In J R R Tolkien’s famous fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings, there is an excerpt from a poem that is linked to the vivid world of Middle Earth and is also seeped in mainstream culture.
“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and the in the darkness bind them.”
Coincidentally, the way Tolkien used the word ring here, particularly within the concept of binding or sealing, is one of the meanings in this week’s Arabic word of the week.
Khatam is most commonly known to mean a ring – a circular piece of jewellery often made from some precious metal that is worn on a finger. Fous al khatam is a phrase that translates to the stone or jewel placed on the ring and is used within that context, or sometimes as a form of endearment.
The second meaning for khatam is also a seal, stamp or signet, which is usually impressed or designed on an official document or envelope. There are other definitions for the word khatam that come from the many meanings associated to the root of the word.
Khatama is a verb, whose roots Arabic letters are kha, tah and meem. It’s the origin of the word khatam and refers to several actions. The first is the action of placing a ring on someone’s finger and the second is to place a seal on a letter, document or any item – whether official or not.
The third and fourth definitions are closely connected. The first of those is to end or complete a task or project often associated with writing or reading. For example, when someone has finished or plans to finish reading the Quran in its entirety.
The final meaning refers to the action of a person dissociating and ending their feelings towards a topic or person or to keep something locked inside oneself, such as emotions or a secret. The phrase, yekhtim qalbahou, which translates to closing his heart off, refers to this action.
The root word of khatama was once thought to have originated from Aramaic or Hebrew. However, that is now believed not to be the case and the word most likely originated from the ancient Egyptian word htm, which refers to a seal.
Despite mainly meaning ring, these concepts also associated with completion. In fact, khatam as a noun, or its plural versions kawatim or khawateem, means the end of something or to finish something. In Islam, the Prophet Mohammed is referred to as Khatam Al Anbeyaa, which means the last of the prophets.
Khatam is a versatile word, which can mean both a physical object, the concept of authentication or metaphorical and emotional endings or completions.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
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MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
Fixtures
50-over match
UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am
Champion County match
MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am
Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.
