Letters are one of the oldest forms of communication, full of romantic notions and often a crucial detail in the plot of a novel or film.
This week’s Arabic Word of the Week, risaala, means a written letter. It is a word that is understood in the region, across dialects.
Risaala is a noun derived from the verb rasila, which means the act of sending a written or oral message to someone. The root of the word is the three Arabic letters, rah, seen and lam.
From rasila, we have risaala, which colloquially in Arabic refers to a letter, but the word has many more levels of meaning.
Officially, risaala refers to any piece of information that is sent and delivered from one source to another. This can be in the form of a personal or official governmental letter, it can also be a report or document, a thesis or a book whose content covers one particular topic in depth.
Over time, the meaning of risaala has become more commonly used in two instances. First to refer to any kind of letter, official or personal, or a message being sent or delivered to someone, orally or symbolically.
And while writing and sending letters by post is almost completely redundant in today’s world, thanks to email and SMS messages, the word risaala has been adapted to the modern age. Today, a text message is also referred to as a risaala.
There are several categories of risaala, if we look at the word in the context of its original meaning, as a written letter sent from one party to another.
There is risaala ikhbariyya, which translates to letter of news, and refers to an officially written or printed document that communicates information and knowledge about a certain group of people.
Risaala mahaliyya, which translates to local letters, refers to a letter of a personal nature.
Risaala musalsala, which translates to chain letter, is a letter sent to a group of people, who then write the same letter, relaying the same message to another group of people and so on.
Risaala ekhwaniyya, which translates to brotherly letters, refers to the letters exchanged between writers and poets who express the motions of their mind and feelings to each other.
Risaala, in the Islamic context, is a good example of the second more commonly understood meaning of the word. In Islam, risaala refers to the messages that the Prophet Mohammed received from God through the Angel Gabriel.
There are other words derived from the same root of risaala that, while they mean different things, are connected in their ethos to the idea of letters or messages in some form.
In Arabic, a prophet is called rasoul, meaning he who carries messages from God to be delivered to the people.
Arsala is a verb meaning to send something to someone or to send something away from you. This does not only refer to written documents but, depending on the context used, can refer to a multitude of things. For example, wiping a tear away from one's cheek, brushing hair away from your face or letting go of someone in the emotional sense.
Rasala is a verb that refers to someone who reads or recites text, calmly, quietly in a pleasant manner to himself or others while resil refers to performing tasks carefully and without rushing.
One of the most famous songs of the legendary Egyptian singer and actor, Abdel Halim Hafez, is titled Risaala Min Tahit Al Maa, (A Letter from Underwater). The song was written by the renowned Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, who used a free-flowing, modern Arabic style in his poetry.
The poem and songs tells the story of a lover who sends a message to his beloved from underwater. The song begins with the words, "A message from underwater, I send to you, my love, a message from my heart, that I have kept hidden for so long."
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Date of launch: November 2016
Founder: David Tobias
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers
Sector: Technology
Size: 18 employees
Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake
Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars”
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