circles. In the Middle East, you’ll find...
Read MoreThe Arabic language is very rich and in fact, is one of the hardest languages to learn! It’s so beautifully complex and yet simple. But with a lThe Arabic language is very rich and in fact, is one of the hardest languages to learn! It’s so beautifully complex and yet simple. But with a language as beautiful and rich as this, don’t you think the...
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Well, here we are in the middle of winter and I’ve been asked to write a story about ice cream. Now, I know some of you are thinking: “Ice cream? Isn’t it a bit too cold this time of year for ice cream?” However, I really don’t mind because any time of the year is always a great time of year for ice cream for...
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While traveling through the countries of the Middle East, you’ll notice that Arabs really have a love for birds. Outside many shops, for example, you’ll often find a birdcage with a canary singing in it. (By the way, the name of the small bird in Arabic is nearly the same as it is in English – کناری or kanary.) What’s more, you also might find that...
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Perhaps one of the most trying parts of learning Arabic is learning Arabic colloquial phrases. (These are sometimes called Arabic slang phrases). In fact, much like in other languages, they play a vital part of learning both Standard and Spoken Arabic. However, you really wouldn’t know them unless you had heard them used before. For this reason, today’s article will do just that. It will...
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The Arabic language is very rich and in fact, is one of the hardest languages to learn! It’s so beautifully complex and yet simple. But with a language as beautiful and rich as this, don’t you think the poets would utilize it? Or even express ideas in ways never before? That is truly the work of Arab poet, such as Al-Mutannabi and Abu Nuwas. Even...
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