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License
الرخصة (al-rukhsa) is a feminine noun meaning 'license' or 'permit' in Arabic. It refers to an official document or authorization granted by a government or authority that permits someone to engage in a specific activity, such as driving a vehicle or operating a business. The word can also mean 'concession' or 'exemption' in religious or legal contexts.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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أنا بحاجة إلى رخصة القيادة للعمل سائق تاكسي.
Anā bi-ḥāja ilā rukhṣat al-qiyāda li-l-ʿamal sāʾiq tāksī.
I need a driver's license to work as a taxi driver.
حصلت على رخصة العمل من وزارة العمل.
Ḥaṣalt ʿalā rukhṣat al-ʿamal min wizārat al-ʿamal.
I obtained a work permit from the Ministry of Labor.
يجب تجديد رخصة البناء قبل البدء في المشروع.
Yajib tajdīd rukhṣat al-bināʾ qabl al-bidāʾ fī al-mashrūʿ.
The construction license must be renewed before starting the project.
الفتوى أعطته رخصة في الإفطار لأسباب صحية.
Al-fatwa aʿṭathu rukhṣa fī al-ifṭār li-asbāb ṣiḥḥiyya.
The religious ruling granted him an exemption from fasting for health reasons.
هل حصلت على رخصة استيراد البضائع من الجمارك؟
Hal ḥaṣalt ʿalā rukhṣat istīrād al-biḍāʿa min al-jumāruk?
Did you get an import license for the goods from customs?
In Arab countries, obtaining various licenses (driving, business, professional) is a formal bureaucratic process that requires specific documentation and fees. Religious licenses (rukhsa) are an important concept in Islamic jurisprudence, allowing believers certain exemptions from religious obligations under specific circumstances. The word reflects both the modern administrative systems and traditional Islamic legal frameworks present in Arabic-speaking societies.
When using الرخصة, always follow it with a prepositional phrase indicating the type of license (رخصة القيادة for driver's license, رخصة العمل for work permit). The word is feminine, so adjectives and past participles must agree in gender. In formal contexts, it's commonly paired with verbs like استخراج (obtain), تجديد (renew), or إلغاء (revoke).
الرخصة (al-rukhsa) is a feminine noun in Arabic that primarily means 'license' or 'permit.' It represents an official authorization document issued by competent authorities that grants permission for specific activities. This word is fundamental in modern Arabic vocabulary, particularly when discussing legal, administrative, and bureaucratic matters.
In contemporary Arabic-speaking contexts, الرخصة is used to describe various types of permits:
Professional Licenses:
Business Licenses:
Work Permits:
Beyond administrative uses, الرخصة holds important significance in Islamic jurisprudence. In this context, it refers to a religious exemption or concession granted by Islamic scholars (fatwa) that allows believers to deviate from certain religious obligations under specific circumstances. For example, a person may receive a rukhsa to break their fast during Ramadan due to illness or travel.
As a feminine noun, الرخصة requires feminine agreement when used with adjectives or past participles. For example:
Common verbs used with الرخصة include:
Obtaining a license in Arab countries typically involves visiting a government office, submitting required documentation, paying fees, and sometimes passing examinations. The process can vary significantly between countries, but generally follows formal administrative procedures. Many Arabs interact with license-related terminology frequently, whether for driving, working, or conducting business.
The concept of الرخصة reflects the blend of modern administrative systems with Islamic legal traditions in Arab societies. While Western concepts of licensing influenced current bureaucratic processes, Islamic jurisprudence has long recognized the concept of rukhsa as a way to balance religious obligations with practical necessities. Understanding this word provides insight into both contemporary Arab governance and traditional Islamic legal reasoning.
Familiarizing yourself with common phrases using الرخصة will enhance your Arabic communication:
When learning الرخصة, remember that it's always feminine in gender, so it pairs with feminine forms of adjectives and verbs. Additionally, this word is almost always followed by a genitive construction (إضافة) specifying which type of license is being discussed. For example, you rarely hear just الرخصة alone; instead, you'll hear رخصة القيادة, رخصة العمل, etc. This pattern is consistent across most license-related terminology in Arabic.