In its simplest definition, the Arabic word maghrib means sunset.
The root of the word is the verb gharaba, made of the three Arabic letters, ghayn, rah and bah. It means to be distant or disappear. From it, many other words are derived, which have similar meanings depending on how they are spelt and the context in which they are used.
Maghrib is one such word, a noun, which means the place, time and the direction of where the sun sets into the horizon. To be more specific, it is also the exact moment when the sun begins to set.
Ghuroob, which is also derived from those three Arabic letters, can colloquially also mean sunset, but in fact refers specifically to the action of the setting below the horizon during maghrib.
Maghrib is a significant time in Islam.
It’s the moment the maghrib prayer, the fourth of the five daily prayers and the second shortest prayer, is performed. It’s also the moment during Ramadan when those who observe can break their fast, which began at dawn, fajr.
There is a phrase in Arabic, “Fe mashariqy al arthi wa magharibiha”, which loosely translates to, “Across all the sun rises and the sunsets in the world”. This is used to mean “all over the world” and refers to the importance of sunrise and sunset as all-encompassing and significant times and places.
Also from the root word gharaba, the word gharb is formed. Gharb means west and refers not only to the direction in which the sun sets, but also to western countries and cultures, such as the continents of Europe and America.
From this perspective, the word maghrib takes on another meaning.
In Arabic, bilaad al maghrib also refers to the North African countries Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, because they are located west of Egypt. Morocco is also referred to as Al Maghrib, because it’s the Arab country located farthest west in North Africa.
Al mugharib, a noun derived from the root word, means everything that positively covers and protects and surrounds you in a positive way. Similar to the way sunset can look and feel all-consuming as the sun disappears behind the horizon.
There are several words derived from gharaba, which mean leaving, disappearing, foreign or strange, all of which are reflected in the meaning and action of maghrib, and of the sun disappearing from the sky.
Sunrise and sunset, or fajr and maghrib, bear significant symbolic significance across the Arab world. Signifying new beginnings or the end of a chapter, the terms are commonly used in popular culture.
Ghuroob Wa Shurooq (Sunset and Sunrise) is a popular Egyptian political film from 1970. Starring the biggest stars of the time, Suad Hosny, Rushdy Abaza and Salah Zulfikar and directed by the renowned Kamal El-Sheikh. The story is set in 1952, when a group of politically active youths were plotting to overthrow the king and the regime.
Here the idea of sunset and sunrise is connected to the era of the time as well as the group’s time together.
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
