In many cultures around the world, the dawn has profound and important meaning.
This week our Arabic word of the week has especially significant meaning, because it's Ramadan.
Fajr, which commonly means dawn, is the time when the first of five daily prayers in Islam is performed. Throughout the holy month, people fasting should stop eating approximately 15 minutes before the dawn prayer.
The word fajr, which is used in classic and colloquial Arabic, is made from the three Arabic letters, fah, jeem and rah.
The combination of these three letters is pronounced differently depending on the short vowel marks that are used in combination with these letters, but in essence they still share a connection to the idea of fajr.
The root of the word comes from the verb fajar, which means something that emerges out of something else entirely. In the context of the dawn, this means light emerging out of darkness. In Arabic, the noun fajr, means the vanishing dark of the night because of the arrival of the morning light.
There are two phases of fajr in Arabic, each with a different name.
The first is called moustateel and refers to the phase of dawn when the first rays of light emerge out of the dark as the Sun starts to rise. Interestingly, moustateel in Arabic also means rectangle.
The second phase of dawn, moustateer, refers to the time when morning light starts to spread across the horizon, lighting up the sky.
Fajr is the name of a surah, a chapter, in the Quran. The 89th surah in the Quran has 30 ayat, also known as verses. This chapter begins by mentioning the dawn as one of God's creations and goes on to describe the consequences of those who love wealth and look down upon the poor and orphans.
Fajr can also mean the start or beginning of something. For example, fajr al tareekh, meaning the beginning of history, or fajr al hayat, meaning the beginning of life.
Faajera, is another word that comes from the root of fajr, describes something exploding. For example, water or oil rushing out of the ground, or when a structure explodes after a detonation. Fajera can also be used to describe a path that becomes clear for one to pass through.
Fujoor is a noun that holds more negative connotations. It means something that diverts from the “right path” and into sin. Fajara is the verb of fujoor, which means the physical act of leaving the right path to commit immoral wrongdoings. The person committing the act is referred to as al faajir.
As in many cultures and religions, fajr is a powerful theme, especially in storytelling. Used to describe either the moment of enlightenment, hope or transformation, there are many films and stories in the Arab world that use this trope, or the name fajr, as part of their title.
One of the most popular is Zaier Al Fajr, (The Dawn Visitor), a mystery drama film from 1975 starring Magda El-Khatib and Ezzat El Alaili.
Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's pick of Arabic words of the week
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Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts -
The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet -
Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it -
The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English -
The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context -
The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English -
Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace -
Hudood means borders in English -
The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English -
The Arabic word ain means eye in English -
Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English -
Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt -
Kareem means generous in English -
Bab means door in English -
Eid means holiday or festival -
Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame -
Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning -
Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust -
Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative -
Herfe translates to profession or craft -
Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits -
Sehha is the Arabic word for health -
Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free -
Aamal is the Arabic word for work -
Al dahr translates to time -
Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots -
Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English -
Insaan means human being -
Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed -
The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment -
Qamar is the Arabic for moon -
The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa -
Burj is Arabic for tower -
The Arabic word for sun is shams -
Sabr in English can translate to patience -
Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige -
The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English -
The Arabic word for road is tareeq -
The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations -
Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup -
The Arabic word hanan means affection in English -
The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English -
Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms -
Janaah in Arabic means wing in English -
The Arabic word sana translates to year in English -
Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry -
Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title -
Nakhla translates to palm tree in English -
Al samt is the Arabic for silence -
Kalimaat translates to words in English -
Markaz is Arabic for centre -
Beshara is the Arabic word for good news -
Bayt is the Arabic for house or home -
Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective -
Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem -
Dunya is the Arabic word for world -
Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English -
Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings -
Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn -
Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset -
The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror -
Raei is the Arabic word for opinion -
Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name -
Qussa is the Arabic word for story -
Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship -
Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news -
Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic. -
As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality -
Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days -
The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam -
Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence -
Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan -
Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National
