as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa (Maryam al-Mirghaniya) Part 2/3

as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa Part 2

Above, stills from this week’s episode from the ArD as-Sumur documentary on Maryam al-Mirghraniya and the eastern Sudanese city of Sinkat. See as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa (Maryam Al-Mirghaniyah), Part 1/4 for background to and an annotated transcription of the opening section of this film.

Background to This Week’s Text

This week’s text provides more details on as-Sayyida Maryam’s inspiring life and the impact on Sinkat of the annual celebrations in her honour. The excerpt includes stunning views of the city and evocative scenes of religious devotion.

The text is largely upper-intermediate level, standard Arabic, interspersed with Sudanese colloquial expressions as well as poetic evocations of the atmosphere surrounding the religious celebrations.

Before viewing Part 2, consult as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa (Maryam Al-Mirghaniyah), Part 1/4 for background to the events described and the religious expressions often used in Sudanese Sufi Islam.

Possible Approaches

Why not make notes as you watch to answer questions on any two of the following comprehension areas?

What is said about the women who attend events described? And what information is given about as-Sayyida Maryam’s life and good works? What is the connection between India and the women’s attire?

What do camels have to do with the celebrations? And how has the city benefitted from the annual celebration of as-Sayyida’ Maryam’s life?

What societal benefits does the annual celebration bring to communities who attend?

Lexical Focus

If you would like pre-viewing orientation, then consider which expressions might be used for the following ideas:

“to reach marriageable age / adulthood”, a collocation for “in groups and individually”, “ancient”, “joy” and “joyful”, “bright / vibrant” for colours; “rainbow”, ”shrine”, “of one’s own freewill / willingly”, “loyalty” and a verb for “attend regularly”.

You will hear a Sudanese colloquial term for large / heavy lorries. Can you predict what it might be?

Which expressions will you hear for “communication”, “gain acceptance”, “unparalleled”, and “to provide shelter”? What are the plural forms of “widow” and “orphan”? How would you say “open a window wide” and “under the cover of darkness / in the dead of night”?

How many words do you know for “perfume or fragrance”? And for “custom”, “adversary”, “marriage” and “popularity”?  How would you say “battalions / regiments”?

The narrator refers to “kinship or relationship through marriage”. Which word might her use for this? What collocation might be used for “hurt someone’s feelings”?

Watch the Excerpt Here (Minutes 9-16.18)

Transcript

Transcript with Notes

1 zaawiya; see as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa (Maryam Al-Mirghaniyah), Part 1/4

2 balaghat mablagh ar-rijaal; and when she reached adulthood, in this sense, of marrageable age

3 fii kanfihi; and she lived under his protection / patronage; see as-Sayyida Maryam ash-Sharifa (Maryam Al-Mirghaniyah), Part 1/4

4 al-ma`ruuqa; literally; these thin face; skinny, with little flesh on the bones

5 in this ancient / very old / also time-honoured; `atiiqa, also old-fashioned / out-of-date in other contexts, as-saaHA; square, piazza, also field or yard

6 `abaq, perfume, fragrance

7 zuraafaat wa wuHdaanaan; set phrase meaning in groups and individually

8 in celebration; iHtafaa’iya, perhaps here, unparalleled

9 fii shahar rajab; seventh month of the hijri year, followed by Sha`baan. One of the sacred months in which fighting is forbidden

10 al-Howliyya; the anniversary of a saint’s death, can also mean journals / annals in other contexts, See Part 1 for links

11 bi-iraadatihim; of their own free will ⁄ willingly

12 wafaa’ aan; loyalty, constancy

13 yatawaarathuu; literally, inherited, perhaps here, passed down from

14 jiilaan `an jiil; generation to generation

15 yataHalaquun; gather round / stand in circle, also fly or hover in other contexts

16 mubhij; joyous / cheerful / delightful, also exhilarating

17 faraH; joy / happiness

18 qaws quzaH; rainbow

19 yudaawimuun; attend regularly / steadfastly / keep on doing something / practice constantly

20 al-`unSuur an-nisaa’ii; literally the female element, among women

21 / 22 Did you catch this? That facilitated / made easy, yusahhil, this communication al-tawaaSil, without (the need of) translation

23 iqbaal; acceptance, unrivalled or unparalleled; munqaTi` an-naZiir

24 ashra`at shubaakahaa; opened wide her window; the narrator is referring to the living hearts of the devotees that opened themselves to her and

25 are kindled / ignited / burning; literally kindle their eyes, from the verb waqqada, noun waquud, fuel;

in the evening time / at eve; `ashiya. This also refers to the eve of a religious festival

26 Diiq fii-l- ma`aaiish; straitened; Diiq; hardship living conditions

27 araamil; plural of armala; widows

28 yutaama; orphans, plural of yatiim; also al-aytaam; the broken plural used here is unusual and dialect-based

29 yawiihum; shelter / accommodate receive / habour; al-maa’wa; shelter / refuge

30 al-umsiiyaat fii junHi-l-layl; evenings under the cover of darkness (so as to remain unseen / anonymous) in her good works. This expression also means “at the dead of night”

31 as in 6) the fragrance of dhikr (see Part 1) and the light of prayer fill the place

32 ruHaaniyataan; spiritually and

33 iimaanan; in faith

34 / 35 fawj; plural, afwaaj; literally, regiment / battallion, referring to the streams of worshippers

36 yatasawwaquun; and they shop for

37 fa-l`urf ma zaala Haakimaan; custom still rules / applies / prevails

38 `ala sharaf; in honour of

39 sibaaq al-hijn; camel racing, also hujn; camels in general;

40 tuwafir; offer / provide, especially opportunity

41 tawaaSil ijtimaa`ii; social communication

42 muwaaSila li; continuing / following the message of

43 khilaafaat; as-Sayyida Maryam was an (arbitrator) judge / adjudicator / magistrate in disagreements

44 bir-riDaa; goodwill / satisfaction

45 as-samaaHa; tolerance / forbearance / munificence / magnanimity

46 tatalaaqa; converge

47 ziijaat; marriages (are contracted)

48 al-muSaaharaat; alliances / affinity but here, kinship through marriage / relationship through marriage

49 DariiH; shrine

50 khaSm, plural khuSuum; adversary

51 maa taksir bi-khaaTir; without hurting someone’s feelings, see below:

52 tatakaamal az-ziina biHilya; …..complemented by jewel / charm / ornamentation

53 bahja; joy / delight

54 aqmasha, plural of qumaash; fabric / material / cloth

55 ath-thiyaab; plural of thawb; dress / clothes

56 tatasarrab; literally, to infiltrate / infuse

57 tajidu ar-rawaaj; found popularity

58 Saarikha; here perhaps vibrant, also gaudy / flamboyant loud / blatant in other contexts

59 buDaa`a; goods

60 muu’ajiriin; hiring

61 gunduuraanaat; large lorries

62 Did you catch this conditional? If it wasn’t beneficial, they wouldn’t come