Arabic Typing Tutor for Mac

If you google "Arabic Typing Trainer/tutor/program" you'll get tons of results for PC's, but what about us mac users? Where's our arabic typing program? Unfortunately, I don't know. What I do know, is that there is a very VERY simple typing tutor that accepts text files as inputs and will allow you to use any keyboard layout.


ATypeTrainer4Mac (http://homepage.mac.com/typetrainer4mac/Menu1.html) comes pre-installed with a variety of text files of different languages, and includes one with arabic. This initial file is quite handy for learning where the keys are and will cover everything from home row up to phonetics and numbers. Once you've got the hang of finding all they keys, you can download an arabic dictionary file and import it (you'll have to look around for one; what you want is a text file listing words in arabic). I actually find this website: http://www.lorem-ipsum.info/generator3 which will generate random arabic words that you can copy and paste or download as a text file.
You can also get it to bring words from an open window in Safari, Firefox, Mail, or Opera!

English Quran MP3

Let's face it, there's no substitution for the Arabic Quran. All translated versions are recognized as "interpretations" or "summarizations" because there are some words in arabic that don't have english equivalents, but rather represent ideas. Unfortunately, at least for me, 90% of the Arabic Quran is...well...foreign; I can't understand it, so listening to Quran in Arabic doesn't do me much good (unless I'm trying to memorize something in which case it's quite handy because it gives me the rhythm to recite to, making it easier to memorize). What I want now though, is a way to listen to the meaning of the Quran, so I can have some grasp of the content, as opposed to the words as I've been doing. 

A quick google search later and I found this:

http://www.internetmosque.net/quran/english_quran/quran_all_listen.htm

All 114 Surahs (and an end prayer too!) in English only as translated by Pickthal, with a very nice narrator.

Now, my gripe with Pickthal is that he uses old english (thee, thy, thou, hast, etc.) which I'm not particularly fond of. Fortunately, there's this one:

http://www.internetmosque.net/quran/quraneng/listen_only.htm

Which uses Malik's interpretation (i.e you, your, have, etc.). Unfortunately, the recitation is done by a guy called J.D Hall who just doesn't have as nice a voice as the Pickthal translation guy. 

The choice is up to you though, take whichever you like. Remember, it IS just an interpretation and not a substitute for learning (in every sense of the word) the Quran in arabic. 

*****If you want to download the files, I recommend opening the pages in Firefox and using the "Downthemall" add on (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/201/). For just the Quran, add "translated" to the filter. :) 

An Interesting Marriage Website

Don't look at me like that! I'm 23, lonely as a bump on a log, and there's nothing I can do about it so I read marriage articles: they give me the warm fuzzies. ANYWAY. Here's a nice one:

Zawaj.com

You can go ahead and skip the eharmony part of it and go straight to the articles:

http://www.zawaj.com/category/islamic-marriage-articles/

They talk about some interesting issues and bring up some good points while trying to accept that times have changed just a little bit, especially with respect to women. 

Here's something they said to ask each other that I thought was particularly interesting:

"What can I do to make you happy?"

But the context they're saying to use it in, is not when things are going swimmingly and you two are all over each other, no. They say to ask this when you're going through a rough patch, at which time I'm willing to bet at LEAST 90% of you would never swallow their pride and ask such a thing. So I say to the asker: just do it, and be prepared for anything; humiliation, zany requests, nit-picking. Seriously, check your pride (and tongue) at the door and ask it while being prepared to follow through, no retaliation, no counter-arguments, etc. Kapeesh? Now, to the asked: the asker is currently VERY VULNERABLE. DON'T MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE. Think long and hard about what reasonable thing they can do to make you happy, and try to make it easy for them, but be honest. Then ask them the same. 

Anyway, take a look, have a browse, maybe you'll find something helpful! 

A Nice Ayat (60:8)

(60:8) Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity.


I like this because there are many ayat that tell us not to take the nonbelievers as friends/helpers/protectors, etc and to treat them harshly and things like this that can EASILY be taken OUT OF CONTEXT and warped to make us out to be an awful bunch. This simple little ayat says that as long as they're not fighting with us, or have pushed us out of your homes, we should be nice and treat them fairly (i.e keep the peace). 

The Dark Ages

This is an interesting little video that's been flying around the internet. It's a little introduction to Muslim contributions in the fields of science and medicine during the dark ages, but done as a short film.

فيلم رائع من الغرب لأول مرة.flv