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This was wonderful. Thanks for taking us on this journey!

Hello Mohamed and Ehab! I wish I could join Karen in thanking you, but unfortunately there is no link I can open!!!! The "window" basically is empty! Can you help please ???
Anyhow... tonight I was invited to a 7aflah with loads of Falafel and Hummus, liters of sage tea, shisha, nice Arabic music and lovely company, great evening !!!
Cheers and have a nice sunday!
Na7la

Great, I can open the video... but now my mouth is watering
Thanks for this nice video!

One of the things I don't like about the Arabic language is this constant invocation of God. What a waste of hot air. There are nicer was to great people, IMO. I would expect/hope that there are lots of more secular alternatives to this constant string of allah this and allah that.

@jenkki Without wishing to speak for an entire people group, in my experience of the Middle East it is not an overstatement to say that most people do seem to believe in God and view divine interaction in the material world to be a simple fact. While that may be odd to a Westerner, the fact is our secular cultures are in a tiny minority both historically and geographically.

Unfortunately. I love the middle east, but this is one area that I think could make a huge improvement in Arabic culture, generally.

Interesting comment, jenkki. However, I personally disagree that these invocations are nothing but "hot air". They are part and parcel of the culture. And how can we even approach any language, particularly this one, without at least attempting to understand the culture that brought it about/evolved with it?

You are wrong to say suggest that I don't understand this part of the culture. In fact it absolutely is not odd to a Westerner, Americans and Europeans have very similar invocations about God and Jesus all the time.

So, it's definitely not a lack of understanding. I just find it all extremely repulsive. The idea of people being named "slave of God" gives me nausea. But, maybe I shouldn't have brought up this topic, I'm here because I want to learn the Arabic language, and if I have to swallow my distaste for religious BS, then I will do that, simply because there are other more positive aspects to Arabic culture that enable me to forget the dark side.

I find arabic refreshing with the constant understanding of the importance of God,especially in ramadan where it becomes so clear, it reminds me that I am not God, that can be problem for those who feel up to the job.

Rather than being reminded of this holy dictator that you consider to be so important, berry, I think you need to be reminded now and then that you (and I) are primates, half a chromosome away from chipanzees... and it shows, by the way. Personally, I never get confused about the fact that I am not God. Nor do I get confused about the source of holy books. That don't come from Gods, they come from fanatical people.

Mashallah, Alhamdulillah great video!

A large part of what I love about the Arabic language is how the belief in God is evident in the daily language. I find it beautiful and it serves as a spiritual reminder to me of God in my daily life when I speak Arabic with my Arabic speaking co-workers and friends.

@rlgraham spot on! That's exactly how I feel about the Arabic language. For me the constant use of God is an attractive aspect of the language. I mean think about it, if you're around people that talk as if there is no God and that everything ends when you die then it's quite depressing I think.

A native-Arabic speaking friend of mine told me that when you greet someone with "Asalemhalekoum," it is actually plural, meaning you're greeting more than one person even when you're only speaking to one individual. She told me that the greater spiritual meaning behind it being plural is that you are not only greeting the person you're speaking to, but you're also acknowledging and greeting that person's guardian angels. That really impressed me and made me appreciate the beauty of the Arabic language even more.

@ArabicLover
Think about this... Are you saying that because an idea is depressing that therefore it must be untrue? i.e. Are you only able to consider ideas to be true if they are happy?

@Jenkki
No I’m not saying an idea is untrue if it’s depressing. I was trying to say that I think it’s depressing if one believes that everything ends when your heart stops beating. I believe otherwise, not because it sounds good, but because I am convinced without a shadow of a doubt that this is the case 1. From what I have read in the holy books 2. Pondering on the creations and the reasons for our existence 3. It all makes logical sense in the end when you have done the first two.

@ArabicLover
I don't understand what about the holy books has convinced you. Isn't it circular logic to say, because the holy books tell you they are true, they are true? Aren't you in the least bit suspicious of an ideology which begins by insisting that you forgo all critical thinking?

One of the things I like about arabicpod.net is the fact there is no censorship here. Ehah and Mohamed deserve praise for their open-mindedness.

it is honour to share a space with you arabic lover, thank you.

@Jenkki

I am an American also but I am wondering if you believe in freedom of religion and speach? If you do TRULY believe in either of the two then you would not critisize people or cultures for their religious beliefs or statments.

As for me I believe in religious tolerance and you seem to be someone wants to force your secular atheists views on others and you don't respect people believing in the unseen and religion.

As far as evolution I haven't seen any chimps having humans or humans evolving into other species why did we stop at humans? And why aren't there any more humans walking out of the jungle?

@jenkki
seems to me you know nothing about middle east! your statement about using God (Allah) you need to keep to yourself if you can not accept, dont go to middle east...simple as that, God is very specially to them, dont like you know where the door is!