#Learn Quran Translation

[farisjax]

Why did the Quran call Maryam a.s( the mother of Esa a.s ) as the sister of Haroon if Haroon the brother of Musa a.s came 1000 years before Maryam a.s. Is this a mistake in the Qur'an as they claim ?

﷽

The Quran has no mistakes. It is the words of Allah and Allah claims to keep it safe from every alteration and falsehood.

So answering the above question. When Maryam a.s gave birth to Esa a.s. Many people came to her and said " Oh sister of Haroon, your father was not the man of evil, nor your mother was unchaste ". Because she gave birth to Esa a.s without any male intervention. So it was obvious people would doubt her because she wasn't married to anyone. It was one of the miracles of Allah and also a test for Mariam a.s. So understanding this. The sister of the Haroon term. Haroon here is not the brother of Musa a.s (whose name was also Haroon.) Maryam a.s actually had a brother called Haroon ( not Musa's brother). So you may ask now why did the Quran mention Haroon in this verse ? So answering that Maryam a.s was actually from the lineage of Haroon ( brother of Musa a.s ) and she also had a brother called haroon. So people reminded her of two things 1) being the sister of pious haroon 2) coming from the lineage of Haroon the brother of Musa . It is the Arabic way of reminding people of any relation or which tribe you belong to . For e.g Quran says "Aad , Pharaoh and the brothers of lut " because they were relatives / tribes of and not actual brothers. That's why the Quran used the term brothers in the above mentioned verse.

There is an instance where Prophet a.s was asked the same question by a companion who got confused because a Christian asked this question to him.

Mughira b. Shu'ba reported: When I came to Najran, they (the Christians of Najran) asked me: You read "O sister of Harun" (i. e. Hadrat Maryam) in the Qur'an, whereas Moses was born much before Jesus. When I came back to Allah's Messenger a.s I asked him about that, whereupon he said: The (people of the old age) used to give names (to their persons) after the names of Apostles and pious persons who had gone before them.

Reference: Sahih Muslim 2135. In-book reference: Book 38, Hadith 13.

So in brief it is not a mistake in the Qur'an but a way of including a big message in a short verse that's why it is unique and still nobody is able to alter the Quran to this date. Allah's help is sought.

[chashmenaaz]

tammat-bil-KHair

तम्मत-बिल-ख़ैर • تَمَّت بِالْخَیر

Noun, Feminine a good end🔚

خیریت سے ختم ہوئی

[your-heart-is-a-treasure]

[onlineequran]

Embark on a Spiritual Journey with Our Online Quran Academy

"Unlock the treasures of the Quran at our Online Quran Academy! 📚💫 Join us on a transformative journey of knowledge and spirituality. Our expert tutors provide comprehensive Quranic education from the comfort of your home. Enroll today and embark on a path of enlightenment.

[madaniislamicacademy]

Madani Qaida lesson 1 SAA { arabic alphabet with tajweed } Learn basic q...

[desigrrrl]

List of Telugu learning Resources

Writing

Script: about, history and development, impact of writing tools in its evolution

Alphabet: multibhashi, wikipedia, wikibooks, edzym

Reading

Textbook: intensive course (archive.org), ncert school books, ap scert school books, ts scert school books, hindi-telugu praimaru, grammar (written in telugu)

Prose: kids’ stories, stories, collected manuscripts, parikini, soundaryalahari, barrister parvateesam, history, translated quran,

Poetry: kinnerasani patalu, movie songs book, maha prasthanam, tyagaraja kirtanalu

Blog/Misc: chandamama kathalu magazine, kavithalu, saaranga magazine, hasam magazine, bharati magazine, swathi weekly, sakshi news

Dictionaries: andhrabharati, tel-eng by sankaranarayana, eng-tel by venkatacharyulu, tel-eng by percival, tel-sans, hin-tel.

Vocabulary

MyLanguages

MeaningInHindi

1000MostCommonWords

proverbs: sametalu (written in telugu)

Grammar

malik’s absolutely goated guide

praveen ragi

vakyam (written in telugu)

Apps

Mango

Multibhashi (android)

HelloTalk

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Learn Spoken Telugu From English (android)

Websites

Languages Home

Goethe-Verlag

LearningTelugu

Learn 101

Desi Bantu

YouTube - Native

Telugu teachers: telugu vanam, teach me telugu, pr learning hub,

Beginner level/Kids content: koo koo tv, jum jum tv, paa paa tv, horror planet

General: permit room, sumakka, chai bisket, naa anveshana, my vilage show, ragadi, chitra alochana, thyview, mahathalli, vikramaditya, yevarra meerantha, aye jude, dhethadi, chari not sorry

YouTube - Learners

Mexico: Christina

USA: Kari, Isaac Richards, Manasa (Danya), Omar Crockett

Italy: Franchesca /Telugutalian

Denmark: BigAReact

Poland: Zbigsbujji Chetlur

Sweden: Karl Svanberg

Online Keyboards

lexilogos

typingbaba

branah

gate2home

[dailydemonspotlight]

Asmodeus - Day 47

Race: Tyrant

Alignment: Dark-Chaos

June 4th, 2024

When one thinks about traditional demonic names, among the 'star'-studded ranks of Belial, Beelzebub, or Mammon, one other stands out among the rest- a demon representing lust and one of the seven princes of hell, Asmodeus. Despite appearing in only a few stories of Abrahamic faith, Asmodeus is a well known demon whose popularity cannot go understated- whether it be adult animated TV shows or demonic dating games, Asmodeus is a prevalent demon in pop culture. But why is this the case? Why does Asmodeus rise above his peers? And why did he try to take Isabeau as a bride? I can answer two of those questions, but Jury's out on the bride one. I think he just likes tomboys. Let's try this demonic jailer in the court of Law and Chaos!

As with many demons in Abrahamic religions, Asmodeus first appears in relation to, who else, but everyone's favorite historical demon summoner, King Solomon. Primarily appearing in several stories throughout the Talmud, but also appearing in the Quran and a few stories in the Book of Tobit, a Christian book of dubious canonicity (typically only in a second canon, not the primary one,) Asmodeus is one of the 7 Kings of Demons, representing the deadly sin of Lust. Interestingly, this title wasn't given in many of his stories- in fact, there's reason to believe he initially represented the sin of Wrath before Satan came around and swooped it away. Asmodeus's name originates from 'Asmodai,' which has been stipulated to originally be "aēšma-daēva (𐬀𐬉𐬴𐬨𐬀𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀)" which roughly translates to 'Wrath-Daēva.' As a result of this, in Zoroastrianism, their equivalent to Asmodeus, Aēsma, is a daēva whose domain is that of wrath.

Now, Asmodeus himself has a collection of different retellings of one primary story himself- for the most part, this demon appears in the Book of Tobit as the primary antagonist throughout, working to sabotage the protagonist Sarah in her attempts to get a child. Sarah, daughter of Raguel, a character who is... less a character, and more of a general name given to several figures? Thanks for making my job easy, Christianity. Anyway, Sarah had been trying for a baby for a while, but after 7 consecutive husbands went conspicuously missing almost immediately post marriage, she began to grow suspicious. (Why didn't she just try to have sex before marriage? Uh, Christianity, I guess?) However, an eighth husband would show himself- a young man by the name of Tobit! And thankfully, he has a plan, courtesy of an attendant angel, Raphael.

Somehow, by placing a fish's heart on burning coals, a smoke emerges that is so powerful it scares the encroaching Asmodeus all the way into Egypt. Once in Egypt, the demon is bound and sealed away. It's believed that the reasoning for Asmodeus preying on the suitors of Sarah is due to them marrying her simply to pursue their lustful desires, while Tobit outwits him due to being pure of mind. This legend, and corresponding idea, is also where the general consensus of Asmodeus being the demon of Lust originates. Not him being horny.

As opposed to his role in the Book of Tobit, Asmodeus appears as a far more jovial character in the Talmud, starring in stories which depict him less as outright evil and more as just a guy doing his god-damned job, as a lighthearted and good-natured man who just so happens to be a demon. The myriad of stories involving Asmodeus in the Talmud can actually tend to be rather humorous in nature, such as one in which Solomon ends up tricking the demon into helping build his temple and another in which, likely as revenge, Asmodeus ends up launching the king a long way from his kingdom and takes over for a year until Solomon returned, wherein the Demon did a fine job ruling until he fled upon learning of the return of the king. These sets of stories combined with his role in the Book of Tobit eventually placed him as a king of hell in a rather prevalent demonic compendium, though maybe not the one you were expecting.

As opposed to the Ars Goetia, Asmodeus actually appears in the Malleus Maleficarum, wherein he is considered the demon of lust and assigned an adversary in the form of St. John. It's in this compendium that he is also given the title as one of the kings of hell, wherein he overrules the gambling holes of hell. It's worth remembering that the deadly sin of Lust doesn't necessarily mean sexual gratification- it can mean a strong and intense desire for anything, including money. Yes, that gives it some overlap with Greed, but Lust differentiates itself by being a desire so overwhelming it's impossible to escape from, instead of Greed being a desire wherein one wants more and more.

However. He does appear in the Ars Goetia!!! CHEERING CHEERING YIPPEE!!!!!!!! Appearing as the demon Asmoday, he is depicted as the 32nd demon in the text, governing 72 legions of demons and being an incredibly powerful demon with the appearance of a man with three heads- one of a bull, another of a man, and the third being a goat. Unfortunately, the text doesn't delve that deep into this demon, simply bearing a powerful spear and an infernal dragon he rides upon.

So! How is he depicted in the series? Unfortunately, Asmodeus, in spite of how common he is in other demonic compendiums, makes only scant appearances throughout the series. Being a major boss in II and IV, as well as being Kamoshida's boss form in Persona 5, he mostly appears as a powerful demon in one form or another. Being a boss fight and being Asmodeus go hand in hand in the series, basically. Every design of this demon is different from the last, and, well, none of them are too accurate to every common depiction, but I can't blame the artists. This is a very, very hard design to make look good, so a majority of the time, they don't really bother.

The closest they get is his design in SMT II, but even then it differs greatly from each major depiction of Asmodeus. Again, though, I can't really blame them. As a powerful boss monster in most of the series, they work hard to make this demon actually intimidating, and I gotta give them props. My personal favorite design of Asmodeus has to be in IV, however, just due to it looking cool as hell.

This lustful king of hell gets a B+. Still don't know why he tried to take Isabeau as his bride though.

[humanitypostsunrise]

Helloooo!!

I’m gonna do a quick intro before I start posting some stuff here.

About me/this account:

- I’m a born Muslim!

- I love learning. My name translates to wisdom and the Quran itself says wisdom is a privilege (2:269)

- I enjoy respectful conversations about religion and Islam.

- I am going to start reading the New Testament soon to further increase my knowledge.

- I will be posting Islamic reminders for us all.

- I will debunk popular “facts” (not actual facts but opinions) on Islam.

- I will also post some poetry- recently discovered Rumi, I’m so obsessed!

Note:

- Be respectful.

- Ask me questions. In order for me to learn, I need more input. Other people won’t think the same as me so having more people ask me questions will honestly further help me.

-Again, I want to learn. I want all the world’s knowledge and I keep depriving myself. I made this account in hopes that I can learn and teach others what I know to the best of my knowledge.

- I am not a scholar. I do wish to be one one day, but as of right now, all of my facts will come from the Quran and Hadith (that are preserved).

- I do not wish to lie nor deceive anybody, my witness to my actions is God alone.

—————————————————————

I want to connect with people and be able to express my thoughts and feelings.

We are not perfect but I know striving to be better is all that matters, with that, I can’t wait to start up this account.

[abdul-wadood032695]

LEARN QURAN ONLINE IN UNITED KINGDOM MODERN WAYS OF LEARNING QURAN IN UK

This is particularly true in the field of education, as the use of digital platforms has transformed the way that people learn. Studying the Quran, the sacred book of Islam, is one such custom that has adapted to the digital age with ease. The advent of online Quran learning platforms in the UK has not only made the text more accessible, but it has also allowed a wide variety of learners to study the text from the comfort of their own homes. The UK is a multicultural hotspot with a sizable Muslim community made up of people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Many have found it difficult to obtain real Islamic education because of distance or a lack of resources in the area. However, these obstacles are progressively disappearing as a result of the development of online Quran learning resources. With the ability to communicate with knowledgeable academics and instructors from anywhere in the world, learners can now participate in a virtual global classroom where knowledge is boundless. The freedom that comes with studying the Quran online in the UK is one of its main benefits. Many people find it difficult to routinely attend in-person classes due to their hectic schedules and many responsibilities. Online learning environments solve this problem by offering customizable timetables that let students adjust their coursework to fit their schedules. Learners can access courses and lectures at their desired hours, which guarantees that religious education easily integrates into their daily routines, whether it's early in the morning before work, late at night after family time, or on the weekends. Encounters. Digital platforms recognize that every student has different learning goals and needs, and they address these by providing individualized curricula and one-on-one tutoring sessions with knowledgeable instructors. This individualized method allows students to interact with the Quran on a deeply spiritual level while also improving understanding and fostering a closer bond with the holy book. preserving linguistic and cultural diversity is an important part of online Quran learning in the United Kingdom. These platforms cater to a varied student body and provide courses in multiple languages, enabling learners from diverse ethnic backgrounds to access the  Quranic  teachings in their native tongue. In addition to fostering linguistic diversity, this inclusion helps communities feel proud of their cultural heritage and a sense of belonging.Moreover, Quran study programs that are accessible online maintain the greatest standards of academic validity and honesty. Courses are taught by certified instructors and recognized academics, guaranteeing that students learn the Quranic text with accuracy. Furthermore, cutting-edge technical tools like virtual classrooms, interactive whiteboards, and audiovisual aids improve learning and make it more immersive.

All things considered, the advent of online Quran instruction in the United Kingdom is a beautiful fusion of history and contemporary culture. These platforms are leveraging the power of digital technology to dismantle obstacles to access, promote inclusivity, and provide people the ability tofrom wherever they may be, set out on a spiritual enlightenment journey. The field of Islamic education is set for significant change as a result of the ongoing advancements in technology. This bodes well for a time when everyone who aspires to wisdom and understanding will have access to the precious lessons of the Quran learning online

[farisjax]

Yesterday a man was saying that we don't know where Allah is. We never saw Him. We heard from Rasool Allah pbuh that we should worship Allah so we are worshiping Allah - The Supreme Lord. Allah claims to be the Only God and the owner of whatever is in between earth and sky and whatever Allah knows is owned by Him. We never met Allah. But we have the words of Allah( The Qur'an). Like Allah literally talks to us in the Quran and guides us and teaches us. Ever thought like that? Like the Quran is not just a religious book it's the words of Allah swt which we can read. Even the worst muslim like me .

Another person says whenever I read the Qur'an. I read it because it's the words of my beloved Allah and I feel like I'm talking to Allah directly through the Quran.

And another person says " The way Allah listens to your recitation of the Quran Allah doesn't listen to anything like that. Isn't it satisfying and beautiful?

[kodieskhalwa]

It's ironic that I got into Islam right before Ramadan.

Anyways, I've been spending Ramadan by learning more about Islam at my own pace.

There's a free podcast of an English translation of the Quran that I've been listening to. Though, I am most definitely going to have to go back and read the Quran and take notes, as listening has only allowed me to memorize so much (as in only "don't be a disbeliever")

I have not been fasting BECAUSE I actually have a problem with starving myself due to my disabilities.(I do not have an eating disorder) I tend to only eat one meal a day before bed time.

Instead I've been really mindful about eating, and finding myself having an easier time with eating. I can't say I'm eating all that many calories, but I am eating more frequently. I've also gotten a routine down with drinking carnation breakfasts, a meal supplement drink, at least once a day so that's an extra ~220 calories I wasn't getting before. I'm very grateful for all this. I've been struggling for 2 years with not eating. It's just... interesting that during Ramadan I'm starting to gain some footing with eating(which wasn't planned)

If anyone has any.... hmmm.... I'll use the word "liberal" books on Islam, or Queer Islam books they can recommend, I'd love to read them. Anything explaining how Islam can fit into my life without the talks of punishment and fear is really what I'd like to read. Oh and especially a guide on prayer. I'm told there are certain things I have to say for each prayer session, but no one will link me to what those things are!

[questionsonislam]

Why do we worship in Arabic? What if we do that in our own language?

When considered first, it seems more sensible for a believer to worship his Sustainer in his own language. However, when contemplated thoroughly, there appear different outcomes:

First, we need to make a clear distinction between prayers and stated prayers (namaz). In prayers, a believer presents his needs and wishes to his Sustainer in any language he wants. This is a personal matter and has to do with a servants presenting his own needs and wishes to his Creator directly without a means. In prayer, everyone can supplicate from Allah in his own language.

The stated prayer (namaz) is quite different from that. In Namaz, all Muslims regardless of languages and races gather as if to form a single body and worship Him collectively. In this worship, like hearts, the language also needs to be in unison. What is more, worship must be performed in the way in which Allah (SWT) commanded and how His Messenger (PBUH) described to.

If Islam were the religion of a particular region, race, or nation, no doubt only the language of this region, race, or nation could be used. However, there are Muslims who live in various places of the world, of various races, and speaks different languages. In order for them to perform stated prayers and to say prayers in the same language, they need to agree on the language of worship.

In international congresses and meetings, people speak an international language, which everyone may understand rather than their own languages.

Another aspect of the issue is that: No translation can ever replace the original form. The Quran is the word of Allah (SWT) and has been revealed in the Arabic language. Just as the creatures that come from the attribute of Power of Allah cannot be imitated, the Holy Quran cannot be imitated either, which comes from His attribute of Speech? And the translation of the Quran is not exactly the Quran Itself. That each letter yields at least ten merits is a Divine bounty to servants in exchange of repeating the words of Allah (SWT). For the translation of the Quran is no more the words of Allah (SWT), this significance disappears there. Man receives merits of not reading the Quran but of learning some things in terms of knowledge in the Quran.

Most of the words in stated prayers have also passed to our daily language. Most of Muslims know what Allah-u Akbar (Allah is most great), hamd (glorification to Allah), Rabb-ul Alemin (Allah of all beings), Ahad (The One), Samed (The Only) mean.

Although we learn by heart some foreign words such as inflation, deflation, economy, foreign exchange, could we ever be justified in not learning a few words, which are vital for worship?

[thejewitches]

So I kinda grew up in an evangelical environment, and I'm just now able to expose myself to and learn about other religions. The only things I learned about Judaism growing up were likely very twisted to suit the teachings of the pastors. I heard a lot about "messianic Jews" (which I now know is very much not a thing) and how "a lot" of Jewish people converted because they began to believe that Jesus was the messiah (yeah it was bad, really bad)

Anyways since I'm trying to educate myself, I'm trying to not just read about other religions, but if possible, I'm trying to read the holy books of the religions as well. I talked to a Muslim friend I had at work and he told me I could read the Quran (I guess I felt weird about reading it because I wasn't looking to convert to Islam). In the same vein, could I read the Talmud to learn more? I was told that the Bible and the Talmud were the same growing up (so there was no point in reading it, according to my elders, also incorrect information). Is there a particular translation that would be better to read?

Very sorry for all the parenthetical statements I was trying to keep it brief but I have severe adhd so thoughts just come at they please. Love your blog, and I'm very happy to be learning a lot from you already, and unlearning a lot in the process, so thank you for posting resources and the like. Very appreciated.

Could I read the Talmud to learn more?

The short answer is: Reading the Talmud without knowing how or what you are reading will not give you the information you are looking for. The sentiment of reading to learn more is wonderful, but on your own without any prior learning, it is tantamount to reading a book in a language you don't speak to understand the poetry of the language better. You can do it, but you won't have the tools to decipher it in any meaningful way. If you want to learn more about Judaism, studying Talmud is definitely not the place to start.

There is something called Daf Yomi where Jews study one single page of Talmud every single day. With 2,711 pages in the Talmud, one Daf Yomi cycle takes about 7 years, 5 months--and it takes this long because studying the Talmud to understand the Talmud is not just reading a book. There are ways you can just read it, sure, but that doesn't mean you will be learning or understanding what you are reading in the way that Jews do (just as you can read a series of random words without actually comprehending what is in front of you).

If you're looking to study Talmud, have you studied Torah with Jews? Begun to understand the Jewish perspective on the Torah? How we approach our texts with a completely different eye than Christians? How the Old Testament you grew up with may look nothing like what we know and love?

If you're certain that the answer to those questions is yes, and you feel ready to start learning Talmud, see if there is a local rabbi in your area who offers a class or a seminar. Many are free. It is meant to be a community activity. But chances are, that isn't the case.

But frankly: you don't need to study Talmud to learn about Jews and Judaism. There is no need for that. The best way to learn about Judaism is always going to be listening to Jews. Listen to our conversations, hear us, and read the resources we create to share about Judaism. One of the greatest barriers that people often face is shedding the unrealized paradigm and perspective that is left from an evangelical upbringing. Challenging those perspectives is paramount.

If you feel more than a small draw to know, you can go ahead and study Torah, and maybe eventually study Talmud, but if all you want is to know more about Judaism, studying Talmud is not step one.

This is the layout of a Talmud page in Hebrew--it is much more than just a straightforward reading, especially if you want to genuinely engage with the text.

This is, of course, but the opinion of one. The Jewish community is made up of more opinions than individuals and all deserve to be heard.

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Hi! I don't know if this exactly fits for storytelling Saturday but it feels like the place to share. Please feel free to ignore this if it isn't what you're looking for/interested in. I just recently finished reading Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H for my LQBTQ+ book club and I found it really really interesting and it gave me a lot to think about. It is a memoir by a queer Muslim and follows her journey to the US and grappling with her sexuality alongside racism and islamophobia and struggling to find a community all while fitting these stories against and within stories and prayers from the Quran and discussing how she finds faith and peace through her religion.

I was raised Presbyterian, and I found it extremely interesting to listen to her tell stories that I knew - stories of Mary's virgin birth, Noah and his ark, Joseph and his brothers, and Moses freeing his people for example - and contemplate the differences between how I grew up learning those stories and how she was taught and learns to interpret them through her faith. But in addition to that I really loved the way she writes about questioning the stories, the translations, the meanings and digs deeper into all of it in a way that I am not sure I ever have. It led me to contemplate questions about the intersections of faith and womanhood and childbearing and putting a queer lens on readings, on the pronouns we use for God and the ability, the potential rightness even, of questioning some of the more surface level lessons and take aways from the stories and parables we are told. And throughout it all, she maintains both her faith and her queerness. And while she grapples with it, she never made it sound like the two were incompatible which is a narrative I have so rarely heard, much less seen published and applauded.

I'm really sorry this is so long and rambley, I kind of lost the plot there in the middle haha, but I am so fascinated by the feelings and questions this has helped surface for me. The idea that queer love and bravery and the forging of one's own path is not a negative but rather a spiritual experience, something to be done alongside God and with God, while also allowing for frustration and anger and sorrow, it just really hit me and I thought it was really special.

This totally fits, thank you for sharing it! I've actually had Hijab Butch Blues on hold at my library for a while now; now I'm extra excited for it to come in. I love when others' stories enrich and expand our understanding of our own. Very cool.

It's Storytelling Saturday! Share your story.

[rotzaprachim]

Author: 

Melonie Schmierer-Lee and Alan Elbaum

Wed 22 Jun 2022

Alan, which fragment are you looking at today?

My job description at the Princeton Geniza Project is to look at uncatalogued or minimally catalogued documentary fragments, and while looking for these I came across T-S NS J479, a single page covered with strange symbols written in all directions. I’ve probably glanced at around 50,000 Genizah fragments by now, and I’ve never seen anything that looks like this.

What is it? Which language is it?

Most of it is written in what I think is a made-up code, though whether it was invented or borrowed by the writer, I don’t know. There’s also some Arabic and Hebrew script (the Arabic is a petition formula). At first glance one of the symbols reminded me of one from the Voynich manuscript, so that set me wondering whether the symbols were meaningful. I noticed the same set of around 22 symbols all in a row, written a number of times, and wondered if the letters could be assigned to an alphabet. As there are roughly 22, the Hebrew alphabet fits better than Arabic. The language seems to be Judaeo-Arabic though. I’ve annotated an image of the fragment showing the ‘translation’ of the cipher into Hebrew script.

Why do you think he wrote out the alphabet several times?

Maybe he was trying to work out his alphabet. Towards the end he’s a bit inconsistent with some of the symbols assigned to each Hebrew letter, so perhaps he was refining it. He also writes the cipher alphabet from left to right at one point, which was interesting to me.

We keep saying ‘he’ �� do we know who the author was?

He writes his name – ‘al-faqīr Isḥāq al-Yahūdī’ – as well as two verses from the revered Sufi poem known as Qaṣīdat al-Burda by Al-Būṣīrī (fl. 13th century), so that helps to date the fragment somewhat. Here are the lines in Stetkevych's translation (Suzanne Pinckney Stetkevych, The Mantle Odes: Arabic Praise Poems to the Prophet Muhammad (Bloomington, IN, 2010), p. 92.):Was it the memory of those you loved at Dhū Salam / That made you weep so hard your tears were mixed with blood? Or was it the wind that stirred from the direction of Kāẓimah / And the lightning that flashed in the darkness of Iḍam?

It’s Mamluk or perhaps Ottoman era. There’s also some pornography. I’ve learned two different words for penis and all sorts of other terms while studying the text. It’s fairly graphic. It ends ‘all of this is lies’, so perhaps Isḥāq was covering his tracks in case his parents cracked his code! Kind of frivolous but also kind of interesting.

Do you know of any other ciphers that have been found in the Cairo Genizah?

Gideon Bohak has written about at least one cipher that he’s found in the Genizah, and Oded Zinger has found a letter in Arabic and Judaeo-Arabic with a portion in an incomprehensible cipher. Almost all the words begin with alef, which makes us think it’s not a straightforward substitution cipher. Amir Ashur pointed out that some merchants in the India Book use Coptic numerals to create a secret code that hasn’t yet been cracked. I put this fragment up on social media after I started working on it, and people offered up all sorts of interesting parallels. Arianna D’Ottone-Rambach shared her article on an encrypted Quran manuscript that I hadn’t known about, for example. I’m so excited to join the field when this spirit of collaboration is recognised and valued. If I can make a discovery that lets someone else discover something further, then that’s all the better.

Thanks, Alan!

Alan Elbaum is a Senior Researcher at the Princeton Geniza Project.