Words they cannot use due to their being “arab”

admiral – ami:r-al-bahr ‘ruler of the seas’ (and other similar expressions) – amara command
adobe – al-toba ‘the brick’
albacore – al-bukr ‘the young camel’
alchemy – al-ki:mi:a: – from Greek
alcohol – al-koh”l ‘the kohl‘
alcove – al-qobbah ‘vault’ – qubba vault
alembic – al-ambi:q ‘the still’ – from Greek
alfalfa – alfas,fas,ah ‘fodder’
algebra – al-jebr ‘reintegration’ – jabara reunite
Algol – al-ghu:l ‘the ghoul‘
algorithm – al-Khowarazmi ‘the (man) of Khiva’
alkali – al-qaliy ‘calx’ – qalay fry, roast
Allah – `allah, from contraction of al-ilah ‘the god’
Almagest – al-majisti – from Greek
almanac – (Andalucian Arabic) al-mana:kh, of uncertain origin
amber – `anbar ‘ambergris’
antimony – al-íthmid ‘antimony trisulphide’ – perhaps from Greek
apricot – al-burquq – from Greek
Arab – `arab
arsenal – dar as,s,ina`ah ‘house of making’, i.e. ‘factory’ – s,ana`a make
artichoke – al-kharshu:f
assagai – az-zaghayah – from Berber
assassin – h’ashsha:shi:n ‘hashish eaters’, from the Isma`ili sectarians
attar – `itr ‘aroma’
ayatollah – ‘ayatu-llah ‘miraculous sign of God’
azimuth – as-sumut ‘the paths’; see also zenith
azure – al-lazward ‘lapis lazuli’ – from Persian

barbican – (possibly) bâb-al-baqara ‘gate with holes’
berdache – (possibly) bardaj ’slave’
Betelgeuse – bi:t al-jauza:’ ’shoulder of the Giant’
bezoar – bazahr – from Persian
bint – bint ‘daughter
bled – balad ‘vast open country’
borax – bu:raq – from Persian
burka – burqa`
burnouse – burnus

caliber – qali:b ‘mold, last’ -
calico – Qaliqu:t ‘Calicut’, city in India
caliph – khali:fah ’successor’ – khalafa ’succeed’
camise – qami:s ’shirt’ – from Latin
camphor – ka:fu:r – from Malay
candy – short for ’sugar candy’, from sugar + qandi ‘candied’, from qand ‘cane sugar’ – from a Dravidian language
carat – qi:ra:t ’small weight’ – from Greek
caraway – alkarawya: – probably from Greek
carafe – gharra:f – gharafa ‘dip’
carmine – qirmazi: ‘crimson’
carob – kharrubah
cassock – kaza:ghand ‘padded jacket’ – from Persian
check – sha:h ‘king’ – from Persian
checkmate – sha:h ma:t ‘the king is dead’
chemistry – see alchemy
chess – from Old French eschecs, plural of check
cipher – s,ifr ‘empty’
civet – zaba:d
coffee – qahwah
Copt - quft – from Greek
cork – qu:rq
cotton – qutn
couscous – kuskus – kaskasa pound, bruise
crimson – qirmazi:, related to the qirmiz, the insect that provided the dye

Deneb – danab al-jaja:ja ‘tail of the hen’
dhow – da:w
dinar – di:na:r – from Greek
dirham - dirham – from Greek
dragoman – tarjuma:n – tarjama interpret
drub – daraba ‘beat’
dura mater – Latin calque on umm al-ghali:dah ‘hard mother’

efreet – ‘ifri:t ‘monster’
El Cid – al-Sayyid ‘the lord’
elixir – al-iksi:r ‘philosopher’s stone’ – from Greek
emir – ami:r - amara command

fakir – faqi:r ‘poor man’ – faqura be poor
fardel – fardah ‘load’
Farsi – Fa:rs ‘Pars’, a province of Iran – from Persian
fatwa – fetwa – fata: instruct by a legal decision
fedayeen – fida:’iyi:n ‘commandos’ – fida:` redemption
felafel – fala:fil
fellah – fella:h’ ‘husbandman’ – falah’a till
felucca – fulk ’ship’ – falaka be round
Fomalhaut – fum u’l-haut ‘mouth of the fish’

garble – gharbala ’sift’ – perhaps from Latin
gazelle – ghaza:l
genie – jinni: ’spirit’
gerbil – yarbu:`
ghoul – ghu:l ‘demon’ – gha:la take suddenly
giraffe – zara:fa

hadith – h’adi:t ‘tradition’
haj – h’ajj ‘pilgrimage’ – h’ajja go on a pilgrimage
halal – h’ala:l ‘lawful’
halvah – h’alwa:
harem – h’aram ‘prohibited, set apart’ – h’arama prohibit
hashish – h’ashi:sh ‘dried herbs, hemp’
hazard – yásara ‘play at dice’
hegira – hijrah ‘departure’ – hajara separate, go
henna – h’enna:`
Hezbollah – H’izbulla:h ‘party of God’
hookah – h’uqqah ‘water bottle (through which smoke is drawn)’
houri – h’u:r al-`ayu:n ‘with eyes like gazelles’ – h’awura have eyes like gazelles

imam – ima:m ‘leader’ – amma precede
Islam – isla:m ’submission’ – aslama submit oneself

jar – jarrah ‘large earthen vase’
jasmine – ya:smi:n – from Persian
jinn – jinn ’spirits’, plural of genie
julep – jula:b ‘rose water’ – from Persian

Kaaba – ka`bah ’square house’
kabob – kaba:b – from Persian
kaffir – ka:fir ‘infidel’ – kafara conceal, deny
keffiyeh – kaffi:yah
khamsin – khamsi:n ‘fifty (days)’
kismet – qisma ‘portion, lot’ – qasama divide
kohl – koh”l ‘kohl’ – kah’ala stain, paint
Koran – qura:n ‘recitation’ – qara`a read

lilac – li:la:k – from Persian
lemon – laymu:n - from Persian
lime - li:mah ‘citrus fruit’
loofah – lu:fah a plant whose pods were used as sponges
lute – al-`u:d

macramé – miqramah ’striped cloth’
magazine – makha:zin ’storehouses’ – khazana store
Mahdi – mahdi:y ‘one who is guided aright’ – hada: lead
majlis – majlis ‘council’
mancala – mank.ala – nak.ala move
marzipan – mawthaba:n ‘coin featuring a seated figure’
mask – perhaps maskhara ‘buffoon’ – sakhira ridicule
mattress – matrah ‘place where something is thrown, mat, cushion’ – tarah’a throw
minaret – mana:rah – na:r fire
mohair – mukhayyar ‘choice (goats’-hair cloth)’ – khayyara select
monsoon – mausim ’season’ – wasama mark
mosque – masgid – sagada worship
Mozarabic – musta`rib ‘would-be Arab’
muezzin – mu’adhdhin ‘criers’ – adhana proclaim
mufti – mufti: ‘one who gives a fatwa‘
mujahedeen – muja:hidi:n ‘figher in a jihad‘
mullah – mawla: ‘master’
mummy – mu:miya: ‘embalmed body’ – mu:m ‘(embalming) wax’
Muslim – muslim ’submitter’ – aslama submit oneself
muslin – Maus,il ‘Mosul’

nadir – nadi:r as-samt ‘opposite the zenith’
natron – natru:n - from Greek
nizam – nidam ‘government’

orange – na:ranj – from Sanskrit
ottoman – `uthma:n, a proper name

pia mater – Latin calque on umm raqi:qah ‘tender mother’
popinjay – babagha:
Primum Mobile – Latin calque on al-muh’ arrik al-awwal ‘the first mover’

racket – râh’et ‘palm of the hand’ Ramadan – Ramada:n meaning perhaps ‘the hot month’ – ramata be heated
realgar – rehj al-gha:r ‘powder of the cave’
ream – rizmah ‘bundle’
rebec – reba:b
Rigel – rijl ‘foot (of Orion)’
roc – rukh
rook – rukh - from Persian
Rubaiyyat – ruba:`i:yah ‘quatrain’

safari – safari:y ‘journey’ – safara travel
saffron – za`fara:n
Sahara – çah’ra: ‘desert’
sahib – ça:h’ib ‘friend’
salaam – as-sala:m `alaikum ‘peace be on you’
saluki – salu:k.i: ‘from Saluk‘
Saracen – sharqi:yi:n ‘easterners’ – sha:raqa rise
sash – sha:sh ‘muslin’
satin – probably zaytu:ni: ‘of Zaytu:n’ (a city in China)
scarlet – siqilla:t ‘(cloth) adorned with images’ – from Latin
sequin – sikkah ‘die for coinmaking’
Sharia – shari:`a
sheikh – shaikh ‘old man’ – sha:kha grow old
sherbet – sharbah – shariba drink
Shiite – shiya`i:y, from shiya:` ‘following, sect’ – sha`a follow
shrub [drink] – shurb ‘a drink’ – shariba drink
sine – Latin sinus, mistranslation of jayb ‘chord of an arc, sine’, through confusion with jayb ‘fold of a garment’
sirocco – sharq ‘east (wind)’ – sha:raqa rise
sofa – s,uffah ‘raised dais with cushions’
souk – su:k. ‘marketplace’
spinach – isfa:na:kh
Sufi – çu:fi: ‘man of wool’
sugar – sukkar – from Sanskrit
sultan – sulta:n ’sovereign’
sumac – summa:q
Sunni – sunni: ‘lawful’, from sunna:h ‘rule, course’
sura – su:rah
syrup - shara:b ‘beverage’ – shariba drink

tabbouleh – tabbu:la
tabby – `atta:biy, a neighborhood in Baghdad where taffeta was made
tahini – - tah’ana crush
Taliban – talib ’student’ – talaba study
talisman – tilsam – from Greek
tamarind – tamr-hindi: ‘date of India’
tambourine – a small tambour, from tanbu:r - from Persian
tandoori – tannu:r ‘oven’
tarboosh – tarbu:sh
tare [weight] – tarh’ah ‘rejected’ – tarah’a reject
tariff – ta`ri:f ‘notification’ – `arafa notify
tarragon – tarkhu:n – possibly from Greek
tell [mound] – tall ‘hillock’

ujamaa – jama:` ‘community’
ulema – `ulima: ‘the learned ones’ – `alama know

Vega – al-nasr al-wa:qi` ‘the falling vulture’
vizier – wazi:r ‘porter, public servant’ – wazara carry

wadi – wa:di:
Waqf – waqf ‘religious foundation’
wisdom tooth – from a Latin calque on adra:su ‘l h’ikmi – calqued from Greek

zenith – samt ‘path’
zero – s,ifr ‘empty’

Contributions to society that Michelle Malkin should give up:

MATHEMATICS
In mathematics, the Arab sifr, or zero, provided new solutions for complicated mathematical problems. The Arabic numeral – an improvement on the original Hindu concept – and the Arab decimal system facilitated the course of science. The Arabs invented and developed algebra and made great strides in trigonometry. Al-Khwarizmi, credited with the founding of algebra, was inspired by the need to find a more accurate and comprehensive method of ensuring precise land divisions so that the Koran could be carefully obeyed in the laws of inheritance. The writings of Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo Fibonacci of Pisa, and Master Jacob of Florence show the Arab influence on mathematical studies in European universities. The reformation of the calendar, with a margin of error of only one day in five thousand years, was also a contribution of Arab intellect.

ASTRONOMY
Like algebra, the astrolabe was improved with religion in mind. It was used to chart the precise time of sunrises and sunsets, and to determine the period for fasting during the month of Ramadan, Arab astronomers of the Middle Ages compiles astronomical charts and tables in observatories such as those at Palmyra and Maragha. Gradually, they were able to determine the length of a degree, to establish longitude and latitude, and to investigate the relative speeds of sound and light. Al-Biruni, considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, discussed the possibility of the earth’s rotation on its own axis – a theory proven by Galileo six centuries later. Arab astronomers such as al-Fezari, al-Farghani, and al-Zarqali added to the works of Ptolemy and the classic pioneers in the development of the magnetic compass and the charting of the zodiac. Distinguished astronomers from all over the world gathered to work at Maragha in the thirteenth century.

MEDICINE
In the field of medicine, the Arabs improved upon the healing arts of ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Al-Razi, a medical encyclopedist of the ninth century, was an authority on contagion. Among his many volumes of medical surveys, perhaps the most famous is the Kitab al-Mansuri. It was used in Europe until the sixteenth century. Al-Razi was the first to diagnose smallpox and measles, to associate these diseases and others with human contamination and contagion, to introduce such remedies as mercurial ointment, and to use animal gut for sutures.

The famous scientist-philosopher known in Europe as Avicenna was Ibn Sina, an Arab. He was the greatest writer of medicine in the Middle Ages, and his Canon was required reading throughout Europe until the seventeenth century. Avicenna did pioneer work in mental health, and was a forerunner of today’s psychotherapists. He believed that some illnesses were psychosomatic, and he sometimes led patients back to a recollection of an incident buried in the subconscious in order to explain the present ailment.

In the fourteenth Century, when the Great Plague ravaged the world, Ibn Khatib and Ibn Khatima of Granada recognized that it was spread by contagion. In his book, Kitabu’l Maliki, al-Maglusi showed a rudimentary conception of the capillary system; an Arab from Syria, Ibn al-Nafis, discovered the fundamental principles of pulmonary circulation.

Camphor, cloves, myrrh, syrups, juleps, and rosewater were stocked in Arab sydaliyah (pharmacies) centuries ago. Herbal medicine was widely used in the Middle East, and basil, oregano, thyme, fennel, anise, licorice, coriander, rosemary, nutmeg, and cinnamon found their way through Arab pharmacies to European tables.

ARCHITECTURE
As with astronomy and mathematics, the great purpose of early Arab architecture was to glorify Islam. Architects devoted their skills primarily to the building of mosques and mausoleums. They borrowed the horseshow arch from the Romans, developed it into their own unique style, and made it an example for the architecture of Europe. The Great Mosque of Damascus, built in the 4early eighth century, is a beautiful demonstration of the use of the horseshoe arch. The mosque of Ibn Tulun in Cairo, with its pointed arches, was the inspiration behind the building of many magnificent cathedrals in Europe.

Arab cusp, tefoil, and ogee arches provided models for the Tudor arch such as those used in the cathedrals of Wells in England and Chartres in France. The Muslin minaret, itself inspired by the Greek lighthouse, became the campanile in Europe. One of the most famous examples of this can be seen in the San Marcos Square in Venice.

Designs from the Islamic mosques of Jerusalem, Mecca, Tripoli, Cairo, Damascus, and Constantinople were borrowed in the building of ribbed vaults in Europe. The Arab use of cubal transitional supports under domes was incorporated into the cathedrals and palaces of eleventh and twelfth century Palermo.

Arab styles were elegant and daring. Arabesque designs, calligraphy, and explosions of color can be seen today in such structures as the Lion Court of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, and many of the great medieval religious and civic buildings of Europe.

While we as Westerners are more familiar with the influence of Arab architecture of the Romance countries of Spain, Italy and France, we do not often remember that the Arab empires reached into Eastern Europe and Asia as well. Startling remnants of a once powerful conquest are particularly prevalent in Russia. The brilliant blue tiled done of the Mosque of Bibi Khanum, Timu’s (Tamerlane) favorite wife, catches the visitor’s eye in Samarkand. Here, as well as in the complex of tombs called Shah-I-Zinda (the Living Prince), much of the old beauty is being returned to its former elegance through restoration.

NAVIGATION AND GEOGRAPHY
The world’s earliest navigational and geographical charts were developed by Canaanites who, probably simultaneously with the Egyptians, discovered the Atlantic Ocean. The medieval Arabs improved upon ancient navigational practices with the development of the magnetic needle in the ninth century.

One of the most brilliant geographers of the medieval world was al-Idrisi, a twelfth century scientist living in Sicily. He was commissioned by the Norman King, roger II, to compile a world atlas, which contained seventy maps. Some of the areas were therefore uncharted. Called Kitabal-Rujari (Roger’s book), Idrisi’s work was considered the best geographical guide of its time.

Ibn Battuta, an Arab, must have been the hardiest traveler of his time. He was not a professional geographer, but in his travels by horse, camel and sailboat, he covered over seventy five thousand miles. His wanderings, over a period of decades at a time, took him to Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Persia, and central Asia. He spent several years in India, and from there was appointed ambassador to the emperor of China. After China, he toured all of North Africa and many places in western Africa. Ibn Battuta’s book, Rihla (journey), is filled with information on the politics, social conditions, and economics of the places he visited.

A twenty five year old Arab, captured by Italian pirates in 1520, has received much attention in the West. He was Hassan al-Wazzan, who became a protégé of Pope Leo X. Leo persuaded the young man to become a Christian, gave him his own name, and later convinced him to write an account of his travels on the them almost unknown African continent. Hassan became Leo Africanus and his book was translated into several European languages. For nearly two hundred year, Leo Africanus was read as the most authoritative source on Africa.

It should also be remembered that in the fifteenth century Vasco da Gama, exploring the east coast of Africa new Malindi, was guided by an Arab pilot who used maps never before seen by Europeans. The pilot’s name was Ahmed ibn Majid.

HORTICULTURE
The ancient Arabs loved the land, for in earth and water they saw the source of life and the greatest of God’s gifts. They were guided by the words attributed to the Prophet: “Whoever bringeth the dead land to life… for him is reward therein.” They were pioneers in botany. In the twelfth century an outstanding reference work, Al-Filahat by Ibn al-Awam, described more than five hundred different plants and methods of grafting, soil conditioning, and curing of diseased vines and trees.

The Arab contributions to food production are legion. They were able to graft a single vine so that it would bear grapes in different colors, and their vineyards were responsible for the future of wine industries of Europe. Peach, apricot, and loquat trees were transplanted in southern Europe by Arab soldiers. The hardy olive was encouraged to grow in the sandy soil of Greece, Spain, and Sicily. From India they introduced the cultivation of sugar, and from Egypt they brought cotton to European markets. “May there always be coffee at your house” was their expression, wishing prosperity and the joy of hospitality for their friends. Coffee was qahwah that which gives strength, and derivatives of that name are used today in almost every country of the world. They also perfected the storage of soft fruits to be eaten fresh throughout the year.

Arab horticulture gave the world the fragrant flowers and herbs from which perfumes were extracted. Their walled gardens were for the pleasure of the senses – a pine tree standing green and aromatic in the heart of a garden scented with jasmine; a fountain or artificial pool to delight the eye amidst lavender and laurel; a special rose garden blooming in riotous color, the roots injected with saffron to produce yellow, and indingo to produce blue; vines and trees injected with perfumes in the autumn flooding the air with fragrance in the spring; a weeping willow dripping gracefully into the middle of a clear lake; arbors and pergolas constructed where streams of water could bubble through them, cooling the air and giving relief from the heat of the desert. Mimosa and wild cherry lavished color against stonewalls, and cypress grew tall, close and straight bordering alleyways to obliterate from view all that was not pleasing.

Bulb flowers were already in a highly hybridized and cultivated state when the Crusaders carried them home from Palestine to western Europe toward the end of the centuries of Arab power. Rice, Sesame, pepper, ginger, cloves, melons and shallots, as well as dates, figs, oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits, were introduced into European cuisine via the Crusaders and the trade caravans of Eastern merchants.

The women of Europe borrowed from the cosmetics first prepared by the Egyptians, Syrians, and Phoenicians. Some of these included lipsticks, nail polishes, eye shadow, eye liner (kohl), perfumes and powders, hair dyes (henna), body lotions and oils, and even wigs. A symbol of the vanity of the medieval ladies of European courts was the high peaked, pointed cap with its trailing veil of silk. This fashion of Jerusalem was called the tontour, and noble ladies of both the East and Europe vied with each other on the height of the tontour and the elegance of the fabrics used in the design of the face-framing millinery.

Much of our contemporary jewelry is a result of inspiration from adornments of the ancient and medieval Arabs, and the highly prized squash blossom design was once on the uniform bottle worn by Spanish Conquistadors.

OTHER SCIENCES
Concerning Arab contributions to engineering, one can look to the water wheel, cisterns, irrigation, water wells at fixed levels, and the water clock. In 860, the three sons of Musa ibn Shakir published the Book on Artifices, which described a hundred technical constructions. One of the earliest philosophers, al-Kindi, wrote on specific weight, tides, light reflection and optics.

Al-Haytham (known in Europe as Alhazen) wrote a book in the tenth century on optics, Kitab Al Manazir. He explored optical illusions, the rainbow, and the camera obscura (which led to the beginning of photographic instruments). He also made discoveries in atmospheric refractions (mirages and comets, for example), studied the eclipse, and laid the foundation for the later development of the microscope and the telescope. Al-Haytham did not limit himself to one branch of the sciences, but like many of the Arab scientists and thinkers, explored and made contributions to the fields of physics, anatomy and mathematics.

CRAFTS
Because the ancient Arabs believed that the arts served God, they raised small scale artistries to new levels of perfection. Glassware, ceramics, and textile weaves attest to their imagination and special skills. They covered walls and objects with intricately detailed mosaics, tiles, carvings, and paintings. Syrian beakers and rock crystals were in great demand in Renaissance Europe and the Azulejos. The iridescent luster pottery from the Moorish kilns in Valencia, also enjoyed great popularity. New glazing techniques were developed, and the brilliant blues took on many names. (The Chinese called them Muhammedan blues, and Dutch traders called them Chinese blues).

They were masters of silk weaving, and the Arab cape worn by Sicily’s King Robert II on his coronation is one of the best examples of this delicate art. Cotton muslin, Damask linen and Shiraz wool became watchwords for quality in textiles in Europe.

One considers Moroccan leather to be of particularly fine quality. The Moroccan tanners of the Middle Ages developed methods for tanning hides almost to the softness of silk, and they used vegetable dyes that retained color indefinitely. These leathers were used for bookbindings, and the gold tooling and colored panels of the Arab style are still being produced, particularly in Venice and Florence to the present day.

The Arabs further developed the art of crucible steel forging. They hardened the steel, polished and decorated it with etchings, and produced tempered Damascene swords. Other works in metal included intricately cut brass chandeliers, ewers, salvers, jewel cases inlaid with gold and silver, and, of course, the beautifully decorated astrolabe.

LANGUAGE AND CALLIGRAPHY
Because God spoke to Muhammed in Arabic, Muslims venerated the Arabic language. Thus, to Muslims, Arabic calligraphy itself became an art form. It was the chief form of embellishment on all the mosques of the Arab world, and the religious and public buildings of Palermo, Cordoba, Lisbon and Malaga are resplendent with it.

The Arabic language is rich and pliant, and poetry, literature, and drama have left their mark on both East and West. Among the earliest publications of the Arabs were the translations into Arabic of the Greek and Roman classics – the works of Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates, Ptolemy, Dioscorides and Galen. Some note that the poet Nizami’s translations of the twelfth century romance, Layla and Majnun, may have been an inspiration for the later work, Romeo and Juliet. Ibn Tufail’s Hayy ibn Yaqzan (Alive, Son of Awake), considered by many to be the first real novel, was translated by Pocock into Latin in 1671 and by Simon Ockley into English in 1708. It bears many similarities to Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. A Thousand and One Nights and Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat are among the best loved and most widely read of Arab literature. The fascination with Arabic, following the Hellenistic period of Louis XIV, is particularly evident in Shakespeare’s characterizations of the Moors (Othello and the Price of Morocco), in Christopher Marlowe’s Tamburlaine the Great, and in George Peel’s The Battle of Alcazar.

Besides influencing belles letters, the Arabs developed a system of historiography called isnad. This procedure documents all reliable sources and it provides the modern historian with accurate and comprehensive materials. Foremost among these historiographers was Ibn Khaldun, of whose Book of Examples Arnold Toynbee writes: “Ibn Khaldun, has conceived and formulated a philosophy of history which is undoubtedly the greatest work of its kind that has ever yet been created by any mind in any time.”

MUSIC
The harp, lyre, zither, drum, tambourine, flute, oboe and reed instruments are today either exactly as they were used from earliest Arab civilization or variations of the Arabs’ early musical instruments. The guitar and mandolin are sisters to that plaintive, pear-shaped stringed instrument, the oud.

The bagpipe was first introduced into Europe by Crusaders returning from the wars in Palestine. It quickly became identified with the British Isles. Once the entertainment of the lonely Arab shepherds, the bagpipe returned to Palestine with the British Army. This lost musical art was relearned during the period of Sir John Glubb’s reorganization and command of Jordan’s colorful Bedouin Corps.

Arab poetry was put to music the subtle delicacy of minor key sequences and rhythm. The modes continue to influence our ballads and folk songs today. Extempore poetry was perfected into musical expression, and Arab wedding and other occasions are still celebrated with extempore versing and musical composition.

PHILOSOPHY
Arab philosophers effectively integrated faith and scientific fact, letting one exit within the framework of the other. The Arab philosophers after Byzantium re-discovered the classic philosophy of Aristotle, Plotinus, and Plato in attempting to find answers to the fundamental questions concerning God’s creation of the universe, the nature and destiny of the human soul, and the true existence of the seen as the unseen.

Among the well-known philosophers of the medieval world were al-Kindi, who contributed to the work of Plato and Aristotle; al-Farabi, who made a model of Man’s community; Avicenna (Ibn Sina), who developed theories on form and matter that were incorporated into medieval Christian Scholasticism; Ibn Khaldun, who expounded the cycles of a state in his Muqqadimah (Introduction).

In discussing contributions to human civilizations of some of the medieval Arab scientists, artists, educators, philosophers, poets and musicians, one must remember that their thought was molded and shaped by many ancient cultures – Greek, Roman, Chinese, Indian, Byzantine, Canaanite and Egyptian, for example. Arab culture, from its ancient beginnings to the present, has given us three great monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In government and law, one refers to Hammurabi (Babylonian), Ulpian and Papinian (Phoenicians). Perhaps the greatest contribution of the Arabs to human civilization has been the phonetic alphabet.

In all aspects of our daily lives, then – in our homes, offices and universities; in religion, philosophy, science and the arts – we are indebted to Arab creativity, insight and scientific perseverance

Here is Casey Kasem’s (yeah he is an Arab) list of Arab Americans:

Military Service

You talk about courage … How about America’s and the world’s first jet ace? He was the Korean War hero, U.S. Air Force Col. James Jabara. In World War II, Army officers like Maj. Gen. Fred Safay fought alongside Gen. Patton, and Brig. Gen. Elias Stevens served on Gen. Eisenhower’s staff.

And in 1944, one of our Navy’s ships, the destroyer escort USS Naifeh, was named in honor of an Arab American hero, Navy Lt. Alfred Naifeh of Oklahoma. Retired Brigadier General James J. David served as Company Commander of the famous 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. More recently, West Point graduate and retired four-star Gen. George Joulwan was the NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, where he commanded both European and U.S. troops. Brig. Gen. William J. Jabour is the Director of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Fighter and Bomber programs in charge of the F-22 System Program Office (SPO). General John Abizaid is head of U.S. Central Command in Iraq.

Political

Some of us work in our nation’s capital, like veteran Congressmen Nick Joe Rahall II (West Virginia), Ray LaHood (Illinois), Charles Boustany (Louisiana), Darrell Issa (California), Senator John E. Sununu (New Hampshire) and former Congressman John Baldacci who is now the Governor of Maine.

Two Arab Americans were appointed to President George W. Bush’s first term Cabinet: former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., who is now the Governor of Indiana and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham. The first Arab American ever appointed to a Cabinet secretary post was Donna Shalala, the nation’s longest serving Secretary of Health and Human Services, and now president of the University of Miami. Former Governor of New Hampshire John H. Sununu became the White House Chief of Staff under Pres. George Bush, Sr., and later a political commentator on CNN.

America’s longest-serving White House Chief of Protocol, serving seven-and-a-half years under President Reagan, was Ambassador Selwa Roosevelt. Thomas Nassif and Edward Gabriel both served as U.S. Ambassador to Morocco. Our Ambassador to Syria was Theodore Kattouf, and Marcelle Wahba was Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The late ambassador Philip C. Habib served as Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Feisty Helen Thomas, who served for 57 years as a correspondent for United Press International and was dean of the White House press corps, is a Hearst newspaper syndicated columnist. In a class by himself, the late, warm-hearted Robert George portrayed Santa Claus year-round for nearly 50 years and was a Presidential Santa at the White House through seven administrations.

Others who have served in high elected office are: former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, who brokered a peace deal in Northern Ireland and led a peace commission to the Middle East; former U.S. Senators James Abourezk and James Abdnor, both of South Dakota; and former Congressional members Pat Danner of Missouri, Mary Rose Oakar of Ohio, the late George Kasem of California, who was the first Arab American elected to the U.S. Congress, Abraham Kazen, Jr. of Texas, Toby Moffett of Connecticut, and Chris John of Lousiana. Victor Atiyeh was the popular governor of Oregon. And in San Diego, city clerk Charles Abdelnour pioneered the legislation to create the “all-mail ballot” which set a national precedent and earned him an international reputation in election law.

Sports

San Diego Chargers quarterback Doug Flutie, who threw the “miracle touchdown” pass for Boston College, won the Heisman Trophy in 1984. He previously played for several NFL teams and was a superstar in the Canadian Football League. There’s also NFL player Jeff George, who quarterbacked several NFL teams, and former NFL coach Rich Kotite. Don’t forget former Chicago Bears linebacker and NFL Hall of Famer Bill George, or former Cleveland Brown Abe Gibran. Another NFL player is Drew Haddad of the Indianapolis Colts. The former owner of the Miami Dolphins was Joe Robbie.

UCLA’s fiery coach Jim Harrick took his team to the NCAA playoffs eight years in a row, winning the national championship in 1995. The late George Maloof, Sr. owned the NBA’s Houston Rockets; today his sons, Joe and Gavin Maloof, own the Sacramento Kings.

Major League baseball player Joe Lahoud played with the Boston Red Sox and Sam Khalifa played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And Fred Saigh once owned baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals.

In auto racing, Bobby Rahal won the Indy 500 in 1986, later becoming the all-time earnings champ among Indy car racers. The founder of the Professional Bowlers Association was the late Eddie Elias. In the ring, Petey Sarron won the world featherweight championship in 1936-1937. Zuhair “Steve” Mansour was weightlifting’s Grandmaster of the World in 1990. And a four-time U.S. National Chess Champion and Grandmaster is Seattle’s Yasser Seirawan. Women’s International Chess Master Jennifer Shahade won the 2002 and 2004 U.S. Women’s Chess Championships. The late Dr. Elias Ghanem, former chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission and Las Vegas’own physician to the stars, once treated celebrities like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, and Paul Anka. In track and field, the world record holder for the marathon is Arab American Khalid Khannouchi.

Activists

Among America’s activists, can you think of two people who have saved more lives than America’s foremost consumer advocate and Green party presidential candidate Ralph Nader and the founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Candy Lightner. MADD is the largest crime victims’ assistance organization in the world, with more than 3 million members and supporters.

Back in 1960, Ralph Johns, an active participant in the civil rights movement, encouraged the famous Woolworth “sit-in” at a lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Business

The founder of an international, billion-dollar engineering firm, Jacobs Engineering Group, is the late Dr. Joseph Jacobs. A former chemist with dozens of patents became Armand Hammer’s successor as chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of Occidental Petroleum — Dr. Ray Irani.

The late Najeeb Halaby, former head of the Federal Aviation Administration, was CEO of Pan-American Airlines. His daughter, Lisa, married King Hussein of Jordan and became the only Arab American to be queen of a foreign country, Queen Noor.

Jacques Nasser was formerly the president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. Richard Caleal created the “revolutionary” 1949 Ford car design, a design that some credit with saving the company. The chairman of the board of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company is Samir G. Gibara. The late Stephen Yokich served five terms as vice president of the International United Auto Workers union, then became its president. Ned Mansour was formerly the president of Mattel, Inc., maker of Barbie dolls and other toys. The founder and president of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest world-wide distributor of the Bible, is Sam Moore. Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi created the first ice-cream cone at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and, a few years later, Lebanese immigrant Albert George founded Pennsylvania’s Joy Cone Company, the country’s largest ice-cream cone producer.

John Mack is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Morgan Stanley, one of America’s largest investment banking firms. Dr. Raymond Jallow is an internationally respected economic advisor to governments and institutions, lecturing in financial capitals around the world. Youssef A. Nasr was the president and CEO of HSBC USA, a leading financial services organization and the third largest depository institution. William Hanna is the founding president and CEO of Cedars Bank, a wholly Arab American owned commercial bank headquartered in Los Angeles. The chairman of the board and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc. is Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh and second generation Lebanese American Andrew Thomas is President and CEO of Heinekin USA.

Farouk Shamie is the CEO and founder of Farouk Systems USA, a premier hair and skin care company that introduced environmentally safe products for hairdressers. Lebanese-American Richard E. Rainwater built his reputation managing investments for Texas’ wealthy Bass family and earned millions for himself as a result. He recently set up a $120 million trust for Stanford and the University of South Carolina. Egyptian-born Texas billionaire Fayez Sarofim heads Fayez Sarofim Investments and manages the Houston Fine Arts Museum’s $300 million endowment.

George Shaheen is credited with founding Andersen Consulting, now called Accenture, and served as CEO and managing partner as part of a 30-year career at the world’s biggest consulting firm. Roger Farah is president and chief operating officer of Polo Ralph Lauren and previously served as chairman of the board of Venator Group, Inc., the parent company of Footlocker. The “new economy” has its share of Arab American heroes as well: Simon Assad is the co-CEO of Heavy.com, a music site that was nominated for a Webby, the Internet’s highest honor. One of America’s preeminent pollsters, keeping tabs on public opinion and other statistics John Zogby of Zogby International.

Paul Orfalea founded the world’s biggest international chain of copying service stores, Kinko’s; while the late Waleed Ali and his brother Malik founded MPI, the world’s largest home-video distributor of documentaries. The Palms, a Maloof Casino Resort in Las Vegas, is operated by George Maloof, Jr. Entrepreneur ony Ismail founded the Alamo Flag Company in Dallas and built it into the largest retailer of flags and related items in the U.S. today.

Law

The Texas lawyer who won the biggest business settlement in U.S. history, on behalf of Pennzoil ($10 billion dollars!), is one of this country’s most successful attorneys, Joseph D. Jamail. In the famous “zoot suit” trial of the 1940s, George Shibley defended unjustly accused Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles. In the 1990s, the late Edward Masry and Erin Brockovich filed a direct action lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric for polluting the drinking water of Hinkley, CA. Their efforts secured the largest toxic tort injury settlement in U.S. history, $333 million in damages, and was chronicled in the blockbuster film starring Julia Roberts and Albert Finney.

Entertainment

Canadian-born singer-songwriter Paul Anka became one of America’s first pop teen idols. The late ukelele-plucking, falsetto-singing Herbert Khaury became famous as “Tiny Tim.” And in the world of rock, there was the late, legendary Frank Zappa. On the West Coast, Dick Dale is the “King of the Surf Guitar.” Singer-dancer-choreographer Paula Abdul has had two number-one albums, six number-one singles, a Grammy award, and worldwide album sales exceeding 30 million records. And the first teenage singer ever to have her first two singles both hit number one is Tiffany, born Renee Darwish. Pop star Shakira, of Colombian and Lebanese descent, has scored on the U.S. charts and is a multiple Grammy winner.

Speaking of music, three of America’s landmark music shows on radio were created by Arab Americans, Don Bustany and me — “American Top 40,” “American Top 20,”and “American Country Countdown.” On Broadway, playwright Fred Saidy wrote two classics, “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Bloomer Girl.” Opera prima donna Rosalind Elias hit the high notes at the Met. And for avant-garde “Dancer of the Year” in 1992, the New York Times picked a 20-year Broadway veteran with the Paul Taylor Company — Elie Chaib. David Yazbek wrote the lyrics and score for “The Full Monty.”

Among TV directors, two Arab Americans have each helmed over 300 episodes for the networks. Asaad Kelada has done numerous series like “Family Ties” and episodes of “The Facts of Life,” “Dharma & Greg,”“Everybody Loves Raymond,” etc. After directing Broadway hits like “Sweet Charity,” “Mame,” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” John Bowab switched to TV and has directed episodes of the classic hit “The Cosby Show” as well as “My Wife & Kids” and “Life with Bonnie.”

Did you know…

that the highest-rated episode in television history was the last episode of “M*A*S*H”? And who played the role of not-so-crazy Corporal Klinger for its entire 11-year run? A talented Arab American from Toledo, Ohio, Jamie Farr.

On NBC, “Saturday Night Live’s” bandleader for many years was guitarist G.E. Smith. (His family’s Lebanese name, Haddad, means blacksmith).

The best-known Lebanese in America was also the founder of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital — the late, great comedian and actor Danny Thomas. His son is a television and film producer and multi-Emmy winner for “The Golden Girls” and other TV shows —Tony Thomas.

Danny’s daughter, Emmy Award-winning Marlo Thomas, was the first actress ever to play a single, independent young woman in the TV series, “That Girl.” She currently appears on TV’s “Friends” as Rachel’s mother and published a book, “The Right Words at the Right Time.”

The leading man who starred in the movies “Flashdance” and “Finding Forrester” was Michael Nouri, who also starred in TV’s “Love and War” sitcom. The box-office hits “Swingers”, “The Lost World: Jurassic Park”, and “The Wedding Crashers” starred Vince Vaughn, who has a Lebanese grandparent.

Wendie Malick whose father is from Egypt, played Nina Van Horn on NBC’s hit show “Just Shoot Me.” and Tony Shalhoub, now starring in USA Network’s series “Monk,” and Amy Yasbeck appeared in the hit sitcom “Wings” — the first time two Arab Americans have been featured in the same TV series. Amy has also starred in films including Mel Brooks’ “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” Tony has moved to the big screen as well, in both “Men in Black ” films, “The Siege,” “A Civil Action,” and “Thirteen Ghosts” (with fellow Arab Americans F. Murray Abraham and Shannon Elizabeth).

Crusty but soft-hearted Mel in TV’s “Alice” was portrayed by the late Vic Tayback. One of the co-stars of the series “Empty Nest” was Kristy McNichol. A star of TV’s “Head of the Class” was once picked by People Magazine as one of the “50 most beautiful people in the U.S.” — Khrystyne Haje.

Two other fine movie and television actors who also starred in popular TV dramas are James Stacy, who played the main role in “Laramie,” and Michael Ansara, who played Cochise in “Broken Arrow.”

An award-winning comic actress from San Diego, Kathy Najimy, played a fun-loving nun in the “Sister Act” films. She co-starred as Olive, a Lebanese-American, in NBC-TV’s “Veronica’s Closet” with Kirstie Alley. Kathy is the voice of Peggy Hill on Fox-TV’s animated hit “King of the Hill.” Shannon Elizabeth of “American Pie,” “Scary Movie,” and “Tomcats” is of Lebanese and Syrian ancestry.

The former head of Carolco Pictures, handling the “Rocky,” “Rambo,” and “Terminator” films, was “billion-dollar producer” Mario Kassar. The producer of the epic “The Message: The Story of Islam” (a biography of the Prophet Mohammed) and “Lion of the Desert,” not to mention all the blockbuster “Halloween” chillers, is the late Moustapha Akkad.

Lovely Salma Hayek, who is of Lebanese and Mexican descent, is another actress who has lit up the small screen (in cable TV’s movie “The Hunchback,” as the gypsy Esmeralda) and the big screen (Oscar-winning “Traffic,” “Desperado,” “Wild Wild West,” and “Frida,” about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo). The director of Jim Carrey’s loony comedy hits “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Liar, Liar,” Eddie Murphy’s “The Nutty Professor,” and Robin Williams’ “Patch Adams” is Tom Shadyac. Together, these films have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

The Pulitzer Prize for biography (“Jackson Pollack: An American Saga”) was shared by the author of three other national bestsellers: writer-publisher Steven Naifeh of South Carolina. The book was later adapted into an Academy award-winning film (best supporting actress).

Elie Samaha is chairman and owner of Franchise Pictures, which produced such films as “The Heist,” “Angel Eyes,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and “Battlefield Earth.” Academy Award-winning film producer Ronald Schwary is best known for his work with “Tootsie,” “Meet Joe Black,” and “Scent of a Woman.” Jehane Noujaim co-directed and co-produced “Startup.com” and in 2004 directed “Control Room”.

One of show business’ legendary talent managers was the late George “Bullets” Durgom, who, through the years, managed Jackie Gleason, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Marilyn Monroe, to mention a few. Two of today’s top recording stars’ husband-managers are of Arab descent: Rene Angelil, discoverer and manager of wife Celine Dion, and Cuban-born Emilio Estefan, manager and producer of wife Gloria Estefan.

Emmy Award-winning cinematographer-director George S. Dibie is president of the International Photographers Guild. Fouad Said was the cinematographer who designed Cinemobile, the first customized van for filming on location, while working on the TV series “I Spy.” For this achievement, he received a Technical Academy Award in 1970.

Other Arab American Oscar winners include F. Murray Abraham, who won Best Actor for the movie “Amadeus.” Screenwriter and novelist William Peter Blatty won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Exorcist,” a huge box office hit based on his novel of the same name. Recipient of an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Thelma and Louise” and director of the “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” is Callie Khourie. The late composer Paul Jabara won an Oscar award for Best Song, Donna Summer’s ”Last Dance” from the movie “Thank God, It’s Friday.” Set decorator Emile Kuri won two Oscars for his splendid work on “The Heiress” and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” He received a total of eight Academy Award nominations and later designed many exhibits at Disneyland.

Media

Diane Rehm is host and executive producer of “The Diane Rehm Show” on National Public Radio (NPR). George Noory’s talk show “Coast to Coast AM” can be heard on over 500 stations nationwide. The man who pioneered the concept of a radio programming consultant in 1958 is Mike Joseph, who’s helped organizations like ABC, CBS, and NBC, among others.

Turning to television, Lucie Salhany became the first woman to head a television network, as chair of Fox Broadcasting Co., then of United Paramount Network. Tammy Haddad, the creator of “Larry King Live,” is Executive Producer of “Buchanan & Press.” CNN senior editor and anchor Octavia E. Nasr has been named CNN’s first senior editor for Arab affairs. Hoda Kotb is a correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline” and Jim Avila, who is of Lebanese and Mexican descent, is a national correspondent for NBC News.

On the print side, the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting went to Washington Post correspondent Anthony Shadid while the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting went to the Toledo Blade’s Michael Sallah.

Education

The late Edward Said was a Columbia professor and well-known literary and social critic, as well as a respected music reviewer, and wrote a column appearing in “The Nation.” Professor Said authored more than a dozen volumes on everything from the Middle East to English literature. Jack Shaheen, emeritus professor of mass communications at Southern Illinois University and author of books like “The TV Arab” and “Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People,” has also been CBS News’ consultant for the Middle East. David Adamany was the longest-serving president of Wayne State University in Detroit and currently serves as Temple University’s president.

For an inspiring success story, try that of writer-lecturer on business and success, Nido Qubein. When he came to the United States as a teenager, he could barely speak English. He went on to become president of the National Speakers’ Association and the youngest member inducted into the International Speakers’ Hall of Fame.

Fashion

The prestigious CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Award for 1989 and 1990 went to Arab American Joseph Abboud of New York. He’s the only designer to win the award two years in a row. Supermodel Yamila Diaz-Rahi, who is of Lebanese and Spanish descent, landed the coveted Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover in 2002. She has also graced the covers of “Marie Claire,” “Elle,” “GQ,” and “Shape.”

One of America’s most sought-after hairstylists, Frederic Fekkai, boasts clients such as Claudia Schiffer, Kim Basinger, and Renee Zellweger.

Lebanese immigrant J.M. Haggar started Haggar Clothing Co. in 1926. It became one of the world’s best-known brands in men’s apparel. The company is now a multi-million dollar enterprise that is headed by J.M. Haggar III, who serves as chairman and CEO. In addition, Farah Brothers manufactures men’s and women’s slacks, and Maloof Brothers manufactured Mod-O-Day women’s dresses. Norma Kamali, who designs everything from clothing and cosmetics to eyeglasses, is of Arab ancestry. Reem Acra is one of the world’s preeminent designers of bridal fashions and is known for her elaborate embroideries. Hair accessories and jewelry designer Colette Malouf began her rise to the top in 1987 with the “Malouf Poof.” She is known for her innovative use of exotic materials and her celebrity clientele.

Art & Literature

Arab Americans also have made significant contributions to the art world. America’s most honored woodworker, Sam Maloof is an award-winning artisan whose creations have appeared in the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Vatican, and other renowned exhibit halls. Retired heart surgeon Dr. Hussam A. Fadhli is an award-winning sculptor whose work is displayed around the world, including the Bush Presidential Library. Prolific industrial designer Karim Rashid is among the major talents of 21st-century design with work in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

The first woman to design a major American art museum, Cincinnati’s $34 million Contemporary Art Center, is Iraqi-born Zaha Hadid. Artist Ghada Amer’s hand embroidered paintings were selected for the Whitney Biennial 2000 and the Venice Biennale in 1999. Naomi Shihab Nye is an award-winning poet and author of children’s literature.

Science and Medicine

One of America’s most famous pioneers is Houston surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who invented the heart pump. Today he’s chancellor of Baylor University’s College of Medicine. Algerian-American Dr. Elias Zerhouni is the director of the National Institutes of Health.

Two winners of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry are Arab American. Dr. Ahmed H. Zewail, a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology (CIT), is the 1999 winner. The 1990 winner is Harvard’s Dr. Elias Corey. Also at CIT is Dr. Charles Elachi, who was selected to head up the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. A pioneer in the field of electrical engineering, inventor Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah worked for the General Electric Company (GE) in the 1920s and 30s. His research led to 52 patent applications, among them innovations in solar energy and television tubes.

Geologist George A. Doumani’s explorations helped prove the theory of continental drift; he has a mountain peak named after him in Antarctica. Another American geologist, Dr. Farouk el-Baz, born in Egypt, helped plan all the Apollo moon landings and later pioneered the use of space photography to study the Earth.

Finally, the courageous astronauts who lost their lives aboard the space shuttle Challenger represented several racial and ethnic groups: African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, Anglo-American, Jewish-American — and Arab American: schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

Hey Malkin, have an Ipod? Use a Mac?? STEVE JOBS IS AN ARAB.