Tag: names

Just writing

A different aim

nhpureandsimple

If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

Something named after me? The first thought was a mosque. But I soon changed my mind.

But why should mosques bear the people’s names? I asked myself. As a Muslim I believe that we should not boast our good deeds. Your left hand should never see what’s your right one is giving. Therefore, how can one justify writing their names on a mosque? It’s none of your property. Our money is mainly a means to construct the place of  worship. Besides, the Almighty knows your name, your intention, and your offering. So why name a mosque after me.

I searched my mind and urged each of its cell to find something. I thought and thought until the answer came to me.

It’s a title of a chapter in a book about the lives of Muslim women in a foreign country. Why just a chapter and not the entire book? Because it’s neither an autobiography nor a memoire which would  typically be named after a specific person. Besides, that wouldn’t be my aim. A chapter bearing my name would preserve both my experience and my existence within a colourful  picture and a broader narrative.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

daily prompt

Fictional characters

nhpureandsimple

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

In stories, the name of every character is carefully picked according to things related to the role, the image, the place, the time …. they are representing.  Sometimes, we as readers overlooked this issue. We read and follow the sequence of the events and the development of the plot. But, I have learnt that writers do pay careful attention and time to the names of each character and they usually have a certain  significance.

In real life our names also have a significance, a meaning that in some cases match our own personalities. In arabic culture, people say  everyone has some share of the meaning of his/ her name.

That’s why I find it a bit confusing to have a middle name as the person, in most cases, will be called and known by just one. The other name will be left aside and known mainly in official documents.

With all the best wishes,

Nahla

Just writing

Names in fiction

nhpureandsimple

 

 

Image result for characters in book

 

 

The more I read, the more I realise that the characters’ names play an important role in stories. There is a special moment when characters introduce themselves, and when others respond. When the name has a significance, this moment becomes exceptional and impressive.

In real life, we, sometimes, pause and stare at the person introducing himself or herself, and feel something special, real, or odd about them.

One day, a friend was telling me about her sister’s newborn baby;

‘Shadow was doing so and so,’ she said, and I asked whether her sister is living in the Uk?

‘No,’ she said.

‘What’s the baby’s name again?’ I asked.

‘Shadow,’ she said.

‘Why your sister gave her baby an English name?’ I asked.

‘It’s Shadow, the Arabic name,’ she replied.

I couldn’t help laughing because Shadow in Arabic means the birds’ singing, the pronunciation is different, slightly, but it spells the same as the shadow in English.

It is interesting to play with this similarity of names in Fiction, isn’t it?

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla

 

 

 

Just writing

Our names

nhpureandsimple

When we meet with new people, we sometimes ask them about the meaning of their names especially if their names sound new or odd. I am sure that my mother did not know the meaning of my name but she told me that she named me after a famous person that she admired at the time I was born.  My name was not that common at school or among our relatives and friends. There usually would be a maximum of two girls whose name was Nahla in any year group. Then, when I was in year 8 or 10, I had got my own Arabic dictionary from my school and the first thing all the girls checked was the meaning of their names.  It was the first time to know that my name means the first drop/sip of water one gets when drinking. I like it but I did not think that it has that special significance that others’ names have, e.g. beautiful, princess, night, morning, moon, etc. Then and after many years, when I was doing my Quran recitation exam, there was a lady registering our names. She looked very simple, old and funny all at once. She started giving every student a special prayer according to her name. And as soon as she knew my name, she said: “May Allah make you a fount of Knowledge!” I was a mother having two little boys at that time, and it was the first time to notice that my name is actually derived from the word ‘fountain’ usually of water but it can also be used in a reference to knowledge; It’s never late to learn! Before that incident, I used to like my name but after that lady’s prayer, I began loving it.

In the Arab world, we usually say that everyone has a share of his name. This means that your personality would probably reflect the meaning of your name. It’s just a saying! But why not thinking about it?

What about you? What is the meaning of your name?

Let me hear from you,

Wishing you all the best,

Nahla