كلمة الشهر

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الإنسانية

Welcome to the latest installment in our series of Arabic words demonstrating the generosity and selflessness of the Arab culture! Last month we shined the spotlight on the giving culture of the Arab community through the word ‘hiba’ (هبة). The word for this month is الإنسانية. Transliterated as ‘al-insaanieh’, this word is difficult to define but is related to compassion and love to humanity. With the holiday season upon us, we decided to share a word that captures the holiday spirit and reminds others to be compassionate to one another.

The most common translation that exists for this word is humanitarianism. ‘Al-insaanieh’ embodies the love for humanity; its root word انسان (‘insaan’) is the word for person or human being, so it is clear where ‘al-insaanieh’ got its meaning. Some other translations illustrate the versatility of the Arabic language, showing how one word can derive many meanings. Aside from humanitarianism, the word can also be used to describe a ‘humanitarian’, can be defined as humanity itself, and even be used as one of the many Arabic words for ‘philanthropy’. Each word has a connection to humanity and being compassionate to others, such as providing some form assistance for the betterment and improvement of individuals and communities.

We hope you enjoyed the third entry in our Arabic word of the month series. We look forward to continuing to highlight the compassion and generosity of the Arab culture through the beauty of the Arabic language.

Happy holidays!

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