The Middle Ground Podcast

The Middle Ground Podcast with Imam Marc Manley
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The Middle Ground Podcast

This podcast will explore ideas important and pertinent to Muslims everywhere, especially in America, tackling challenges and hoping to inspire as we navigate this worldly life. imammarcmanley.substack.com

  1. AUG 22

    #EveryDayArabic August 22nd 2024

    ﷽ Ever wonder why there seems to be two systems of classification for Arabic dictionaries? Pre-modern dictionaries have one system (the “bāb and faṣl” system, as we’ll see) and modern dictionaries have another. Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. In modern dictionaries like Arabic-English Lexicon (1863), better know as Lane’s Lexicon, by British orientalist, Edward William Lane, or Arabisches Wörterbuch (1952), know in English as A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (1961), or simply, Hans Wehr, by German orientalist, Hans Bodo Wehr, where the sorting and classification proceeds in alphabetical form, from the first, second, and third letters (and forth or fifth in those rarities). For example, a-l-f (أ+ل+ف) would precede q-f-l (ق+ف+ل) if one were looking up the words ‘ulfah (ألفة/”affection”) and qaffāl (قفّال/”locksmith”) respectively in those dictionaries. But in classical dictionaries like al-Ṣiḥāḥ, by Transo-Turkic lexicographer Abū Naṣr al-Jawharī, the last letter of the root (the “bāb”) is how words/roots are sorted. So for instance, b-ḥ-t (ب+ح+ت) would precede n-a-t (ن+ع+ت) if one were looking up the words na’t (نعت/”characteristic”) and baḥt (بحت/”pure”) respectively: يسلّط هذا المعجم الضوء على أحد أنظمة التأليف المعجميّ عند العرب أي نظام الباب والفصل أي أن الحرف الأخير من المادّة الأصليّة هو الباب وأن الحرف الأول منها هو الفصل، وأن الباب هو الأصل وأن الفصل هو الفرع، ويشير إلى أن هذا النظام أوْقع المؤلفين في مشكلة بالنسبة إلى الألفاظ المعتلَّة الأواخر إذ لم يستطيعوا أحياناً التمييز بين ما كان واويَّ الأصل أو يائيّة. “This dictionary sheds light on one of the systems of lexicographic compilation used by the Arabs, specifically the system of ‘bāb and faṣl.’ In this system, the last letter of the root word is the ‘bāb’ (the sorting letter), and the first letter is the ‘faṣl’ (secondary sorting letter). The ‘bāb’ is considered the primary category, while the ‘faṣl’ is a secondary one. The text also points out that this system led to difficulties for the compilers, particularly regarding words with weak or defective (مُعْتَلَّة/muʿtallah) endings, as they were sometimes unable to distinguish between roots ending in a ‘wāw’ or a ‘yā’”. — from Dr. Hishām Ṭa Ha Shallāsh’s Muʿjam al-Afʿāl al-Wāwiyyah al-Yā'iyyah (Compendium of of Verbs Ending with Wāw and Yā’) Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1 min

  2. AUG 21

    The Journey Towards Learning Arabic

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Thirty Three of the Middle Ground Podcast. We’re your hosts Imām Marc and brother Dawud Aleman. Narratives. Arabic. All Muslims prize this language. Everyone wants to learn it. But for so many of us, Arabic remains an elusive goal despite the Qur'an being revealed in it. Why? Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode can also be found on YouTube: In shā’ Allāh we hope to start our new class, Facilitating the Learning of Arabic for Devotional Studies – The Arabic Reader (تَيْسِيْرُ تَعَلُّمِ اللُّغَةِ العَرَبِيَّةِ لِلدِّراسَةِ التَّعَبُّدِيَّةِ - القارئ العربي) soon. Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    34 min

  3. AUG 21

    The Unseen Reality

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Thirty Two of the Middle Ground Podcast. We’re your hosts Imām Marc and brother Dawud Aleman. Narratives. Are Jinn just fables? Is the Unseen real or just a metaphor? We'll discuss this and more Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This episode can also be found on YouTube: Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 5m

  4. AUG 6

    The Power of Narrative

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Thirty One of the Middle Ground Podcast. We’re your hosts Imām Marc and brother Dawud Aleman. Narratives. They're everywhere and it seems that everyone has one or at least they're trying to sell you one. But what is it? And why should Muslims have one? This episode can also be found on YouTube: Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Other references in this episode: * Qur’ān 28: 41: “We made them leaders inviting ˹others˺ to the Fire. And on the Day of Judgment they will not be helped” * Shaykh Muḥammad Abū Zahrah on the importance of developing Muslim thought (X). * David Levering Lewis’ article on American exceptionalism: Exceptionalism’s Exceptions - The Changing American Narrative (PDF). Flex alert power saver awards. Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

  5. JUL 22

    Who Can You Trust?

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Twenty Nine of the Middle Ground Podcast. We’re your hosts Imām Marc and brother Dawud Aleman. In the day and age of personalities and influencers, how and who can you trust when it comes to taking religious knowledge? As usual, we discuss all topics in light of the Qur’ān and statements from the Prophet, ‎ﷺ. This episode can also be found on YouTube: Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Other references in this episode: * From Imām al-Shāfi’ī: “if you see a man walking on water and flying in the air, do not be amazed by him until he shows that he follows the command of the Book and the Sunnah.” * Middle Ground Podcast Episode 27 on postmodernity: “All the World is a Stage”. Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 2m

  6. JUL 16

    Mercy From God or Sympathy From Man?

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Twenty Eight of the Middle Ground Podcast. Running solo for this episode, I’m your host, Imam Marc from Middle Ground. In the last 24 hours I had three enlightening encounters: a post on Instagram, a counseling appointment, and a consultation for marriage. All three provided valuable insights into what drives us as humans. As usual, we discuss all topics in light of the Qur’ān and statements from the Prophet, ‎ﷺ. This episode can also be found on YouTube: Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Other references in this episode: * Sūrah al-Jāthiyah v. 23: “Have you seen those who have taken their own desires as their god? As a result, Allāh has deliberately misguided them.” * Middle Ground Podcast Episode 27 on postmodernity: “All the World is a Stage”. Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    30 min

  7. JUL 15

    All the World Is A Stage

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Twenty Seven of the Middle Ground Podcast. Myself, Imam Marc, and brother Dawud Aleman. As the poet Shaykh Zubayr, a.k.a., William Shakespeare once said, "All the word's a stage". From the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump to politics in America in general, it seems we are living, if not in an illusion, then certainly a fantasy. We continue our conversation from last week on French philosopher Jean Baudrillard's "Simulacra and Simulation". Strap in for American Psycho 2. As usual, we discuss all topics in light of the Qur’ān and statements from the Prophet, ‎ﷺ. This episode can also be found on YouTube: Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Other references in this episode: * Sūrah al-Baqarah v. 51: “And ˹remember˺ when We appointed forty nights for Moses, then you worshipped the calf in his absence, acting wrongfully.” * Sūrah al-Ḥujarāt v. 6: “O believers, if an evildoer brings you any news, verify it.” * Expanded notes on Jean Baudrillard and postmodernity (PDF). Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 14m

  8. JUL 13

    Are You For Real?!

    ﷽ Welcome to Episode Twenty Six of the Middle Ground Podcast. Myself, Imam Marc, and brother Dawud Aleman. In this episode we'll asking the question, “Is reality a simulation? Are we in French philosopher Jean Baudrillard's ‘Simulacra and Simulation’? We're not saying it's aliens ... As usual, we discuss all topics in light of the Qur’ān and statements from the Prophet, ‎ﷺ. This episode can also be found on YouTube: Imam’s Corner is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Other references in this episode: * Sūrah Fāṭir v. 5: “So do not let the life of this world deceive you.” * Neil DeGrasse Tyson freaks out when physicist James Gates finds intelligent code in the fabric of space (YouTube). * Symbols of Power: Adinkras and the Nature of Reality (link). Get full access to Imam’s Corner at imammarcmanley.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 9m
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About

This podcast will explore ideas important and pertinent to Muslims everywhere, especially in America, tackling challenges and hoping to inspire as we navigate this worldly life. imammarcmanley.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    The Middle Ground Podcast with Imam Marc Manley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Imam Marc Manley
  • Show Website
    The Middle Ground Podcast

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