A thawb or thobe (Arabic: ثَوب / ALA-LC: thawb), dishdasha (دِشداشَة / dishdāshah), kandura (كَندورَة / kandūrah), or suriyah in Libya, is an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. It is commonly worn in Arab countries. An Izaar is commonly worn underneath.
The word thawb is the standard Arabic word for 'a garment'. It is the traditional Arab clothing for men. It is sometimes spelled thobe or thaub. It is a tunic, generally long. The word is used specifically for this garment in Arab states of the Persian Gulf. There has been some debate regarding the correct length of the thawb. Shorter length represents modesty, while longer represents royalty, status and wealth.
The thawb is commonly worn by men in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Jordan, and other Arab countries. It is normally made of cotton, but heavier materials such as sheep's wool can also be used, especially in colder climates in Iraq and Syria. The style of the thawb varies slightly among the various regions within the Arab Gulf. The sleeves and the collar can be stiffened to give a more formal appearance. Other names may be used for this garment. In Souraqia and Oman, dishdasha is the most common word for the garment; in the UAE, the word kandura is used. In Morocco, the sleeves tend to be much shorter so that the thawb may seem more like a long T-shirt and is locally called gandora. Also the neck tends to be more open than in its Saudi counterpart and is often embroidered as is the breast pocket. Also it might lack buttons altogether.
Najwa Karam (Arabic: نجوى كرم) (born February 26, 1966) is a multi-platinum, best-selling Lebanese Arab female recording artist and philanthropist, who has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Najwa, widely known for her Mawwal and other musical talents, has faced musical limits in building her stardom. Having effectively helped change the Arabic music industry in its outreach, Najwa has left her mark by creating and introducing her own blend of traditional and contemporary Arabic Music. That blend has defined her image and her music in the Middle East and throughout the world, and has contributed to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music. Najwa holds the titles of highest-selling Middle Eastern Artist for the years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2008.
Najwa's singing career began with moderate success with her debut album Ya Habayeb, in 1989. Her second album, Shams el-Ghinnieh achieved greater success, earning her well-known title, "Shams el-Ghinnieh" ("The Sun of Song"). But Najwa's major successes were to come in the mid-1990s, when she would rise to new heights of fame and popularity in both the Arabic and International music worlds.
Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator, activist, and lecturer. He is currently the imam of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC), the largest mosque in the New England area.
He was born William Webb in 1972 in Oklahoma to a Christian family, including a grandfather who served as a preacher. At age 14, he lost interest in religion going through a self-described spiritual crisis. He also began engaging in delinquency by joining a local gang, was involved in a drive by shooting, and became a successful local Hip-Hop DJ and producer, making records with various artists.
After converting to Islam in 1992, Webb left his career as a DJ and studied at the University of Central Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education. He also studied privately under a Senegalese Sheikh, learning enough Islam and Arabic to become a community leader in Oklahoma City, where he was hired as Imam at The Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City. He simultaneously started teaching at Mercy School, an Islamic K-12 school in Oklahoma City.
Shadia Mansour (Arabic: شادية منصور Shādiyah Manṣūr), also known as "the first lady of Arabic hip hop is a Palestinian singer and MC. Much of her music focuses on Middle East politics. Her first language is Arabic and she raps in Arabic. Mansour has recorded music with producer Johnny Juice of Public Enemy. Her first single, "Kofeyye Arabeyye (The Kufiya Is Arab)", featured rapper M-1 of dead prez. Shadia is featured on Chuck D's website shemovement.com.