Comments on: Forty

By: Ahmad Al-Sholi

Ahmad Al-Sholi — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:17:09 +0000

Nice one Naseem, keep it alive..
“Less than 40 minutes to understand people in Jordan”, do you mean we are that dull, or that clear? did not get the vibe…

By: Respect All

Respect All — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:21:22 +0000

Nicely written, although u need less than 40 minutes to understand people in Jordan.

By: Nas

Nas — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 11:35:40 +0000

exactly half of you understood the purpose of the post

but of course, all comments are appreciated

By: secratea

secratea — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:22:36 +0000

i do agree that the translation is a bit confusing, but I think “To understand a people, you must live among them for 40 days,” is a rough translation of “man 3ashara qawman 40 yawman asba7a minhom”..

By: kinzi

kinzi — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:39:48 +0000

I saw his name mentioned in CNN yesterday.

By: Bilal - Black Jack

Bilal - Black Jack — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:29:58 +0000

Nas, can you provide the authenticity of the proverb above? because I think either the translation is wrong or the whole proverb is wrong.

did you mean: “man 3ashara qawman 40 yawman asba7a minhom” ? if so then the proverb above must be corrected.

I believe the right proverb is: “man 3ashara qawman 40 yawman amina sharahom” (one can avoid their evil)

the one u mentioned implies that the first (understanding people) wont occur without the second (must live among them), which is not true. Yup I scored A+ in my PHI class

By: Awartany

Awartany — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 09:25:19 +0000

OK!

- Moses’ life is divided into three 40-year segments, separated by his fleeing from Egypt, and his return to lead the people out. Source

- The dead are usually mourned for forty days in Muslim cultures. Source

- 40 is the only number whose letters are in alphabetical order. Source

- Women are pregnant for 40 weeks.

- I have now 2 pockets of cigarettes which are in total of 40 cigarettes.

By: Sari Al-Hiariٍ

Sari Al-Hiariٍ — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:02:05 +0000

Ask a person who lived in Saudi for 40+ days whether this campaign will have ANY impact whatsoever on the date/time which Saudi government decides to release Fouad.

By: Um Omar

Um Omar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:31:00 +0000

40 days to understand a people…hmmm.

I met a Swiss German woman in Cairo who was married to an Egyptian and when I told her I was studying Middle East Studies she guffawed and dismissed the whole concept. She told me the best way to try and understand Arabs was to marry one, and still they will leave you guessing. Twelve years later, I agree. Not sure I will ever understand all the ways and means around here. Not sure 40 years would do it either. But Allahu alim.

InshAllah Fouad will not spend another 40 days in prison. May Allah ease his suffering.

By: secratea

secratea — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:30:47 +0000

40 is a significant figure in different religious and cultural traditions as you pointed out.. Regarding Fouad Alfarhan’s case, i just hope the Saudi government doesn’t stretch the figure from 40 days to 40 months and, God forbid, to sometime more than that.