‘Handasa': Why the Arabic word for engineering is built to last
From the shaping of things to finely honed skill, the Arabic word for engineering is more than the sum of its parts.
Handasa, this week's word, stems from the root letters ha, noon, dal and seen, and is believed to have originated from the Persian word andazah, meaning measurement or dimension.
The term entered the Arabic language in the ninth century during the Abbasid era, when Baghdad's Bayt Al Hikma, the historical House of Wisdom and library, became a centre of translation.
Scientific texts from Greek, Persian and Indian traditions were rendered into Arabic, and the word handasa appeared in several of these translations of mathematical theories and treatises.
These mathematical roots informed the early Arabic use of handasa, which at first referred specifically to geometry. In the ninth century, the Iraqi scholar Thabit ibn Qurra translated Euclid's Elements and expanded the use of handasa to include spatial reasoning and architectural design. His interpretations helped define how early Islamic cities were planned, from water irrigation systems to the curvature of domes.
Handasa is now used as an umbrella term for engineering, with various branches ranging from handasa madaniyya (civil engineering) and handasa kahraba'iyya (electrical engineering) to handasa ijtima'iyya (social engineering).
In literature and the arts, the word is often used metaphorically as a reference to precision and intricacy of craft. A well-executed event might be described as muhandasa, while a solution that feels overly calculated can be hailed, or derided, as masnu' bi handasa, meaning artificially engineered.
Perhaps this explains some of the affection directed towards Iraqi singer Majid Al Mohandis, whose full name is Majid Al Attabi. While his stage name, translated as 'Majid the Engineer,' began as a nod to his former profession, it has come to describe the carefully calibrated pop hits he has continued to release over the past two decades.
A term that spans science and structure, concept and culture, handasa can be used to construct everything from great ideas to remarkable buildings, when shaped by ambition and precision. Like many words in the Arabic language, it has evolved beyond its standard definition to carry deeper meanings. It is a word built to last.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
15 hours ago
- The National
Lebanon's President Aoun in Baghdad to bolster ties
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Baghdad on Sunday for an official visit to bolster ties between the two countries. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani welcomed Mr Aoun on his arrival in the Iraqi capital. The two leaders held discussions on regional developments and ways to boost co-operation. A ceremony was held to welcome Mr Aoun that "included the playing of the national anthems of Iraq and Lebanon, a review of the honour guard, and the salute of the flags of the two countries", according to a statement by the Iraqi news agency. During his visit, Mr Aoun was also due to hold talks with President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid at the royal palace. Mr Aoun was absent from the Arab League summit held earlier this month in Baghdad. Lebanon was instead represented by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In April, Baghdad summoned Lebanon's ambassador to the country to voice 'discomfort' over statements made by Mr Aoun about a paramilitary force backed by Baghdad. The Popular Mobilisation Forces were formed to support the Iraqi military following a call by prominent Shiite cleric Ali Al Sistani after ISIS seized large parts of Iraq in 2014. Mr Aoun said in an interview with Al Araby Al Jadeed that Lebanon would not emulate Iraq's integration of the PMF into state forces, as Lebanon seeks to create a state monopoly on weapons. In response, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said "the PMF is an integral part of Iraq's military and security framework'. It said 'linking the PMF to Lebanon's internal crisis was ill-advised and that Iraq should not have been dragged into Lebanon's domestic affairs or have its institutions used as examples in this context'. Mr Aoun's administration has been under intense pressure from the US to disarm Hezbollah and other militia groups.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
‘Handasa': Why the Arabic word for engineering is built to last
From the shaping of things to finely honed skill, the Arabic word for engineering is more than the sum of its parts. Handasa, this week's word, stems from the root letters ha, noon, dal and seen, and is believed to have originated from the Persian word andazah, meaning measurement or dimension. The term entered the Arabic language in the ninth century during the Abbasid era, when Baghdad's Bayt Al Hikma, the historical House of Wisdom and library, became a centre of translation. Scientific texts from Greek, Persian and Indian traditions were rendered into Arabic, and the word handasa appeared in several of these translations of mathematical theories and treatises. These mathematical roots informed the early Arabic use of handasa, which at first referred specifically to geometry. In the ninth century, the Iraqi scholar Thabit ibn Qurra translated Euclid's Elements and expanded the use of handasa to include spatial reasoning and architectural design. His interpretations helped define how early Islamic cities were planned, from water irrigation systems to the curvature of domes. Handasa is now used as an umbrella term for engineering, with various branches ranging from handasa madaniyya (civil engineering) and handasa kahraba'iyya (electrical engineering) to handasa ijtima'iyya (social engineering). In literature and the arts, the word is often used metaphorically as a reference to precision and intricacy of craft. A well-executed event might be described as muhandasa, while a solution that feels overly calculated can be hailed, or derided, as masnu' bi handasa, meaning artificially engineered. Perhaps this explains some of the affection directed towards Iraqi singer Majid Al Mohandis, whose full name is Majid Al Attabi. While his stage name, translated as 'Majid the Engineer,' began as a nod to his former profession, it has come to describe the carefully calibrated pop hits he has continued to release over the past two decades. A term that spans science and structure, concept and culture, handasa can be used to construct everything from great ideas to remarkable buildings, when shaped by ambition and precision. Like many words in the Arabic language, it has evolved beyond its standard definition to carry deeper meanings. It is a word built to last.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
UN mission in Iraq closes key Mosul office as it winds down operations
A special mission established by the UN in 2003 at the request of the Iraq government has shut down a key office, in another step towards ceasing operations in the country by the end of this year. The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq closed its offices Mosul this week. Unami, which has its headquarters in Baghdad, was set up after the US-led invasion that toppled the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. It was given a broad mandate to help develop Iraqi institutions, support political dialogue and elections, and promote human rights. The agency's heads have shuttled between Iraq's political, security and judicial officials to help resolve conflicts. Baghdad requested last year that the mission end by 2025, saying it was no longer needed because Iraq had made significant progress towards stability. 'Iraq has managed to take important steps in many fields, especially those that fall under Unami's mandate,' Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. However, the mission will continue to deliver in its remaining mandate, 'including providing technical electoral assistance, promoting human rights, supporting humanitarian and development tasks', an Unami representative told The National. In the final months of the year, the agency's work will be 'transferred to the UN Country Team operating in Iraq or to the national authorities', the representative said. 'In short, while Unami is leaving Iraq, the United Nations is not. The United Nations will continue to engage in support of the Government and the people of Iraq.' Unami closed its office in the northern city of Kirkuk at the end of April. Its remaining offices in Erbil, capital of the Kurdish region, and in the southern city of Basra will be closed along with its headquarters at the end of the year. Mr Guterres, who was in Baghdad this month for the Arab Summit, said during a meeting with Mr Al Sudani that the world body 'remains fully committed to continuing to support the government and people of Iraq following the departure of Unami'. Farhad Alaaldin, foreign affairs adviser to Mr Al Sudani, told The National that ending the UN mission represents a significant milestone for Iraq. 'It reflects the international community's recognition of the progress Iraq has made in strengthening its institutions, achieving greater political stability, and moving beyond the post-conflict phase,' he said. 'This is not the end of Iraq's relationship with the United Nations, but rather the beginning of a new phase – one based on equal partnership, development co-operation, and mutual respect.' Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, said Mr Al Sudani's government was claiming the concept of sovereignty and that a monitoring mission such as the UN's that reports on the progress of the country should be abolished. 'This is not normal, and these are the words that are used by the Iraqi government: 'We want to be a normal country',' Mr Mansour told The National. 'From the perspective of the Iraqi government, the [UN mission] is outdated and does not fit with where Iraq is right now. From the UN perspective, they believe that they helped with rebuilding of the state.' Iraq expert Sajjad Jiyad, a fellow at Century International, said Baghdad still needs international support in areas such as fighting corruption and enforcing reforms across state institutions. 'It still needs international support for things that have troubled the Iraqi state for these past two decades – issues like corruption and financial management, engaging in reforms, economic ones, military logistics,' he told The National. The assistance may not come from the UN but other institutions, although Iraq will continue to deal with the UN, he said.
