The hand carries more than we give it credit for.
Its symbolism and gestural language are so deeply embedded in universal human culture, that we seldom stop to think how much is dependant on those four fingers and thumb.
The hand is, as Aristotle put it, “the tool of tools”, but its utility extends beyond the apparatuses that propelled civilisation. The hand, in every society, spans a language in itself. In the Arab world, it has a prominent role in the symbolisms of reverence, charity, helplessness and discipline, as well as the lack thereof.
Yadd is Arabic for hand. Ayaadi is the word in its plural form.
A saying that promotes generosity is: al yadd al ulya kheyrun min al yadd al sufla – “the upper hand is better than the lower hand”.
If a person has learnt or was raised under someone, you could say: kharaja/kharajat min taht yadd fulan – he/she emerged from under the hand of somebody.
The hand can also imply powerlessness in the saying: al amru laysa bi yadi – the matter isn’t in my hands.
A person who is long of hand, taweel al yadd, is a person who deceives and steals from others. Someone with a short reach, yaduhu/yaduha qasira, is a person who has the means to meet only their own needs.
An open hand, as it does in English, implies kindness. Saying yaduhu/yaduha maftooha is to say he/she is generous. Conversely, yaduhu/yaduha masika implies miserliness.
If someone gives you something from the back of their hand, they do it almost unwillingly. A’atahu al mal min dhahri yadihi – he gave him money from the back of his hand.
A person can wash their hands of liability – ghasala yadahu min al mas'ouliya or ghasalat yadaha min al mas'ouliya.
To take someone’s hand is to help them, akhaza/akhazat bi yadihi/yadiha.
Tabaadalu al ayaadi is said when something exchanges hands. Hattu ayadeehom ma ba’d wa najahu – is when two people work together to accomplish something. Tashabak al ayaadi is when hands intertwine. Hott yadaka bi yadi is when you offer to work together with someone to accomplish something. Aboos yadaka/yadaki – let me kiss your hand, is a common phrase said to the elderly to express respect.
Sa'aksor yadaka/yadaki is a common idiomatic warning, meaning I’ll break your hand – of course, it’s more words than action. Hatteit yadi ala galbi is a common expression to signify fear, meaning I put my hand on my heart.
And finally, yadd wahida la tusaffeq – meaning a single hand doesn’t clap, an expression that has several counterarguments, one being: lakinnaha taktub – but it writes.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUndergraduate%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EInterior%20Design%3B%20Product%20Design%3B%20Visual%20Design%3B%20Fashion%20Design%20%26amp%3B%20Accessories%3B%20Fashion%20Styling%20%26amp%3B%20Creative%20Direction%3B%20Fashion%20Business%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Fashion%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Design%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EProfessional%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20e-Commerce%20%26amp%3B%20Digital%20Marketing%3B%20Fashion%20Entrepreneurship%3B%20Fashion%20Luxury%20Retail%20and%20Visual%20Merchandising%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShort%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20design%3B%20Fashion%20Image%20%26amp%3B%20Styling%3B%20Fashion%20Trend%20Forecasting%3B%20Interior%20Design%3B%20Digital%20Art%20in%20Fashion%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istitutomarangoni.com%2Fen%3Futm_source%3DLocal%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3Dgmb%26utm_content%3Ddubai%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Ewww.istitutomarangoni.com%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
GROUPS AND FIXTURES
Group A
UAE, Italy, Japan, Spain
Group B
Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Russia
Tuesday
4.15pm: Italy v Japan
5.30pm: Spain v UAE
6.45pm: Egypt v Russia
8pm: Iran v Mexico
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
