• Explore The Wide Expanse Of Synonyms For “Multiverse”

    All of space as we know it makes up the universe. The universe is gargantuan and is home to an untold number of galaxies, stars, and planets. But what if there were two universes? Or five? Or five hundred? We aren’t just talking about the universe anymore. We are talking about the multiverse, the theoretical collection of our universe plus all those other universes out there (including the one that has an evil version of you, but with a goatee—or is clean-shaven if you already have a goatee). Multiverse is a term used both in science and science fiction to refer to the idea of other existing universes. It’s not the only such term, though. We’ve scoured the lexicological multiverse to find a collection of ways that we refer to the possible worlds beyond.

    parallel universes

    The term parallel universe is used in science to refer to other hypothetical universes that exist alongside ours. We can’t see or interact with these universes in any way; they don’t exist in our universe, but they may exist … somewhere. Scientists have many theories about parallel universes. One of the more popular theories is that every possibility that could have happened has—in another parallel universe somewhere.

    megaverse

    The term megaverse is used, particularly in science fiction, to refer to a humongous universe that contains many multiverses within it. This grandiose-sounding word is often used to refer collectively to all of the parallel universes and multiverses that exist within a given fictional reality or possibly even within our own.

    omniverse

    A megaverse isn’t big enough for you? Then, you need an omniverse. The word omniverse is often used in science fiction to refer to all of reality and includes all of the universes, multiverses, pocket dimensions, celestial realms, and anything else that makes up existence. In comic books, Marvel and Marvel fans collectively refer to all universes that have existed and will ever exist (including our reality and other fictional multiverses) as the omniverse. So while Spider-Man (a Marvel character) and Batman (DC) may not exist in the same universe, multiverse, or megaverse, they (and every other fictional character) are part of the omniverse.

    other dimensions

    In science and mathematics, the term dimension is used to describe space and time. For example, our everyday lives involve three spatial dimensions (height, width, and depth) and time exists as the fourth dimension.

    In science fiction, technology often allows people to discover other dimensions and use them to explore places that we can’t while limited to only the four dimensions we know about. The places that this technology allows them to travel to are often referred to as “other dimensions” or a fifth dimension. Because these travelers are already breaking the laws of physics, these other dimensions can often get pretty weird and abstract.

    alternate realities

    The abstract word reality is used to collectively describe everything that exists or isn’t fictional. An alternate reality is a reality that exists beyond the one we experience right now. In popular culture, this term is often used interchangeably with similar words, like parallel universe. Because alternate realities are not the same reality we know, they don’t follow the laws of physics and can be pretty magical. For example, the Harry Potter series takes place in an alternate reality of our world in which witches, wizards, and magical creatures are real.

    parallel timelines

    The word timeline is used to describe a chronological series of events. For example, the Egyptian empire existed thousands of years ago in our timeline. A major theme in popular culture is the possibility of parallel or alternate timelines. The most common and basic version of this concept describes time as a tree with major events causing time to split into multiple branches, each branch containing the timelines that include the different possible outcomes of that event.

    The concept of parallel and alternate timelines can often get very confusing, particularly in fiction featuring time travel that explores changes in history due to these alternate timelines. Less seriously, the idea of parallel timelines is often jokingly used to explain the Mandela Effect (when a large number of people share a false memory) and the Berenstein (not Berenstain) Bears books we all remember reading in what was clearly an alternate timeline.

    alternate planes of existence

    The word plane is generally used in mathematics to refer to a flat two-dimensional surface. Outside of math, the word plane is sometimes used to describe alternate realities or “planes of existence” as if they were planes of glass placed alongside each other. For example, Buddhist teachings include the idea of 31 “planes” or “lands” that a person travels through in the cycle of life and death: our mortal plane and 30 others that belong to spiritual beings.

    In popular culture, the word plane is often used to refer to alternate words that are home to strange creatures or different rules of reality. For example, Dungeons and Dragons has a strange Plane of Mirrors that is home to dangerous monsters and allows travel through mirrors.

    other realms

    The word realm refers to a region where something happens. In our real world, the word realm is sometimes used in the phrase quantum realm to refer to the subatomic part of reality that is home to very small and very confusing things. In brief, the quantum realm seems to be a place where normally impossible things may be possible, such as particles existing in multiple places at once.

    Outside of science, the word realm is often used in popular culture, theology, spiritual, and paranormal science to refer to places beyond our reality. For example, the idea of a spirit realm that is home to ghosts and souls of the dead is common in religion and spirituality. Other stories and belief systems tell of realms beyond our world, such as the realm of fairies, the realm of elves, or the realms of gods such as Olympus or Asgard.

    isekai

    Isekai, which translates to “different word” or “another world,” is a popular Japanese fiction genre that features characters who are transported from our world to another one. Isekai stories are similar to classic stories, like Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz, in which a character winds up in a strange new world.

    In isekai fiction, sometimes characters travel back in time or travel to those alternate timelines we mentioned before. Some other possible destinations in isekai stories include the demon realm, a classical medieval fantasy world with dragons and magic, or even the world of a video game.

    Based on how often it comes up in popular culture, the possibility that other universes besides our own exist somewhere has mesmerized us for quite a long time. This idea is also still a frequent topic of discussion among scientists, too, which has led to theories like the many-worlds interpretation that try to explain how a multiverse might work if it is actually real. If you are curious as to what science has to say about all this multiverse madness, check out our discussion of the language about the multiverse.

    Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    Explore The Wide Expanse Of Synonyms For “Multiverse” All of space as we know it makes up the universe. The universe is gargantuan and is home to an untold number of galaxies, stars, and planets. But what if there were two universes? Or five? Or five hundred? We aren’t just talking about the universe anymore. We are talking about the multiverse, the theoretical collection of our universe plus all those other universes out there (including the one that has an evil version of you, but with a goatee—or is clean-shaven if you already have a goatee). Multiverse is a term used both in science and science fiction to refer to the idea of other existing universes. It’s not the only such term, though. We’ve scoured the lexicological multiverse to find a collection of ways that we refer to the possible worlds beyond. parallel universes The term parallel universe is used in science to refer to other hypothetical universes that exist alongside ours. We can’t see or interact with these universes in any way; they don’t exist in our universe, but they may exist … somewhere. Scientists have many theories about parallel universes. One of the more popular theories is that every possibility that could have happened has—in another parallel universe somewhere. megaverse The term megaverse is used, particularly in science fiction, to refer to a humongous universe that contains many multiverses within it. This grandiose-sounding word is often used to refer collectively to all of the parallel universes and multiverses that exist within a given fictional reality or possibly even within our own. omniverse A megaverse isn’t big enough for you? Then, you need an omniverse. The word omniverse is often used in science fiction to refer to all of reality and includes all of the universes, multiverses, pocket dimensions, celestial realms, and anything else that makes up existence. In comic books, Marvel and Marvel fans collectively refer to all universes that have existed and will ever exist (including our reality and other fictional multiverses) as the omniverse. So while Spider-Man (a Marvel character) and Batman (DC) may not exist in the same universe, multiverse, or megaverse, they (and every other fictional character) are part of the omniverse. other dimensions In science and mathematics, the term dimension is used to describe space and time. For example, our everyday lives involve three spatial dimensions (height, width, and depth) and time exists as the fourth dimension. In science fiction, technology often allows people to discover other dimensions and use them to explore places that we can’t while limited to only the four dimensions we know about. The places that this technology allows them to travel to are often referred to as “other dimensions” or a fifth dimension. Because these travelers are already breaking the laws of physics, these other dimensions can often get pretty weird and abstract. alternate realities The abstract word reality is used to collectively describe everything that exists or isn’t fictional. An alternate reality is a reality that exists beyond the one we experience right now. In popular culture, this term is often used interchangeably with similar words, like parallel universe. Because alternate realities are not the same reality we know, they don’t follow the laws of physics and can be pretty magical. For example, the Harry Potter series takes place in an alternate reality of our world in which witches, wizards, and magical creatures are real. parallel timelines The word timeline is used to describe a chronological series of events. For example, the Egyptian empire existed thousands of years ago in our timeline. A major theme in popular culture is the possibility of parallel or alternate timelines. The most common and basic version of this concept describes time as a tree with major events causing time to split into multiple branches, each branch containing the timelines that include the different possible outcomes of that event. The concept of parallel and alternate timelines can often get very confusing, particularly in fiction featuring time travel that explores changes in history due to these alternate timelines. Less seriously, the idea of parallel timelines is often jokingly used to explain the Mandela Effect (when a large number of people share a false memory) and the Berenstein (not Berenstain) Bears books we all remember reading in what was clearly an alternate timeline. alternate planes of existence The word plane is generally used in mathematics to refer to a flat two-dimensional surface. Outside of math, the word plane is sometimes used to describe alternate realities or “planes of existence” as if they were planes of glass placed alongside each other. For example, Buddhist teachings include the idea of 31 “planes” or “lands” that a person travels through in the cycle of life and death: our mortal plane and 30 others that belong to spiritual beings. In popular culture, the word plane is often used to refer to alternate words that are home to strange creatures or different rules of reality. For example, Dungeons and Dragons has a strange Plane of Mirrors that is home to dangerous monsters and allows travel through mirrors. other realms The word realm refers to a region where something happens. In our real world, the word realm is sometimes used in the phrase quantum realm to refer to the subatomic part of reality that is home to very small and very confusing things. In brief, the quantum realm seems to be a place where normally impossible things may be possible, such as particles existing in multiple places at once. Outside of science, the word realm is often used in popular culture, theology, spiritual, and paranormal science to refer to places beyond our reality. For example, the idea of a spirit realm that is home to ghosts and souls of the dead is common in religion and spirituality. Other stories and belief systems tell of realms beyond our world, such as the realm of fairies, the realm of elves, or the realms of gods such as Olympus or Asgard. isekai Isekai, which translates to “different word” or “another world,” is a popular Japanese fiction genre that features characters who are transported from our world to another one. Isekai stories are similar to classic stories, like Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz, in which a character winds up in a strange new world. In isekai fiction, sometimes characters travel back in time or travel to those alternate timelines we mentioned before. Some other possible destinations in isekai stories include the demon realm, a classical medieval fantasy world with dragons and magic, or even the world of a video game. Based on how often it comes up in popular culture, the possibility that other universes besides our own exist somewhere has mesmerized us for quite a long time. This idea is also still a frequent topic of discussion among scientists, too, which has led to theories like the many-worlds interpretation that try to explain how a multiverse might work if it is actually real. If you are curious as to what science has to say about all this multiverse madness, check out our discussion of the language about the multiverse. Copyright 2025, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    0 ความคิดเห็น 0 การแบ่งปัน 269 มุมมอง 0 รีวิว
  • 21 Contemplative Quotes From Muslim Americans About The Month Of Ramadan

    Ramadan is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims around the world. It’s a time when Muslims fast, reflect, pray, give charity, and come together as a community. Ramadan is observed in different ways around the world, but the bedrock of this holiday is the same; the Qur’an directly states that followers should fast upon the first sight of the new moon in the month of Ramadan to glorify Allah to commemorate when the Qur’an was revealed. During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking (yes, that also means water) from sunup to sundown. Ramadan culminates in a celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast.

    To better understand what Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr mean to the Muslim community, here are 21 quotes from prominent Muslim Americans and the key words that highlight the significance of this time. Here you will see reflections on their faith, community, and the meaning of this holy month.

    1.
    The most rewarding part of being a Muslim athlete is my faith in God paired with my faith in myself. I approach every match with positivity and the belief that I can beat anyone on any given day. And in the face of defeat, I am able to learn from my mistakes and work on my weaknesses to prepare for next time.
    —Ibtihaj Muhammad, interview, Yahoo.com, 2016

    faith

    Ibtihaj Muhammad made history by being the the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while representing the US at the Olympics in 2016, where she won a bronze medal in fencing. Her mother encouraged her to get into fencing because it was a sport she could participate in while respecting their religious beliefs. In this quote, she describes her faith, or “belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion,” and how it helped her meet her athletic goals.

    2.
    And in the process of restraining ourselves from the blessings so readily available to us, we naturally develop empathy for those who aren’t as fortunate. It’s a special type of worship that is incredibly both sacred and fulfilling. It gives a spiritual dimension to being unapologetically Muslim in America.
    —Omar Suleiman, “Why 80% of American Muslims Fast During Ramadan,” CNN.com, 2018

    empathy

    Omar Suleiman is an American imam and academic who is here describing the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He notes that it is a way to develop empathy, or “the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” In this case, fasting helps one develop empathy with those who may not have enough to eat.

    3.
    Ramadan is not just predicated upon eating or not eating or drinking or not drinking. It’s a state of mind. And it’s an attempt to achieve God consciousness that carries on throughout the day.
    —Wajahat Ali, interview, “Revealing Ramadan,” On Being podcast, 2009

    state of mind

    While many focus on the fasting element of Ramadan, writer Wajahat Ali is describing how it is more than just refraining from eating and drinking. It is a state of mind, a term that means “mood or mental state.” The goal is to take on fasting as a way of thinking and feeling throughout the month.

    4.
    Ramadan, Muharram, the Eids; you associate no religious event with the tang of snow in the air, or spring thaw, or the advent of summer. God permeates these things—as the saying goes, Allah is beautiful, and He loves beauty—but they are transient. Forced to concentrate on the eternal, you begin to see, or think you see, the bones and sinews of the world beneath its seasonal flesh.
    —G. Willow Wilson, The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman’s Journey to Love and Islam, 2010

    eternal

    Author G. Willow Wilson, best known for her work on the Ms. Marvel comic book series featuring Muslim-American teen Kamala Khan, describes in her memoir The Butterfly Mosque how she understands the meaning of the ritual of holidays such as Ramadan with respect to the lunar calendar. She connects it to the eternal, or something “without beginning or end.”

    5.
    At the end of the day we’re all spirits having a physical experience. … And that really comes from my relationship with Islam because it just makes me really conscious of my action.
    —Mahershala Ali, interview, NPR, 2017

    conscious

    Actor and rapper Mahershala Ali also picks up on the connection between the spiritual and physical world that G. Willow Wilson is discussing. Conscious is an adjective with a variety of meanings, including “aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.” The word conscious in English comes from the Latin conscius meaning “sharing knowledge with.”

    6.
    It’s about meditation and prayer and thinking about those who are truly less fortunate, feeling that hunger and thirst and observing it day in and day out, sunup to sundown. It’s quite an experience, yeah.
    —Mo Amer, quoted in the Austin-American Statesman, 2018

    meditation

    Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and writer Mo Amer is best known for his role in the sitcom Ramy. In this quote, Amer describes what Ramadan means to him. He says it is about meditation, meaning “continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation” or “devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.”

    7.
    I think a big part of my faith teachings is to work together towards equality: that we’re all created equal, and under the eyes of God, we all have a right to freedom and to access our rights equally.
    —Ilhan Omar, quoted in Huffpost.com, 2016

    equality

    Representative Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. Here she describes Islam as a religion that promotes equality, “the state or quality of being alike.” Her language here also connects her faith tradition to the preamble to the Declaration of Independence in this quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

    8.
    And you see this humanity and camaraderie and brotherhood that I think is deeply touching, deeply gratifying, and I think in so many ways humbling, and really, kind of helps you reset your emotional and spiritual compass, to know what is important in life, not to take these moments or granted.
    —Ayman Mohyeldin, quoted in BuzzFeed.News, 2018

    camaraderie

    Egyptian-American television and news anchor Ayman Mohyeldin reflects in this quote on the importance of sharing and experiencing iftar with the less fortunate. Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset during Ramadan. He notes the feeling of camaraderie among people at that meal, a word that means “a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.”

    9.
    We use the fast to try to purify and cleanse our souls, and to ask forgiveness for our sins. We also learn self-restraint and we become much more aware of those less fortunate people around us for whom “fasting” is not a choice, for whom hunger is part of daily life. The fast is an act of worship and a spiritual act; it is also an act of social solidarity.
    —Mehdi Hasan, “What Is Ramadan and Other Questions Answered,” The New Statesman, 2016

    social solidarity

    Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist and television host who is here describing what he understands as the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He says it is a form of social solidarity. Solidarity means “union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests.” Social solidarity specifically describes a kind of fellowship with other people in a community, in this case the Muslim community and greater community at large.

    10.
    The older I get, the more grateful I am for those reminders to stop, be still, reflect, and be grateful. I find those moments can be really restorative like returning to a power station.
    —Tahereh Mafi, interview, Coveteur.com

    restorative

    Young adult author Tahereh Mafi, best known for her Shatter Me series, describes her spiritual practice as a restorative time. Restorative here means “capable of renewing health or strength.” Believe it or not, restorative comes from the same Latin root as the English restaurant.

    11.
    We start the fast in the morning strong. By noon we start to get weaker. By the afternoon, we really begin to feel the fast. By sunset, right before we break it, things get difficult. Our lives mirror this. We start our lives strong as youth until we reach noon time, our 30’s and 40’s, we start to get weak. Once we reach old age … our physical abilities are greatly reduced until we leave this life. Fasting shouts to us our own mortality.
    —Imam Suhaib Webb, Facebook post, 2013

    mortality

    Imam Suhaib Webb in this quote connects the daily fast of Ramadan with the life cycle. Part of the life cycle is death, which reminds us of our mortality, “the state or condition of being subject to death.” The word mortality itself ultimately comes from the Latin mors meaning “death.”

    12.
    Ramadan is a time to control one’s desires and get closer to God. The self-discipline that we learn carries on to other areas of our lives so we can be better family members, friends and, yes, co-workers.
    —Linda Sarsour, quoted in HuffPost.com, 2016

    self-discipline

    The word self-discipline means “training of oneself, usually for improvement.” Political activist Linda Sarsour describes Ramadan, particularly the fast, as a time to work on one’s self-discipline. Discipline comes from the Latin for “instruction.” In this way, self-discipline is a kind of autodidacticism.

    13.
    It’s not a chore, but it is a discipline. And what I mean by that is it takes self-control, it takes some willpower, but it’s a great pleasure and a joy.
    —Ingrid Mattson, interview, “The Meaning of Ramadan,” NPR, 2017

    joy

    Activist and academic Ingrid Mattson also notes that Ramadan is a time of self-discipline. She describes this practice of self-control as a joy, “a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something greatly valued or appreciated.” The positive connotation of the word joy makes us think of the Ramadan fast as a beneficial exercise of willpower rather than as something negative.

    14.
    While fasting, understand the whole picture. Remember that fasting is not just about staying away from food. It is about striving to become a better person.
    And in so striving, we are given a chance to escape the darkness of our own isolation from God. But like the sun that sets at the end of the day, so too will Ramadan come and go, leaving only its mark on our heart’s sky.
    —Yasmin Mogahed, from YasmineMogahed.com, 2012

    striving

    Yasmin Mogahed is an educator who teaches people about Islam. In this quote, she encourages people to think of the Ramadan fast as an opportunity to strive, a verb with a variety of meanings including “to exert oneself vigorously; try hard” and “to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.” This word captures the difficult nature of a fast; it comes from the Old French estriver, meaning “to quarrel, compete.”

    15.
    As for fasting, it is a spiritual mindset that gives you the stamina required to play. Through Allah’s mercy, I always felt stronger and more energetic during Ramadan.
    —Hakeem Olajuwon, quoted in Andscape.com, 2017

    stamina

    Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was a center in the NBA in the 1980s and early 1990s. He describes the Ramadan fast as giving him increased stamina, or “strength of physical constitution; power to endure fatigue, privation, etc.” According to some (including his teammates!), he was thought to play especially well during the month of Ramadan.

    16.
    Ramadan for me is this reset where spirituality becomes the core, and I try to build the world around that.
    —Hasan Minhaj, “Ramadan Reflections and Reset,” YouTube, 2021

    reset

    Television host and comedian Hasan Minhaj sees Ramadan as an opportunity to reset, a noun meaning “an act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way.” In other words, it is a chance to put things in a new order or to see the world in a new way.

    17.
    As we welcome the final iftar of #Ramadan this evening, which marks the beginning of Eid—I urge us all to still find joy in our holiday. I know it’s hard with everything going on right now, but our joy is also our resistance. They want to break our spirits. We can’t let them.
    —Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Twitter (@xoamani), 2021

    resistance

    Ramadan is a time of submission, but for some, like activist and founder of MuslimGirl.com Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, it is also a time of resistance. Resistance means “the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding.”

    18.
    If there’s anything Muslims can do during this global pandemic [during Ramadan], it is to have our compassion shine.
    —Rashida Tlaib, interview, MLive, 2020

    compassion

    Representative Rashida Tlaib serves Michigan’s 13th congressional district. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, she gave an interview saying that Ramadan was a time for compassion, meaning “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” This is connected to the third pillar of Islam, zakat, meaning “charity.”

    19.
    I’m a person of faith, and the language that I use to define my faith, the symbols and metaphors that I rely upon to express my faith, are those provided by Islam because they make the most sense to me. The Buddha once said, “If you want to draw water, you don’t dig six 1-ft. wells, you dig one 6-ft. well.” Islam is my 6-ft. well.
    —Reza Aslan, quoted in Time, 2013

    language

    Iranian-American writer and public academic Reza Aslan has written and spoken a great deal about the Islamic faith and religion in general. He notes that his language, or “a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or cultural tradition,” when expressing his faith comes from Islam.

    20.
    Remember that the main purpose of this month of fasting is to actually increase our remembrance and closeness to Allah.
    —Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), “Message from Yusuf Islam,” YouTube, 2020

    remembrance

    The legendary folk musician Yusuf Islam, also known as Cat Stevens, encourages others to see the fast during the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to practice remembrance, or “commemoration.” In other words, one should be mindful of God’s presence during this time. In fact, the word remembrance ultimately comes from the Latin root memor, meaning “mindful.”

    21.
    There is always a big emphasis on what children wear for Eid. Growing up, I remember my mother having my outfit ready and laid out a month in advance. One year, I even recall sleeping in my fancy attire, as I was so excited to try it on the night before and knew I would be waking up early for prayer. I remember so much of that time, from the ages of about eight to ten, when I would go shopping with my mom.
    —Halima Aden, quoted in CNA Luxury, 2020

    attire

    Somali-American Halima Aden is a high fashion model, so it’s heartwarming that her memories of Eid (al-Fitr) include clothes. She describes the fancy attire, a word meaning “clothes or apparel, especially rich or splendid garments,” that her mother would get for her and her siblings for the celebration.

    Maybe hearing from all these high-profile people talk about the importance of the month of Ramadan and their faith has got you wanting to learn more about the holiday and its celebration. We have you covered. You can learn more about the important practices, values, and meanings of this time with our article The Major Facts About the Month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak!

    Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    21 Contemplative Quotes From Muslim Americans About The Month Of Ramadan Ramadan is one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims around the world. It’s a time when Muslims fast, reflect, pray, give charity, and come together as a community. Ramadan is observed in different ways around the world, but the bedrock of this holiday is the same; the Qur’an directly states that followers should fast upon the first sight of the new moon in the month of Ramadan to glorify Allah to commemorate when the Qur’an was revealed. During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking (yes, that also means water) from sunup to sundown. Ramadan culminates in a celebration known as Eid al-Fitr, or the festival of breaking the fast. To better understand what Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr mean to the Muslim community, here are 21 quotes from prominent Muslim Americans and the key words that highlight the significance of this time. Here you will see reflections on their faith, community, and the meaning of this holy month. 1. The most rewarding part of being a Muslim athlete is my faith in God paired with my faith in myself. I approach every match with positivity and the belief that I can beat anyone on any given day. And in the face of defeat, I am able to learn from my mistakes and work on my weaknesses to prepare for next time. —Ibtihaj Muhammad, interview, Yahoo.com, 2016 faith Ibtihaj Muhammad made history by being the the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while representing the US at the Olympics in 2016, where she won a bronze medal in fencing. Her mother encouraged her to get into fencing because it was a sport she could participate in while respecting their religious beliefs. In this quote, she describes her faith, or “belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion,” and how it helped her meet her athletic goals. 2. And in the process of restraining ourselves from the blessings so readily available to us, we naturally develop empathy for those who aren’t as fortunate. It’s a special type of worship that is incredibly both sacred and fulfilling. It gives a spiritual dimension to being unapologetically Muslim in America. —Omar Suleiman, “Why 80% of American Muslims Fast During Ramadan,” CNN.com, 2018 empathy Omar Suleiman is an American imam and academic who is here describing the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He notes that it is a way to develop empathy, or “the psychological identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” In this case, fasting helps one develop empathy with those who may not have enough to eat. 3. Ramadan is not just predicated upon eating or not eating or drinking or not drinking. It’s a state of mind. And it’s an attempt to achieve God consciousness that carries on throughout the day. —Wajahat Ali, interview, “Revealing Ramadan,” On Being podcast, 2009 state of mind While many focus on the fasting element of Ramadan, writer Wajahat Ali is describing how it is more than just refraining from eating and drinking. It is a state of mind, a term that means “mood or mental state.” The goal is to take on fasting as a way of thinking and feeling throughout the month. 4. Ramadan, Muharram, the Eids; you associate no religious event with the tang of snow in the air, or spring thaw, or the advent of summer. God permeates these things—as the saying goes, Allah is beautiful, and He loves beauty—but they are transient. Forced to concentrate on the eternal, you begin to see, or think you see, the bones and sinews of the world beneath its seasonal flesh. —G. Willow Wilson, The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman’s Journey to Love and Islam, 2010 eternal Author G. Willow Wilson, best known for her work on the Ms. Marvel comic book series featuring Muslim-American teen Kamala Khan, describes in her memoir The Butterfly Mosque how she understands the meaning of the ritual of holidays such as Ramadan with respect to the lunar calendar. She connects it to the eternal, or something “without beginning or end.” 5. At the end of the day we’re all spirits having a physical experience. … And that really comes from my relationship with Islam because it just makes me really conscious of my action. —Mahershala Ali, interview, NPR, 2017 conscious Actor and rapper Mahershala Ali also picks up on the connection between the spiritual and physical world that G. Willow Wilson is discussing. Conscious is an adjective with a variety of meanings, including “aware of one’s own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc.” The word conscious in English comes from the Latin conscius meaning “sharing knowledge with.” 6. It’s about meditation and prayer and thinking about those who are truly less fortunate, feeling that hunger and thirst and observing it day in and day out, sunup to sundown. It’s quite an experience, yeah. —Mo Amer, quoted in the Austin-American Statesman, 2018 meditation Palestinian-American stand-up comedian and writer Mo Amer is best known for his role in the sitcom Ramy. In this quote, Amer describes what Ramadan means to him. He says it is about meditation, meaning “continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation” or “devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.” 7. I think a big part of my faith teachings is to work together towards equality: that we’re all created equal, and under the eyes of God, we all have a right to freedom and to access our rights equally. —Ilhan Omar, quoted in Huffpost.com, 2016 equality Representative Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress, represents Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. Here she describes Islam as a religion that promotes equality, “the state or quality of being alike.” Her language here also connects her faith tradition to the preamble to the Declaration of Independence in this quote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” 8. And you see this humanity and camaraderie and brotherhood that I think is deeply touching, deeply gratifying, and I think in so many ways humbling, and really, kind of helps you reset your emotional and spiritual compass, to know what is important in life, not to take these moments or granted. —Ayman Mohyeldin, quoted in BuzzFeed.News, 2018 camaraderie Egyptian-American television and news anchor Ayman Mohyeldin reflects in this quote on the importance of sharing and experiencing iftar with the less fortunate. Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset during Ramadan. He notes the feeling of camaraderie among people at that meal, a word that means “a spirit of trust and goodwill among people closely associated in an activity or endeavor.” 9. We use the fast to try to purify and cleanse our souls, and to ask forgiveness for our sins. We also learn self-restraint and we become much more aware of those less fortunate people around us for whom “fasting” is not a choice, for whom hunger is part of daily life. The fast is an act of worship and a spiritual act; it is also an act of social solidarity. —Mehdi Hasan, “What Is Ramadan and Other Questions Answered,” The New Statesman, 2016 social solidarity Mehdi Hasan is a British-American journalist and television host who is here describing what he understands as the purpose of fasting during Ramadan. He says it is a form of social solidarity. Solidarity means “union or fellowship arising from common responsibilities and interests.” Social solidarity specifically describes a kind of fellowship with other people in a community, in this case the Muslim community and greater community at large. 10. The older I get, the more grateful I am for those reminders to stop, be still, reflect, and be grateful. I find those moments can be really restorative like returning to a power station. —Tahereh Mafi, interview, Coveteur.com restorative Young adult author Tahereh Mafi, best known for her Shatter Me series, describes her spiritual practice as a restorative time. Restorative here means “capable of renewing health or strength.” Believe it or not, restorative comes from the same Latin root as the English restaurant. 11. We start the fast in the morning strong. By noon we start to get weaker. By the afternoon, we really begin to feel the fast. By sunset, right before we break it, things get difficult. Our lives mirror this. We start our lives strong as youth until we reach noon time, our 30’s and 40’s, we start to get weak. Once we reach old age … our physical abilities are greatly reduced until we leave this life. Fasting shouts to us our own mortality. —Imam Suhaib Webb, Facebook post, 2013 mortality Imam Suhaib Webb in this quote connects the daily fast of Ramadan with the life cycle. Part of the life cycle is death, which reminds us of our mortality, “the state or condition of being subject to death.” The word mortality itself ultimately comes from the Latin mors meaning “death.” 12. Ramadan is a time to control one’s desires and get closer to God. The self-discipline that we learn carries on to other areas of our lives so we can be better family members, friends and, yes, co-workers. —Linda Sarsour, quoted in HuffPost.com, 2016 self-discipline The word self-discipline means “training of oneself, usually for improvement.” Political activist Linda Sarsour describes Ramadan, particularly the fast, as a time to work on one’s self-discipline. Discipline comes from the Latin for “instruction.” In this way, self-discipline is a kind of autodidacticism. 13. It’s not a chore, but it is a discipline. And what I mean by that is it takes self-control, it takes some willpower, but it’s a great pleasure and a joy. —Ingrid Mattson, interview, “The Meaning of Ramadan,” NPR, 2017 joy Activist and academic Ingrid Mattson also notes that Ramadan is a time of self-discipline. She describes this practice of self-control as a joy, “a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something greatly valued or appreciated.” The positive connotation of the word joy makes us think of the Ramadan fast as a beneficial exercise of willpower rather than as something negative. 14. While fasting, understand the whole picture. Remember that fasting is not just about staying away from food. It is about striving to become a better person. And in so striving, we are given a chance to escape the darkness of our own isolation from God. But like the sun that sets at the end of the day, so too will Ramadan come and go, leaving only its mark on our heart’s sky. —Yasmin Mogahed, from YasmineMogahed.com, 2012 striving Yasmin Mogahed is an educator who teaches people about Islam. In this quote, she encourages people to think of the Ramadan fast as an opportunity to strive, a verb with a variety of meanings including “to exert oneself vigorously; try hard” and “to make strenuous efforts toward any goal.” This word captures the difficult nature of a fast; it comes from the Old French estriver, meaning “to quarrel, compete.” 15. As for fasting, it is a spiritual mindset that gives you the stamina required to play. Through Allah’s mercy, I always felt stronger and more energetic during Ramadan. —Hakeem Olajuwon, quoted in Andscape.com, 2017 stamina Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon was a center in the NBA in the 1980s and early 1990s. He describes the Ramadan fast as giving him increased stamina, or “strength of physical constitution; power to endure fatigue, privation, etc.” According to some (including his teammates!), he was thought to play especially well during the month of Ramadan. 16. Ramadan for me is this reset where spirituality becomes the core, and I try to build the world around that. —Hasan Minhaj, “Ramadan Reflections and Reset,” YouTube, 2021 reset Television host and comedian Hasan Minhaj sees Ramadan as an opportunity to reset, a noun meaning “an act or instance of setting, adjusting, or fixing something in a new or different way.” In other words, it is a chance to put things in a new order or to see the world in a new way. 17. As we welcome the final iftar of #Ramadan this evening, which marks the beginning of Eid—I urge us all to still find joy in our holiday. I know it’s hard with everything going on right now, but our joy is also our resistance. They want to break our spirits. We can’t let them. —Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, Twitter (@xoamani), 2021 resistance Ramadan is a time of submission, but for some, like activist and founder of MuslimGirl.com Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, it is also a time of resistance. Resistance means “the act or power of resisting, opposing, or withstanding.” 18. If there’s anything Muslims can do during this global pandemic [during Ramadan], it is to have our compassion shine. —Rashida Tlaib, interview, MLive, 2020 compassion Representative Rashida Tlaib serves Michigan’s 13th congressional district. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, she gave an interview saying that Ramadan was a time for compassion, meaning “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” This is connected to the third pillar of Islam, zakat, meaning “charity.” 19. I’m a person of faith, and the language that I use to define my faith, the symbols and metaphors that I rely upon to express my faith, are those provided by Islam because they make the most sense to me. The Buddha once said, “If you want to draw water, you don’t dig six 1-ft. wells, you dig one 6-ft. well.” Islam is my 6-ft. well. —Reza Aslan, quoted in Time, 2013 language Iranian-American writer and public academic Reza Aslan has written and spoken a great deal about the Islamic faith and religion in general. He notes that his language, or “a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or cultural tradition,” when expressing his faith comes from Islam. 20. Remember that the main purpose of this month of fasting is to actually increase our remembrance and closeness to Allah. —Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), “Message from Yusuf Islam,” YouTube, 2020 remembrance The legendary folk musician Yusuf Islam, also known as Cat Stevens, encourages others to see the fast during the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to practice remembrance, or “commemoration.” In other words, one should be mindful of God’s presence during this time. In fact, the word remembrance ultimately comes from the Latin root memor, meaning “mindful.” 21. There is always a big emphasis on what children wear for Eid. Growing up, I remember my mother having my outfit ready and laid out a month in advance. One year, I even recall sleeping in my fancy attire, as I was so excited to try it on the night before and knew I would be waking up early for prayer. I remember so much of that time, from the ages of about eight to ten, when I would go shopping with my mom. —Halima Aden, quoted in CNA Luxury, 2020 attire Somali-American Halima Aden is a high fashion model, so it’s heartwarming that her memories of Eid (al-Fitr) include clothes. She describes the fancy attire, a word meaning “clothes or apparel, especially rich or splendid garments,” that her mother would get for her and her siblings for the celebration. Maybe hearing from all these high-profile people talk about the importance of the month of Ramadan and their faith has got you wanting to learn more about the holiday and its celebration. We have you covered. You can learn more about the important practices, values, and meanings of this time with our article The Major Facts About the Month of Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak! Copyright 2024, AAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    0 ความคิดเห็น 0 การแบ่งปัน 1377 มุมมอง 0 รีวิว
  • ศัตรูของชาติ #อิหร่าน ก็คือศัตรูตัวเดียวกันกับชาติ #ปาเลสไตน์, #เลบานอน, #อิรัก, #อียิปต์, #ซีเรีย, และ #เยเมน ศัตรูคือคนตัวเดียวกัน วิธีการของศัตรูแตกต่างกันไปในแต่ละประเทศ

    Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei
    .
    The enemy of the #Iranian nation is that same enemy of the #Palestinian, the #Lebanese, the #Iraqi, the #Egyptian, the #Syrian, and the #Yemeni nations. The enemy is one and the same. The enemy’s methods only vary in different countries.
    .
    3:59 PM · Oct 6, 2024 · 19.2K Views
    https://x.com/khamenei_ir/status/1842852149035704483
    ศัตรูของชาติ #อิหร่าน ก็คือศัตรูตัวเดียวกันกับชาติ #ปาเลสไตน์, #เลบานอน, #อิรัก, #อียิปต์, #ซีเรีย, และ #เยเมน ศัตรูคือคนตัวเดียวกัน วิธีการของศัตรูแตกต่างกันไปในแต่ละประเทศ Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei . The enemy of the #Iranian nation is that same enemy of the #Palestinian, the #Lebanese, the #Iraqi, the #Egyptian, the #Syrian, and the #Yemeni nations. The enemy is one and the same. The enemy’s methods only vary in different countries. . 3:59 PM · Oct 6, 2024 · 19.2K Views https://x.com/khamenei_ir/status/1842852149035704483
    Like
    1
    0 ความคิดเห็น 0 การแบ่งปัน 379 มุมมอง 0 รีวิว
  • อิหม่ามคาเมเนอีกล่าวปราศรัยในวันศุกร์ที่เตหะรานในวันนี้: ศัตรูของประชาชาติอิหร่านก็เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติอิรัก, เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติเลบานอน, เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติอียิปต์; ศัตรูของพวกเราทุกคนคือหนึ่งเดียว
    .
    Imam Khamenei addressing the Friday prayers in Tehran today: The enemy of the Iranian nation is the same as the enemy of the Iraqi nation, the same as the enemy of the Lebanese nation, the same as the enemy of the Egyptian nation; the enemy of all of us is one.
    .
    3:53 PM · Oct 4, 2024 · 135.7K Views
    https://x.com/IRIran_Military/status/1842126003784601819
    อิหม่ามคาเมเนอีกล่าวปราศรัยในวันศุกร์ที่เตหะรานในวันนี้: ศัตรูของประชาชาติอิหร่านก็เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติอิรัก, เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติเลบานอน, เช่นเดียวกันกับศัตรูของประชาชาติอียิปต์; ศัตรูของพวกเราทุกคนคือหนึ่งเดียว . Imam Khamenei addressing the Friday prayers in Tehran today: The enemy of the Iranian nation is the same as the enemy of the Iraqi nation, the same as the enemy of the Lebanese nation, the same as the enemy of the Egyptian nation; the enemy of all of us is one. . 3:53 PM · Oct 4, 2024 · 135.7K Views https://x.com/IRIran_Military/status/1842126003784601819
    Like
    2
    0 ความคิดเห็น 0 การแบ่งปัน 266 มุมมอง 0 รีวิว
  • “Supposedly” vs. “Supposably”: Yes, There Is A Difference

    Recently, we added the word supposably to our dictionary. And, what do you suppose happened?

    For one thing, we discovered how strongly people feel about this word—which many assume to be a recently invented term or a mispronunciation. Others quite reasonably think it’s a synonym of supposedly. After all, even Joey from Friends famously and hilariously couldn’t figure out if supposedly and supposably were different words.

    Here’s the shocking truth: supposably is, in fact, a real word and has been used since at least the 1700s. However, it may not mean quite what you (or Joey) think it does. To celebrate supposably’s new entry in our dictionary, let’s break down the difference between the words supposably and supposedly.

    What does supposedly mean?

    Let’s start with the word most people know. The word supposedly means “according to what is accepted or believed, without positive knowledge.”

    Supposedly is an adverb based on the word supposed. Supposedly is used to express doubt that something is what people say it is. It is a synonym of the word allegedly.

    The word supposedly is used when a person has heard information about something, such as from the news or the rumors going around town. At the same time, they aren’t sure if the information is actually true. For example, a person may say that the dinosaurs are supposedly extinct if they don’t believe the dinosaurs are really gone. Maybe they’re hiding in a theme park somewhere?

    What does supposably mean?

    Supposably means “as may be assumed, imagined, or supposed.”

    Supposably is an adverb based on the word supposable. If something is supposable, it means that it is possible or conceivable. Therefore, supposably is a synonym of the adverbs possibly and conceivably. If something can supposably happen, it means it is within the realm of possibility that it can happen. It is often used with words such as might, may, or could.

    For example, it is correct to say that a dog may supposably be friends with a cat. Although they usually don’t get along, there is plenty of evidence of cats tolerating dogs. On the other hand, it would be incorrect to say that pigs could supposably fly. Pigs do not have wings nor the money to pay for flight school. Because a pig flying is impossible, logically you wouldn’t say that a pig may supposably fly—unless you fitted them with wings.

    How to use supposedly and supposably

    The easiest way to know which word you should use is to see if you want to say that something is supposed to be a certain way or if it is possible for something to be a certain way.

    For example, if someone says that a particular bug spray supposedly kills mosquitoes, they are doubtful of the truth of this advertised claim—and are probably being munched on by mosquitoes!

    On the other hand, if someone says that a particular bug spray supposably kills mosquitoes, they are saying that it is possible that the bug spray could kill mosquitoes—it is made from a chemical that can be lethal to mosquitoes.

    Here are some more examples of correct uses of supposedly and supposably:

    - My son supposedly bathed the dog but she smells like a dumpster!
    - Although it is very unlikely, a skydiver could supposably survive jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
    - “Supposedly, the Egyptians built the pyramids,” Stan said. “If you ask me, it was time-traveling robots!”
    - They set the betting odds at a million to one, which means that they believe that the celebrity chef might supposably defeat the professional boxer in a boxing match somehow.

    So, here’s the big idea:

    While supposably is a real (if rare) word, most people will opt for synonyms such as possibly or conceivably. Because many mistakenly believe others using supposably is a mistake, a lot of people avoid supposably so as not to invoke the wrath of people who are supposedly grammar snobs.

    Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    “Supposedly” vs. “Supposably”: Yes, There Is A Difference Recently, we added the word supposably to our dictionary. And, what do you suppose happened? For one thing, we discovered how strongly people feel about this word—which many assume to be a recently invented term or a mispronunciation. Others quite reasonably think it’s a synonym of supposedly. After all, even Joey from Friends famously and hilariously couldn’t figure out if supposedly and supposably were different words. Here’s the shocking truth: supposably is, in fact, a real word and has been used since at least the 1700s. However, it may not mean quite what you (or Joey) think it does. To celebrate supposably’s new entry in our dictionary, let’s break down the difference between the words supposably and supposedly. What does supposedly mean? Let’s start with the word most people know. The word supposedly means “according to what is accepted or believed, without positive knowledge.” Supposedly is an adverb based on the word supposed. Supposedly is used to express doubt that something is what people say it is. It is a synonym of the word allegedly. The word supposedly is used when a person has heard information about something, such as from the news or the rumors going around town. At the same time, they aren’t sure if the information is actually true. For example, a person may say that the dinosaurs are supposedly extinct if they don’t believe the dinosaurs are really gone. Maybe they’re hiding in a theme park somewhere? What does supposably mean? Supposably means “as may be assumed, imagined, or supposed.” Supposably is an adverb based on the word supposable. If something is supposable, it means that it is possible or conceivable. Therefore, supposably is a synonym of the adverbs possibly and conceivably. If something can supposably happen, it means it is within the realm of possibility that it can happen. It is often used with words such as might, may, or could. For example, it is correct to say that a dog may supposably be friends with a cat. Although they usually don’t get along, there is plenty of evidence of cats tolerating dogs. On the other hand, it would be incorrect to say that pigs could supposably fly. Pigs do not have wings nor the money to pay for flight school. Because a pig flying is impossible, logically you wouldn’t say that a pig may supposably fly—unless you fitted them with wings. How to use supposedly and supposably The easiest way to know which word you should use is to see if you want to say that something is supposed to be a certain way or if it is possible for something to be a certain way. For example, if someone says that a particular bug spray supposedly kills mosquitoes, they are doubtful of the truth of this advertised claim—and are probably being munched on by mosquitoes! On the other hand, if someone says that a particular bug spray supposably kills mosquitoes, they are saying that it is possible that the bug spray could kill mosquitoes—it is made from a chemical that can be lethal to mosquitoes. Here are some more examples of correct uses of supposedly and supposably: - My son supposedly bathed the dog but she smells like a dumpster! - Although it is very unlikely, a skydiver could supposably survive jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. - “Supposedly, the Egyptians built the pyramids,” Stan said. “If you ask me, it was time-traveling robots!” - They set the betting odds at a million to one, which means that they believe that the celebrity chef might supposably defeat the professional boxer in a boxing match somehow. So, here’s the big idea: While supposably is a real (if rare) word, most people will opt for synonyms such as possibly or conceivably. Because many mistakenly believe others using supposably is a mistake, a lot of people avoid supposably so as not to invoke the wrath of people who are supposedly grammar snobs. Copyright 2024, XAKKHRA, All Rights Reserved.
    Like
    1
    0 ความคิดเห็น 0 การแบ่งปัน 814 มุมมอง 0 รีวิว