Seeds have always had very powerful significance across cultures around the world.
Habb, this week’s Arabic Word of the Week, which is commonly used to refer to a seed, is an incredibly multifaceted word. Rich in meaning, habb is used symbolically to express many elements, both figurative and literal, about varied aspects of life.
To begin, habb can mean any small hard seed, grain or berry from food plants that could be planted and then grow. In Arabic there are other words for this type of seed such as bathra. However, habb is the one most commonly used in classical and colloquial Arabic across dialects to mean seeds that grow from the earth.
Habb can also refer to the concept of something small. Habb or al habba can mean one small piece, a small part of a bigger thing or the weight of something. For example, habb can be used in the context to describe a grain of rice, the seed of an apple or a tiny piece of bread.
The root for the word habb curiously has nothing to do with seeds in the literal sense. It is derived from the word habouba, a verb which means to love. All the variations for the Arabic word for love, such as hub or habibi, are derived from habouba.
An Arabic phrase that sits on the intersection of habb and hub, seed and love, is habbit al qalb, which translates to piece of the heart. The phrase means the joy, happiness and love one feels towards someone or something.
Habb, or huboub in its plural form, can also mean any type of pimple or boil on the skin. It refers specifically to something of a hard nature that protrudes out of the skin – not blemishes, freckles or scarring. In fact, acne in Arabic is habb al shabaab, which translates to pimples of youth.
While these three definitions of habb differ greatly, they all have the same idea in common – something very small but noticeable or powerful.
Universally, seeds have always been a symbol for growth, transformation and the passage of time, with many associations to love or something bigger than the self.
Shakespeare writes in his play Macbeth: "If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak, then, to me, who neither beg nor fear your favors nor your hate."
The character of Banquo here is seeking a prophecy from the three witches. They reveal to him that his descendants will be kings, completely changing the plot of the play. Here the metaphor of the seed is used in a number of ways – to symbolise the beginning of new eras and the future of the world, while also referring to Banquo’s own genetic seeds and family tree.
Another example of how the idea of habb can be a symbol for powerful ideas is in the work of Palestinian-American writer and poet Naomi Shihab Nye. In her poem Blood, Nye writes, "I wave the flag of stone and seed, table mat stitched in blue."
Here, Nye uses the idea of a seed to represent her Palestinian identity and the way in which her people and culture are rooted to the land of their ancestors and struggle for peace.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
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