Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org. Mostly passes. There were two "unknown attributes" in Google+ button code. Sigh.Welcome! This is a "detail" page about a book purchased as part of a job lot at an auction of general household "stuff". There is an overview of the job lot, if you haven't already seen that. This is about "book a" in that overview.
I couldn't at first believe that this book is hand written. I could still be mistaken in that belief, but I have become convinced of that in my own mind.
I am posting these samples not only to share their beauty, but also in hopes that someone will write, and give me translations? Even adding translations of the the first few lines of page 2 or 3 would be progress! If you are considering starting to help with this, do write, and I will tell you if something for any page is already in the works!
If doing a translation isn't something you can consider for me, but you know someone who might be willing, the following is an easier- to- pass- on URL which will also take you to this page: http://tinyurl.com/ArabicToTranslate
I am told that the text on this page starts....
"And then the Lord will come, and all the saints with him, and on that day there will be a great light." (first two lines)
The text continues... "At the time the Lord will appear on his cloud, white, and with him thousands of the saints. Let us pray. We ask you, O Lord, to purify our hearts so that when your Son, our Lord, comes, with all the saints, he will find in us a dwelling place ready for him, he who lives with you and rules in unity of the holy spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. O Lord, hear our prayer..."
Curious. I think I was right when I said the first part above was the first two lines of the Arabic. If I've got that right, then from the slender indications of that tiny sample, it seems that more can be said with less ink, in the language of this prayer book, than is said in English! (39 letters in the former, my ill-informed count, vs 81 letters in the latter.)
I am further told... "The red letter "jeem" (see the Wikipedia article on Arabic script) stands for "jameea", which means "all". We might conclude from the presence of the "jeem" an indication of a response a the whole congregation might be meant to say".. in other words, this prayer book was used in congregational worship, not only private devotions.
Now... I'm reaching a bit here, but, thank you Wikipedia, if I'm not mistaken, the "jeem" my friend was drawing my attention to is the red letter near the middle of the penultimate line. Remembering that Arabic script flows from right to left, and looking back into the early lines, it would appear that the word everyone is meant to say is "Amen", which would fit nicely, would it not? (Of course, I sometimes add two plus two and get five... but that's what I have for you so far!)(And, other potential translators, you are not off the hook. The friend who made this excellent start for us has important exams looming, and has done all that he can for the moment....)
Note the "...when your Son, our Lord, comes..." This is a Christian prayer book, obviously. Also, I'm told that "Jesus" appears in the other pages. The word translated as "God", or "Lord", was "Rabb"... distinct from the word for Allah. I wonder (idly) if that's connected with the English "rabbi"? In a similar vein, I nearly said I thought there's a connection between Shalom and Inshalla... but then realized I've probably mis-remembered that. There is a connection between two words like those which you might not immediately expect. I hope I am not merely thinking of the connection between Inshalla and Hezbolla? While I believe that parts of the latter are responsible for under-reported Good Things, I won't dispute allegations that other parts do evil. Of course, I also hope no one would contend that all the evil in this arena is done by one side?
As this page is primarily about books, not politics, I will remind you, if you've got the story in your memory banks, of the amusing to-ing and fro-ing between TE Lawrence and the poor abused printers of his book over the little matter of rendering Arabic names in "English". For those who are not familiar with the story...
In the fifth impression of TE Lawrence's Revolt In The Desert (printed in same year as first edition), there is a Publisher's Note near the start of the book...
"It seems necessary to explain that the spelling of Arabic names throughout this book varies according to the whim of the author.
"The publisher's proof-reader objected strongly to the apparent inconsistencies which he found, and a long and entertaining correspondence ensued between author and publisher. The author's attitude can best be judged from the following extracts which show the questions and answers...."
(I fear that at this point my energy and time are nearly exhausted. Do try to find a copy of the book with the Publisher's Note. Suffice it, for now, at least, for here, to give you a few examples in a moment, and to first characterize the exchange as follows: The publisher poses quite diplomatic and precise enquiries... and Lawrence responds with a sense of humour and cheek which it usually takes a 14 year old school-boy to render so brilliantly! Examples.... they come from slips of paper which were inserted in the manuscript in the appropriate places
Q:Bir Waheida, was Bir Waheidi
A:Why not? All one place.
Q:Jedha, the she camel, was Jedhah on Slip 40
A: She was a splendid beast.
Q: Nuri Emir of the Ruwalla, belongs to the 'chief family of the Rualla." On Slip 33, 'Rualla horse', and Slip 38, 'killed one Rueili.' In all later slips 'Rualla'
A: Should have also used Ruwala and Ruala.
Q: Author is addressed 'Ya Auruns', but on Slip 56 was 'Aurans'.
A: Also Lurens and Runs: Not to mention 'Shaw.' More to follow if time permits.
One has to feel a certain sympathy for the poor proof-reader, presumably a meticulous person, who was, after all, just trying to help. The publisher's note concludes with...
In the face of such replies to the publisher's well-intentioned questions, further expostulation was clearly impossible.
(Not, unless I am mistaken, the first time the word "impossible" arose in discussions of TE Lawrence.)
To be fair to Lawrence, before he started being just silly, he did write this in reply to one of the proof-reader's early questions...
Lawrence: "Arabic names will not go into English, exactly, for their consonants are not the same as ours, and their vowels, like ours, vary from district to district."
So far so good. Fair enough... but then he goes on...
Lawrence again: "There are some 'scientific' systems of transliteration, helpful to people who know enough Arabic to not need helping, but a wash-out for the world. I spell my names anyhow, to show what rot the systems are."
Back to my little book of prayer written in Arabic script...
The Wikipedia article on Arabic script fascinated me, by the way. You might enjoy it, too. Amazing, the things I don't know!
Refer to the above as "Page A", please, if you write.
Refer to the above as "Page B", please, if you write.
Refer to the above as "Page C", please, if you write.
That's the detail on this book. If you enjoyed it, you may want to go "up" to the page about the "job lot" of books it came from, at an ordinary "furniture/ jewelry/ art" auction with only about 5 lots of books out of about 350.
Editor's email address for comments or questions.
Page tested for compliance with INDUSTRY (not MS-only) standards, using the free, publicly accessible validator at validator.w3.org. Mostly passes. There were two "unknown attributes" in Google+ button code. Sigh.
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