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I put Books to the Test of Life
Fiqqatu Lughghah, Chapter 13 – The Degrees of Blackness in Humans, Page 126
If there is minimal blackness in a complexion, it is asmar.
If it’s blackness is increased with some visible yellow , it is Asham .
If it’s blackness is increased on asmar, it is adam .
If it’s blackness is increased on adam , it is asham
If it’s blackness is extreme it is adlam.”
الثعالبي فقة اللغة
فصل الثالث عشر في تَرْتِيبِ سَوَادِ الإنْسَانِ
إذا
عَلاَهُ أَدْنَى سَوَادٍ فَهُوَ أسْمَرُ
فإنْ
زَادَ سَوَادُهُ مَعَ صُفْرَةٍ تَعْلُوهُ فَهُوَ أَصْحَمُ
فإنْ
زَادَ سَوَادُهُ عَلَى السُّمْرَةِ فَهُوَ آدَمُ
فإنْ
زَادَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ أَسْحَمُ
فإنِ
اشْتَدَّ سَوَادُهُ فَهُوَ أدْلَمُ.
In the present day, the simplistic classification of skin tones into just "black" and "white" appears inadequate. The Arabic language, known for its richness, once possessed an extensive vocabulary to distinguish between various shades of blackness. Back then, only those with the darkest complexion, comparable to that of a crow, were labeled as "Black." However, contemporary terminology designates individuals like Will Smith as "black," whereas in the time of the Prophet, he might have been described as "abyad" or "azhar", much like the Prophet himself.
If there is minimal blackness in a complexion, it is asmar.
If it’s blackness is increased with some visible yellow , it is Asham .
If it’s blackness is increased on asmar, it is adam .
If it’s blackness is increased on adam , it is asham
If it’s blackness is extreme it is adlam.”
الثعالبي فقة اللغة
فصل الثالث عشر في تَرْتِيبِ سَوَادِ الإنْسَانِ
إذا
عَلاَهُ أَدْنَى سَوَادٍ فَهُوَ أسْمَرُ
فإنْ
زَادَ سَوَادُهُ مَعَ صُفْرَةٍ تَعْلُوهُ فَهُوَ أَصْحَمُ
فإنْ
زَادَ سَوَادُهُ عَلَى السُّمْرَةِ فَهُوَ آدَمُ
فإنْ
زَادَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ أَسْحَمُ
فإنِ
اشْتَدَّ سَوَادُهُ فَهُوَ أدْلَمُ.
In the present day, the simplistic classification of skin tones into just "black" and "white" appears inadequate. The Arabic language, known for its richness, once possessed an extensive vocabulary to distinguish between various shades of blackness. Back then, only those with the darkest complexion, comparable to that of a crow, were labeled as "Black." However, contemporary terminology designates individuals like Will Smith as "black," whereas in the time of the Prophet, he might have been described as "abyad" or "azhar", much like the Prophet himself.
