Why I Love Flat Rooftops

Since living in Morocco, I've fallen in love with these special places

There’s something special about rooftops. They’re a magnet for pensive moments, a place to escape to and a place to literally get perspective.

In Morocco, (where nearly all the roofs are flat) I’ve learnt that people make use of the space to:

• hang up washing | تَعليقُ الغَسيل

• relaxing | الاِستِرخاء

• slaughtering animals | ذَبحُ الأُضحِيَّة

• stargazing | تَأَمُّلُ النُّجوم

The Arabic word for roof is:

سَطح sat-h

It is derived from a trilateral root (س seen, ط ta and ح ha) meaning “to level, flatten, to spread out.”

Being flat is obviously what allows everyone to enjoy the roofs in Morocco. We don’t have this same privilege in England where we mostly have sloped roofs (to mitigate the constant rainfall!).

Learning the word سَطح sat-h can even help you to understand the Noble Qur’an. The root hitherto mentioned is found in the passive verb سُطِحَتْ sutihat mentioned in verse 88:20 with the meaning “to be spread out”:

This is a very common occurrence for Arabic students - when learning an everyday piece of vocabulary links to something much more profound.

Oh and I should add, my absolute favourite thing to do on rooftops is watch the sunset:

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As always, thanks a million for tuning in to Ihsan Arabic.

Peace and blessings, patience and perseverance to Arabic students everywhere,

Ella & Habib