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Deed
العمل (al-'amal) means 'deed,' 'work,' 'action,' or 'labor.' It refers to any purposeful activity, task, or piece of work that someone undertakes. This word is fundamental in Arabic and appears frequently in everyday conversation, religious contexts, and professional settings.
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العمل الجاد يؤدي إلى النجاح.
Al-'amal al-jād yū'addī ilā an-najāh.
Hard work leads to success.
قام بعمل رائع في المشروع.
Qām bi-'amal rā'i' fī al-mashrū'.
He did wonderful work on the project.
العمل الصالح يرفع الإنسان.
Al-'amal as-sālih yarfa' al-insān.
Righteous deeds elevate the person.
ما هو عملك الحالي؟
Mā huwa 'amaluk al-hāli?
What is your current job?
هذا عمل متقن جداً.
Hādhā 'amal mutqin jiddan.
This is very skillfully executed work.
In Islamic tradition, العمل (work and righteous deeds) holds significant spiritual importance. The concept of 'amal encompasses both physical labor and moral actions, reflecting the Islamic emphasis on productive contribution to society. In modern Arabic-speaking cultures, العمل is central to discussions about career, dignity, and personal achievement, often valued as a core component of identity and social standing.
Remember that العمل can mean both 'work' as a noun (a job or task) and 'deed' (an action or accomplishment). When discussing employment, you might also hear الوظيفة (position) or الشغل (labor). Pay attention to context—'amal in religious contexts emphasizes moral deeds, while in professional contexts it refers to job duties. The verb يعمل (ya'mal) means 'to work' or 'to do.'
The Arabic word العمل (al-amal) is one of the most fundamental and frequently used words in the Arabic language. It carries multiple interconnected meanings that are essential for any learner to understand, as it appears in everyday conversation, professional contexts, religious discourse, and literature.
العمل (al-amal) primarily translates to 'deed,' 'work,' 'labor,' 'action,' or 'job.' The word encompasses any deliberate, purposeful activity undertaken by a person or group. Whether someone is performing a physical task, completing a professional assignment, or undertaking a moral action, the word العمل can describe it. This versatility makes it an indispensable word in Arabic vocabulary.
العمل is a masculine noun (اسم ذكر) in Arabic. When used with the definite article (ال), it becomes 'al-amal' (the work/deed). In plural form, it becomes أعمال (a'mal, works/deeds). The verb associated with this noun is يعمل (ya'mal, meaning 'he/she works' or 'he/she does'). The active participle عامل (aamil) means 'worker' or 'laborer.'
In everyday Arabic, العمل is used to discuss employment, tasks, and accomplishments. For example:
The word is also used in professional and educational settings to denote projects, assignments, and responsibilities.
In Islamic tradition and Arabic religious discourse, العمل carries profound spiritual weight. Good deeds (الأعمال الصالحة, al-a'mal as-saliha) are emphasized throughout the Quran and Islamic teaching as essential to a believer's faith and ultimate salvation. This religious connotation enriches the word beyond its literal meaning of work, connecting it to concepts of morality, responsibility, and divine accountability.
Understanding العمل is enhanced by learning related terms:
Several common Arabic phrases utilize العمل:
English speakers should note that while العمل can translate to 'work,' it often corresponds more specifically to 'job,' 'task,' or 'deed' depending on context. Unlike English, where we distinguish between 'work' (the general concept) and 'a work' (a specific task or creation), Arabic uses العمل more flexibly. Pay careful attention to how native speakers use this word in context to develop an intuitive understanding of its nuances.
العمل is a cornerstone word in Arabic that reflects both practical realities of employment and labor, as well as deeper cultural and spiritual values. Mastering its usage will significantly improve your ability to communicate about daily activities, professional matters, and moral concepts in Arabic.