I'm sure many non-Muslims wonder why Muslims use the word "Allah" instead of God when they are English speakers. Let me answer that question! Alright, so the word "god" means deity, right? Well, the name "God" has more than one meaning and can mean deity, as well as the name of the one true God. The reason Allah is used is because the name "Allah" is exactly that: a name. It is not another word for "god." "Allah" is the name for the one true god.
So, for example, when talking about the god of the Torah, "Allah" would be a correct term to use for God. When talking about the god of the Bible, "Allah" would be a correct term to use for God. When talking about the god of the Qur'an, "Allah" would be a correct term to use for God. Does this make sense? There is no exact word translation for "Allah" is English, although when the word "God" is used, it's the same idea. I hope this is making sense to everyone!
Let me try another example: Let's say you have a son. You call him "Son" sometimes because he is your son. The more direct, personal way to address him would be "Adam." Adam directly refers to your son alone, because the word son is a general term, and can mean anyone's son.
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Now, let me delve into my problem with Muslims using Arabic terms all the time, even if they aren't Arab (which most Muslims are not) & even if their first language is not Arabic.
So, I'm sure everyone is familiar with the saying "Allahu akbar," which most Muslims use in prayer and everyday life. This means, "Allah is the greatest." Other terms used often are "alhumdulillah" which means "praise be to Allah," "subhanaallah" which means "glory be to Allah," and "inshaallah" which means "Allah willing."
So, why do you hear these terms from English-speaking Muslims in everyday life? Why do they find it necessary to speak these sayings in Arabic? Is it because the Qur'an was written in Arabic? If so, do these Muslims believe that Arabic is superior in any way?
Allah is closer to you than your jugular vein. If you pray in Arabic, and you have no idea what the f*ck you are saying, how can you appreciate your prayer? How can you genuinely MEAN your prayer if you don't know the meaning of the words you are saying? Even if you vaguely know the meaning, or the gist of your Arabic prayer, it is not even CLOSE to being as powerful as your prayer in your native language.
Back to the question: why do Muslims feel the need to use Arabic in their everyday language? Some answers to this could be that they want to keep the integrity of the Qur'an intact because there will be much less confusion and mistranslation if it stays in Arabic.
My reply would be, so if you say "Praise Allah" or "Praise be to Allah," are you misrepresenting Islam? Are you corrupting Islam? Are you defacing Allah? Things mean MUCH more to you personally when in your native tongue.
Now, if you are using Arabic words because you love Arabic and think it's beautiful and love the sound, etc, etc, etc, then there is no issue. But I do not feel that most Muslims use these Arabic terms because they love the language. I bet if I asked, a lot would say something about how the prophet Mohammed said this in Arabic, so they want to be like him. Or even, they might not know WHY they use Arabic!
Any thoughts???
Actually I have a few thoughts on this...
ReplyDeleteFirst off, lets go back old school.. Christianity, Judaism, Islam among most of your other old religions did not start out in English. Christian Bibles come in all languages, so if going to a true Greek Orthodox Catholic Mass you will only hear Greek, children will be taught Greek, does that make them any less thrilled in their beliefs, No. Jews teach their children Hebrew and Yiddish. As children, no one wants to take time out of their day when they are allowed to play to go sit in a building and learn a different language, but they grow up and 99% of their end up very proud of it.
I, myself, grew up speaking English, when I started studying Judaism I learned basic Hebrew so I would be able to understand the prayers. It becomes a part of a person, there is a sense of pride that comes with it. In most religions, before you can fully convert you have to be able to say the prayers in the language and understand the full meaning. If someone doesn't agree with it, they don't have to convert. What they are doing is between them and G-d, Allah, Hashem etc etc etc.. It is all the same G-d, no ifs, buts or ands.
Now with Arabic, it is the same thing. If I go to a Latin Mass, I will hear it in that language. If I go to an Conservative and/or Orthodox Temple I will hear 98% Hebrew. Islam is not different in any of those respects.
Truly believing in something does not mean taking the Holy Books and picking and choosing what you want to believe in. That is a very common practice among people today. When I said my statement of faith, I did it in Arabic and when I did I knew exactly what I was saying and I made absolutely sure that I meant every single word of it before it came out of my mouth. I am not well verse in Arabic, but I am studying. Just like I was studying Hebrew when I was going to the Temple that I went to off and on for over 5 years. I am a lover of language though. I love being in places where people are speaking different languages, that shows me that they are still representing part of their families heritage.
During the friday prayers, I have heard both Arabic and English. It is kind of like wearing a hijab, it is written in the Holy Books for a woman to be modest and cover her head, but it is not a force upon her. Part of the reason why I wear a hijab is because of the vow between me and G-d.
If you have a problem with one part, then you may need to sit down with yourself and make sure this is really who you are. I am married into an interfaith family so we do things a little different, but my daughter has heard me speak in many languages. My husband understands that I can't eat the things he can and he doesn't try to force it on me. It is a give and take.
You will one day be married and have children.. So what are you going to teach them?
I happen to agree with Modest Destiny. Honey, your blogs are rather confusing. You're on this journey to convert but yet you seem to have so many conflicting views and opinions about this religion. It's almost like you have one foot in and one foot out..I strongly suggest you reevaluate your decision to convert.
ReplyDeleteModest Destiny & Crystal - I should probably clarify something to you both. I am not a Sunni, Shia, Sufi, etc. I am not a hadith-follower, and actually find them to be contradictory to Islam as it is spelled out in the Qur'an. I do not respect them and I do not find them valid in any way. Therefore, things spelled out to followers of hadiths, I do not follow because I do not think them legit.
ReplyDeleteModest Destiny - Nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that you need to say your prayers in Arabic. If that's hadith, I don't know, because again, I do not follow those or recognize those as valid. I'm definitely not saying that you personally are wrong if you decide to use Arabic in your prayers, but I don't feel that it matters to Allah what language you use. Although, many Muslims think a prayer is only valid in Arabic, which I do not agree with at all.
Also, when you said "if you have a problem with one part," what part exactly are you talking about? Again, nowhere in the Qur'an does it say that Arabic is a necessary part to following Allah.
LOL! In reference to your question about what I'm going to teach my children one day: I do not plan on getting married or having children, so if my mind ever changes about that, I will definitely have my ways ready to go! ;-)
Crystal - what are you confused about on my blogs? I am happy to have readers and am more than willing to explain further any blog entry that seems to confuse you. I have absolutely no conflicting view on Islam at all, and trust me, both feet are in. ;-) Many hadith-followers tend to believe that my beliefs contradict Islam, but that's *their* version of Islam, not mine. I am very happy to be a follower of Allah, and have no qualms or confusion about my beliefs in any way. If you are confused about my views in relation to mainstream Muslims, I can see what you mean. But again, just to clarify, I do not believe like most other Muslims believe.
I have already converted, and everything I read in the Qur'an, I accept and follow or analyze further and study. Many Muslims, I've learned, are incredible upset with Muslims who do not follow hadiths, and only live through the Qur'an. In fact, they defend their persecution of us by hadiths.
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In conclusion, I guess I can see why many Muslims would be confused about my viewpoint, considering they are viewing it from what they were taught it correct and the rituals they perform and what not.
**If anyone ever feels they are confused or do not understand what exactly I'm trying to get across, please feel free to let me know and I can try to explain further. Thank you guys from contributing your opinions and thoughts!
I meant I don't respect hadiths themselves, I did not mean to come off as saying that I don't respect hadith-followers. Please excuse the mis-communication.
ReplyDelete