Till we get a substitute for Masoodi Sahab or he himself back let us try to enjoy the Majlis postings - I find them great.

It is strange feeling that whenever I read English from South Africa I get a feeling that I know the source. There is a reason for that - it is the presence of the British in the background who had introduced their language in innumerable places in the world. I had got the same feeling when I heard the English spoken from a cantonment area in Maharashtra, India. The reason is the same. Though the languages at various places, I mean the versions of English, have developed in their own way but one can still smell the old source.
Of course this is nostalgia, that is bad in itself, but there is more unflattering side to it - this reminds us of the former British rule at various places. Even then I'll try to keep the seat warm for the future occupant.

I hope this keeps both Nun and Zahid happy for the time being.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/salam.gif

What does the bold mean?

As for the topic, my English has changed quite a bit since I have been in South Africa, although now it is to the point that I am neither here nor there. Meaning, when I speak with family back home, I am told I am sounding like a South African; when I converse with people here, they immediately can tell I am not South African!

I think the proverb of the crow fits well here.

This is a different phenomenon. This is an example of Khuda hi mila na visaal-e-sanam - neither I got God nor the idol.
I had spent only a little more than a year in south India. Several years later a boy remarked, "O we thought that you were a Madrasi". In north India any south Indian is a Madrasi - person from Madras (it is called Chennai now).

^ That proverb is a little depressing.

I thought to mention another translation that I like. It's Moulana Maseehullah http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/rahma.gif's For Friends (Doston Ke Liye), prepared by Dr. Ismail Mangera. However I feel others may not like it due to the fact it keeps Urdu words like roza, tartib, etc. However I found it really nice and simple for myself.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/subh.gif I just realized they are online as well! I am quite thrilled as I was missing one or two volumes. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/alhamd.gif

FOR FRIENDS

I understand that - may be I'll delete that though it is just an innocuous jibe when we use that phrase in life. It is sort of indication that we are still connected with Allah(SWT) in some way.

And http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif for the link to the sayings of Hazrat Maseeh-ul-Ummah (RA). Used the link here.

The other good news is that Janab RA Masoodi Sahab is back at SF and we can look forward to some great stuff here in this thread.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/salam.gif

I am very sorry sister Sudoku,I am not connecting with the meaning of the word *zarf* in english. I appreciate ,If somebody can help us here with meaning.

Sorry for late reply,

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/wasalam.gif

No problem sis http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...icon_smile.gif

Would the meaning be something like 'we should know our place'? I know in arabic 'zarf' means place/time.

Yeah, this seems near to the meaning.

What is for Friends?

They are sayings from the Majaalis of Hazrat Moulana Maseehullah http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/rahma.gif

Check out the links, http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/insh.gif you will find them full of barakah.

During my absence from the forum friends have been facing difficulties with translation of some words and sentences.
Translation from one language to another is a very delicate and tricky matter. One has to be highly proficient in both the languages. Then, there is the problem that it is not possible to exactly translate meaning from one language to another. It is not possible to translate,for example, the Urdu word ‘Roza’ ( Arabic Saum) exactly into English.The Englisg word “fasting” is not the exact translation.There is no other English word which can convey what we Muslims mean by Roza.This is just one out of thousands of such examples.However, I feel that we should take up some basic exercise in translation on a regular basis.
Sister Nun has been facing problem with the word ‘Zarf’. I would like to say that we should never try to translate from word to word. It is the meaning that is and needs to be translated and not the words. The problem faced by sister Nun has arisen because she has used the word to word method of translation.It is the use of word ’show’ which has made it difficult to translate properly.'Zarf" here means 'appreciate' but it is not proper to use word 'show' with 'appreciate' I would write the sentence as:
We should appreciate when somebody shows his sense of humbleness. Instead of
“We should show our zarf when when some body showing us extreme state of humbleness.”
We can use the word 'show' دکھانا with the word ‘zarf’ in Urdu but this will be inappropriate in English.
To clarify the point I would like the participants to translate the following simple Urdu sentences into English:
میرا سر چکرا رہا ہے۔
میرا استاد کل میرا امتحان لے رہاہے۔
میں کل امتحان دے رہا ہوں۔
اسمان پر بادل چھایے ہیں۔ (Aasmaan)
بارش ہو رہی ہے۔
٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫ ٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫ ٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫٫………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ..
I am starting a very useful activity from today. It is a vocabulary building activity.
I shall call it “TODAY’s WORD”. Here we go:
“TODAY’s WORD”.
Let’s (let us) talk and learn about people.
Every person we meet is different from all others.There are so many types of people.Let’s discuss and describe some of these types:
Type I: ALTRUIST ……………….. {this is how we say or pronounce it (all +true+ ist)
This person is always ready and willing to help others. He feels happy to see others happy and comfortable. He cares more about the needs and happiness of others than himself. We can say that s/he (she or he) is a selfless person.
Practice with the Use of the word:
1. Should a Muslim be an altruist?
2. Altruists win the hearts of people.
3. A Daii must be an altruist.
4.Abdul Sattar Eddi of Pakistan is an altruist.
5.Please write the names of some famous Muslim altruists.

Fii amanillah.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/salam.gif
http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif Masoodi Sahab.
A powerful post indeed. It is more attractive to visit SF now.
I am tempted to take up the exercises but will resist the temptation so as to give a chance to the young ones.
Looking forward to exciting times, Insha Allah.
Wassalam

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/wasalam.gif
Be sure to carry your walking stick...to exciting times, http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/insh.gif, Hadrat Maripat al-Altruistee.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/salam.gif
Only Altruist friends can recognize an example!
And what about that walking stick - has she become old? Poor thing.
Wassalam

PS: There is a task that is waiting you here. This blog post needs deconstruction and I would like to offer the best product to brother mh. Just 15 minutes of your valuable time!

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../bismillah.gif
Thanks for this thread and here is my attempt:

میرا سر چکرا رہا ہے۔
Mera sar chakraa rahaa hai
I am feeling dizzy.

میرا استاد کل میرا امتحان لے رہاہے۔
Meraa ustaad kal meraa imtihaan le rahaa hai
My teacher is conducting my exam tomorrow.

میں کل امتحان دے رہا ہوں۔
Mai kal imtihaan de rahaa hun
I am having my exam tomorrow.

اسمان پر بادل چھایے ہیں۔ (Aasmaan)
Aasmaan par baadal chaayein hain
The sky is cloudy.

بارش ہو رہی ہے۔
Baarish ho rahi hai
It is raining.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../bismillah.gif

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif katheera, for a very beneficial explanation ,,

I have problem reading urdu font with my small android thingy.
Here is my poor attempt of translation using transliteration provided by sister mearcy of Allah. (http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif)Sister

1.I am feeling dizziness.
2.My teacher is going to take my exam tomorrow.
3.I am going to give exam tomorrow.
4.The sky is covered with clouds.
5.It is raining.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/jazak.gif

I am having conflicting thoughts about altruism.
I am not sure if a Muslim is meant to be altruistic at all times.

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../bismillah.gif
Can altruists be taken as the plural of altruist?
Indeed the people of altruism are few in number.
Altruist is translated as بے غرض or ایثار پیشہ٬ in urdu as I see here http://hamariweb.com/dictionaries/ur...px?eu=altruist.
Is this right?

Indeed the place of this concept in Islam is a thing that can be left to the scholars.

I once asked a Mufti that I have not heard much about selfishness in various discourses and that this is a concept that has been left orphan by the scholars. He said that if there is only one place left in the Suff then it is alright for you to perform your wuzu quickly and proceed to fill that place rather than waiting for others.

Wallahualam.