Arabic vs. English – A Spiritual Comparison

 

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ

لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَـذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ

Indeed We know that they say that a mere mortal teaches him; whereas the tongue of he to whom they impute this is non-Arab whilst this is a clear Arabic tongue. [ʾan-Naḥl : 103]

 [Retraction: It appears that my source in regards the etymology of "decision" in below article is unsubstantiated at best, possibly wrong. Servants of truth must acknowledge falsehood emanating from themselves, even if in error - Sulayman al-Kindi, 11 Ramadaan 1441]


I strongly recommend “Muḥammad Rasūlullāh” the biography of Allāh’s Final Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, written by Shaykh Sayyid Mawlānā ʾAbul Ḥasan ʿAlī Nadwī, teacher of my teacher. Although the commonly available English translation is not the most reader-friendly version ever, the Sayyid strikes a perfect balance between conveying facts and expressing his love for our Guide صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Some books express love, but do not teach much, others are cold, analytical and emotionless, as if they had been written by orientalists.

 

One of the points discussed in “Muḥammad Rasūlullāh” is why Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ had to be an ʿArab. This discussion would of course link to the question as to why Allāh’s Speech was revealed in Arabic, bearing in mind that language is a clear map of the psychology of a nation. This post is not meant to address either question. Instead, these questions inspire recognition of the spiritual purity of the language of the final revelation. To demonstrate this, I shall gather a few examples of the spiritual depravity of English, which Arabic is completely innocent of.

 

 

Why English?

Well, obviously first and foremost, my writings and audience are English for historical and pragmatic reasons. English is also a medium to demonstrate that every language, other than Arabic, is imperfect. English is the child of both the Germanic and Romance worlds. Thus certain facets of English may be particular to it, but other facets may be shared by French, Latin, German etc.

 

English is decidedly pagan in vocabulary and outlook

Arabic words, like her Semitic sisters are very much mathematically derived from three root-letter structures, or equations as I think of them. K-T-B gives us kātib (scribe), kitāb (book) etc. Where words develop with added meaning, the outlook reflected is that of the wild, pure, untamed desert homeland, not the seemingly sophisticated paganism of Rome. For example, siyāsah, meant to tame a wild horse. When the loose Arab tribes became more politically organised, they saw a leader who had to tame wild politicians with different agendas to be doing a similar job. Thus siyāsah became used for “politics”.

 

Now let us look at the attitude of Pagan-Roman influenced English. With this influence alone, it is almost impossible to speak, write and - most importantly – think in English, without touching on its polytheism, something the language of the Qurʾān is certainly free of.

 

You would know that suicide is to kill sui (oneself). Homicide is to kill homo (a man). Regicide is to kill rex (a king). The list can go on, but you might be surprised to know that decide also fits into this list. So who exactly gets killed when one decides, when one makes a decision?

 

Before we look at the answer, let us first revise the Arabic and Islāmic concepts of decision. The Arabic root for decision is Q-Ḍ-Y, which simply implies completion. In other words, after a process of deliberation, a thought process is completed and a conclusion for action is reached. A pure, clean etymology for a word used in the Qurʾān. Over and above one’s personal thought process, is the instruction from Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ to offer the ʾIstikhārah (seeking good from Allāh) Prayer, in order to help us reach a decision. Surely this is a most pure and innocent language, used as a vehicle by the most excellent Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

 

Now let us revert to the language of the modern civilised world. Just what does decide mean? Who gets killed? It is Deus – God! How to explain the misguided, pagan Roman-English mind? Their outlook, as opposed to the teachings of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, is that when one weighs various options and chooses one, one has seized the matter in one’s own hands and killed off God from the equation of indecision. Of course, we use such words innocently. The point however remains, ponder over the mentality of a people who deliberately construct such words. How satanic their thought processes must be! Praise be to Allāh who chose Arabic as the language of guidance. (By Arabic I mean the sweet language of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, not the braying colonialist legacy one hears on the modern Arab street).

 

Days of the week

The Arab named his days with the same simple desert mentality – Days One to Five, then the Day of Gathering and the Sabbath, a legacy of the Hebrew Prophets whom we revere.

 

Now how does the English world begin its week? The first day is the day dedicated to the worship of the sun. Monday is for worshipping the moon. Tuesday is Tiw’s day, the Germanic god of war. Wednesday is Woden’s day, the Germanic king of gods. Thursday is Thor’s day, the Germanic god of thunder. Freya’s day is dedicated to Woden’s wife! Saturday is Saturn’s day, the father of the king of the Roman gods!

 

Whilst the contemporary English-speaking Muslim does not associate the origin of “Friday” with ascribing a wife unto Allāh, we should see and appreciate the system and planning of Allāh, in keeping the language of the Qurʾān pure from such foolish pagan concepts.

 

Months and names

Some English months are neutral. December is simply the tenth month as per the original calendar. Yet the original first month is dedicated to Mars, god of war, and there are other months with pagan meanings as well. As for Mr Mars, he does not live on in March alone, but the name, Mark, means one dedicated to Mars. Why would a society supposedly worshipping the One God, not find such names offensive at the time when the meaning was well known? This again points to the unique value of Arabic, a language divinely chosen and whose every word was weighed, appreciated and understood.

 

The Self-centredness of English

Consider that “I” is the only pronoun compulsorily written with a capital letter. In what other language does this occur? The self-centredness of the English language perfectly complements the savage rape of the planet by the British Empire.

 

English is the only European language which does not have a pronoun of respect for the second person. There is just “you”. Whilst the same may be said to be true of Arabic, the comparison is not accurate. Firstly, English exists in a continent where it manages to isolate itself with egoism. Arabic does not originate amongst that place and peoples and hence the comparison is not applicable in this case. Secondly, Arabic in its very structure is anti-ego. Its starts with the third person and reaches the first person only at the end. English of course starts with I and leaves the third person for the end. It is the language of “I”. Neither the modern English child, nor the Germanic and Latin parents, could ever have been a candidate for the pure vehicle of mankind’s spiritual reformation. Allāh chose Arabic.

 

A day in the life of pagan English

Did you have cereal for breakfast by any chance? Yet another dedication to Ceres the Roman goddess. Had it with natural orange nectar? Actually its impossible to drink nectar. It’s the drink of the Greek gods, sorry. As for your natural, Netjer were the Egyptian gods.

Now what cloth is appropriate for today’s weather? Just don’t ask goddess Clotho. Don’t find this amusing? Blame the Muses. Before you leave home, remember to take your medication for your chronic condition, named after Mr Chronos, god of time. Do remember to greet the janitor named after the god, Janus, especially if it is the month of January. If you are not polite he display fury, the spirit of vengeance. Then you will panic, a word from the goat god Pan.

 

In short dear reader, Allāh has chosen Arabic as His pure vehicle of transmitting guidance to mankind. It is free of the defects found in other tongues. If you are not in a position to learn and speak the language of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, the least you can do is value and respect it, which includes correctly pronouncing Arabic names, instead of making Arabic subservient to your culture.

 

سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi

Arabic vs. English – A Spiritual Comparison

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَـذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ

Indeed We know that they say that a mere mortal teaches him; whereas the tongue of he to whom they impute this is non-Arab whilst this is a clear Arabic tongue. [ʾan-Naḥl : 103]

I strongly recommend “Muḥammad Rasūlullāh” the biography of Allāh’s Final Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, written by Shaykh Sayyid Mawlānā ʾAbul Ḥasan ʿAlī Nadwī, teacher of my teacher. Although the commonly available English translation is not the most reader-friendly version ever, the Sayyid strikes a perfect balance between conveying facts and expressing his love for our Guide صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. Some books express love, but do not teach much, others are cold, analytical and emotionless, as if they had been written by orientalists.

One of the points discussed in “Muḥammad Rasūlullāh” is why Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ had to be an ʿArab. This discussion would of course link to the question as to why Allāh’s Speech was revealed in Arabic, bearing in mind that language is a clear map of the psychology of a nation. This post is not meant to address either question. Instead, these questions inspire recognition of the spiritual purity of the language of the final revelation. To demonstrate this, I shall gather a few examples of the spiritual depravity of English, which Arabic is completely innocent of.

Why English?

Well, obviously first and foremost, my writings and audience are English for historical and pragmatic reasons. English is also a medium to demonstrate that every language, other than Arabic, is imperfect. English is the child of both the Germanic and Romance worlds. Thus certain facets of English may be particular to it, but other facets may be shared by French, Latin, German etc.

English is decidedly pagan in vocabulary and outlook

Arabic words, like her Semitic sisters are very much mathematically derived from three root-letter structures, or equations as I think of them. K-T-B gives us kātib (scribe), kitāb (book) etc. Where words develop with added meaning, the outlook reflected is that of the wild, pure, untamed desert homeland, not the seemingly sophisticated paganism of Rome. For example, siyāsah, meant to tame a wild horse. When the loose Arab tribes became more politically organised, they saw a leader who had to tame wild politicians with different agendas to be doing a similar job. Thus siyāsah became used for “politics”.

Now let us look at the attitude of Pagan-Roman influenced English. With this influence alone, it is almost impossible to speak, write and - most importantly – think in English, without touching on its polytheism, something the language of the Qurʾān is certainly free of.

You would know that suicide is to kill sui (oneself). Homicide is to kill homo (a man). Regicide is to kill rex (a king). The list can go on, but you might be surprised to know that decide also fits into this list. So who exactly gets killed when one decides, when one makes a decision?

Before we look at the answer, let us first revise the Arabic and Islāmic concepts of decision. The Arabic root for decision is Q-Ḍ-Y, which simply implies completion. In other words, after a process of deliberation, a thought process is completed and a conclusion for action is reached. A pure, clean etymology for a word used in the Qurʾān. Over and above one’s personal thought process, is the instruction from Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ to offer the ʾIstikhārah (seeking good from Allāh) Prayer, in order to help us reach a decision. Surely this is a most pure and innocent language, used as a vehicle by the most excellent Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ.

Now let us revert to the language of the modern civilised world. Just what does decide mean? Who gets killed? It is Deus – God! How to explain the misguided, pagan Roman-English mind? Their outlook, as opposed to the teachings of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, is that when one weighs various options and chooses one, one has seized the matter in one’s own hands and killed off God from the equation of indecision. Of course, we use such words innocently. The point however remains, ponder over the mentality of a people who deliberately construct such words. How satanic their thought processes must be! Praise be to Allāh who chose Arabic as the language of guidance. (By Arabic I mean the sweet language of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, not the braying colonialist legacy one hears on the modern Arab street).

Days of the week

 The Arab named his days with the same simple desert mentality – Days One to Five, then the Day of Gathering and the Sabbath, a legacy of the Hebrew Prophets whom we revere.

Now how does the English world begin its week? The first day is the day dedicated to the worship of the sun. Monday is for worshipping the moon. Tuesday is Tiw’s day, the Germanic god of war. Wednesday is Woden’s day, the Germanic king of gods. Thursday is Thor’s day, the Germanic god of thunder. Freya’s day is dedicated to Woden’s wife! Saturday is Saturn’s day, the father of the king of the Roman gods!

Whilst the contemporary English-speaking Muslim does not associate the origin of “Friday” with ascribing a wife unto Allāh, we should see and appreciate the system and planning of Allāh, in keeping the language of the Qurʾān pure from such foolish pagan concepts.

Months and names

Some English months are neutral. December is simply the tenth month as per the original calendar. Yet the original first month is dedicated to Mars, god of war, and there are other months with pagan meanings as well. As for Mr Mars, he does not live on in March alone, but the name, Mark, means one dedicated to Mars. Why would a society supposedly worshipping the One God, not find such names offensive at the time when the meaning was well known? This again points to the unique value of Arabic, a language divinely chosen and whose every word was weighed, appreciated and understood.

The Self-centredness of English

Consider that “I” is the only pronoun compulsorily written with a capital letter. In what other language does this occur? The self-centredness of the English language perfectly complements the savage rape of the planet by the British Empire.

English is the only European language which does not have a pronoun of respect for the second person. There is just “you”. Whilst the same may be said to be true of Arabic, the comparison is not accurate. Firstly, English exists in a continent where it manages to isolate itself with egoism. Arabic does not originate amongst that place and peoples and hence the comparison is not applicable in this case. Secondly, Arabic in its very structure is anti-ego. Its starts with the third person and reaches the first person only at the end. English of course starts with I and leaves the third person for the end. It is the language of “I”. Neither the modern English child, nor the Germanic and Latin parents, could ever have been a candidate for the pure vehicle of mankind’s spiritual reformation. Allāh chose Arabic.   

A day in the life of pagan English

Did you have cereal for breakfast by any chance? Yet another dedication to Ceres the Roman goddess. Had it with natural orange nectar? Actually its impossible to drink nectar. It’s the drink of the Greek gods, sorry. As for your natural, Netjer were the Egyptian gods.

Now what cloth is appropriate for today’s weather? Just don’t ask goddess Clotho. Don’t find this amusing? Blame the Muses. Before you leave home, remember to take your medication for your chronic condition, named after Mr Chronos, god of time. Do remember to greet the janitor named after the god, Janus, especially if it is the month of January. If you are not polite he display fury, the spirit of vengeance. Then you will panic, a word from the goat god Pan.

In short dear reader, Allāh has chosen Arabic as His pure vehicle of transmitting guidance to mankind. It is free of the defects found in other tongues. If you are not in a position to learn and speak the language of Allāh’s Messenger صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ, the least you can do is value and respect it, which includes correctly pronouncing Arabic names, instead of making Arabic subservient to your culture.

سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi  

The Persian who recognised his Lord in Arabic Grammar

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. [ʾĀl-ʿImrān: 190]

I have stated before that Muslim intellectuals should endeavour to recognise the Creator in whatever field they study. This is the purpose of knowledge. Serving humanity and using one’s degree to acquire wealth to distribute as charity is certainly good. However, it is not the primary purpose of knowledge. The purpose of knowledge is to recognise your Creator.

The most proper Noun

Arabic grammarians discussed the division of nouns in terms of common and proper nouns. It was agreed that هم – hum – they – is the most common noun. Its application is so vast and general it can encompass so many, it is really the least specific of all nouns. Hum is indeed a most nebulous creature.

Technically speaking hum may not be used until a reference is given of who is being referred to. I imagine the Arabic grammarians of days past would be amazed at how nebulous the English “they” has become, way beyond what they considered for hum. Consider how many conversations mention an all-encompassing “they” without once referencing a solid identity. “They should pass a law to…” Who is this they? Why do you not say “parliament”? “They should add this into the syllabus” “They should build a road.” “They should do something about all this crime” They, they they…..etc.

On the other end of the scale انا – ana – I – was defined as the most specific proper noun. It refers to the most specified individual about whom there is no sharing of identity. I am myself, I am nobody else.

Seybawayh was a Persian. He was born in Hamadan, Persia. He did not know Arabic and had to learn it. Yet he became one of its greatest masters. In response to the above discussion, he disagreed that ana is the most specific proper noun. For to each person ana is him or herself. Out of a million people each is an ana, thus there are a million ana. What then is the most specific and proper of nouns? Seybwayh made a declaration which is so deep in import, I cannot fully convey what little I understand from this mental titan. He averred, “Allāh is the most proper of nouns!” For Allāh is One, Absolute. There is no sharing whatsoever in the identity of Allāh, which is possible in “I” or “me”.

This single sentence so profoundly affected me, I wept more in thinking over it than over lengthy spiritual discourses.

Some Food for Thought

• Consider how a non-native speaker mastered Arabic and was then studied for centuries. The early Muslims would not have accomplished much had they had the racism – open and hidden – which contemporary Muslims suffer from.
• Every field is a means of recognising Allāh, even grammar.
• “Allah is the most proper of nouns” reflects pure monotheism. By believing and living a life of Monotheism, it is but natural that what filled the inner being of Seybwayh would flow from his pen.
• Seybawayh did not arrive at this conclusion solely due to his own mental acumen. Such brilliant insights are the fruits of a civilization built by Muḥammad صلى الله عليه وسلم who initiated not just a revolution in deeds, which has become our sole focus, but a revolution in the mental outlook of humanity. It was such a revolution, that a descendant of a people who married their biological mothers before Islam, now had such a mind coloured with Islamic thought, by which he recognised his Creator in another people’s grammar. Is there any other culture which had such a constant love relationship with Allah, that for them there was recognition of Allah, not just in places of worship, but in their engineering, their navigation, their architecture, their astronomy, their chemistry….their grammar?

Salutations and peace be on he who built such a civilisation.
سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi

The Persian who recognised his Lord in Arabic Grammar

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. [ʾĀl-ʿImrān: 190]

I have stated before that Muslim intellectuals should endeavour to recognise the Creator in whatever field they study. This is the purpose of knowledge. Serving humanity and using one’s degree to acquire wealth to distribute as charity is certainly good. However, it is not the primary purpose of knowledge. The purpose of knowledge is to recognise your Creator.

The most proper Noun

Arabic grammarians discussed the division of nouns in terms of common and proper nouns. It was agreed that هم – hum – they – is the most common noun. Its application is so vast and general it can encompass so many, it is really the least specific of all nouns. Hum is indeed a most nebulous creature.

Technically speaking hum may not be used until a reference is given of who is being referred to. I imagine the Arabic grammarians of days past would be amazed at how nebulous the English “they” has become, way beyond what they considered for hum. Consider how many conversations mention an all-encompassing “they” without once referencing a solid identity. “They should pass a law to…” Who is this they? Why do you not say “parliament”? “They should add this into the syllabus” “They should build a road.” “They should do something about all this crime” They, they they…..etc.

On the other end of the scale انا – ana – I – was defined as the most specific proper noun. It refers to the most specified individual about whom there is no sharing of identity. I am myself, I am nobody else.

Seybawayh was a Persian. He was born in Hamadan, Persia. He did not know Arabic and had to learn it. Yet he became one of its greatest masters. In response to the above discussion, he disagreed that ana is the most specific proper noun. For to each person ana is him or herself. Out of a million people each is an ana, thus there are a million ana. What then is the most specific and proper of nouns? Seybwayh made a declaration which is so deep in import, I cannot fully convey what little I understand from this mental titan. He averred, “Allāh is the most proper of nouns!” For Allāh is One, Absolute. There is no sharing whatsoever in the identity of Allāh, which is possible in “I” or “me”.
This single sentence so profoundly affected me, I wept more in thinking over it than over lengthy spiritual discourses.

Some Food for Thought

• Consider how a non-native speaker mastered Arabic and was then studied for centuries. The early Muslims would not have accomplished much had they had the racism – open and hidden – which contemporary Muslims suffer from.
• Every field is a means of recognising Allāh, even grammar.
• “Allah is the most proper of nouns” reflects pure monotheism. By believing and living a life of Monotheism, it is but natural that what filled the inner being of Seybwayh would flow from his pen.
• Seybawayh did not arrive at this conclusion solely due to his own mental acumen. Such brilliant insights are the fruits of a civilization built by Muḥammad صلى الله عليه وسلم who initiated not just a revolution in deeds, which has become our sole focus, but a revolution in the mental outlook of humanity. It was such a revolution, that a descendant of a people who married their biological mothers before Islam, now had such a mind coloured with Islamic thought, by which he recognised his Creator in another people’s grammar. Is there any other culture which had such a constant love relationship with Allah, that for them there was recognition of Allah, not just in places of worship, but in their engineering, their navigation, their architecture, their astronomy, their chemistry….their grammar?

Salutations and peace be on he who built such a civilisation.

سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi

Arabic Origins of Place names – Real & Alleged

I had previously written about a tendency of some Muslims to reproduce history and geography in their own cultural baggage. One manifestation of this is the reconstructed etymology of place names without any historical evidence. I thought it would be interesting to compile some of these names and discuss the claim of these Muslims. May Allāh guide us all to speak the truth in all matters and may we learn to verify facts before disseminating. Sadly, while most disseminate without verification, the original claimant is even worse for his lie.

Betelgeuse - the star’s name is from the Arabic for Orion’s Hand, Yadul Jawzāʾ which Medieval Europeans misread. They dropped a dot from the yāʾ and read it as Badul Jawzāʾ.
California – is in fact derived from the Arabic Khalīfah (successor, vicegerent)! The word was morphed into Calafia, a queen in a Spanish novel, and from there the name California was derived.
Hawaii – means homeland in Polynesian. The coincidental similarity with the Arabic hawāʾ has given rise to the unsubstantiated claim of it being Arabic for wind.
Iberia – has numerous names derived from the era of Muslim rule, such as Gibraltar and Trafalgar. I suppose it would be too much to ask of soccer worshippers to reflect for a few seconds on what the name changes hide in terms of Muslim forced conversions, torture and martyrdom and Masājid now used to worship Jesus as son of God. Whilst most of these names are simply Spanish or Portuguese pronunciations of the Arabic, Madrid is slightly more obtuse. You may be familiar with tajrī in the Qurʾān, referring to the rivers flowing in Paradise. The noun-place form of that verb is Majrā. The Spanish suffix for place was added to become Majret. This changed pronunciation to Madrid.
Madagascar – I am disappointed that a Muslim scholar would claim that this is actually Madīnah ʾAṣghar. Rudimentary knowledge of Arabic should have guided him to know that Madīnah is feminine, thus had there been any basis for his claim, it would have been Madīnah Ṣughrā. The name is actually derived from Marco Polo’s confusion of Mogadishu.
Manila – is shortened from ʾAmānullāh (safety of Allāh).
Portugal – from Burtuqāl (orange)

Rigel – the star’s name is from the Arabic for leg, rijl.
Siberia – An “Islāmic” TV pop star claims that it is derived from Ṣabr (patience). Although etymologists can give no conclusive origin for the name, none of the suggestions (e.g. Turkic sū birr = water land, Tartar sib irr = sleeping land, etc.) include an Arabic origin. Arabic can specifically be excluded, since old Arab records mention Ibis Shibir. Had the origin been Ṣabr, why change ص ṣād into ش shīn?

The above brief list is should point to both our forgotten history and the unfortunate tendency of some Muslims to be dishonest in concocting fictitious glory.
سليمان الكندي
Twitter: @sulayman_Kindi

Innocence of Muslims - how would Rasūlullāh react?

That any true Muslim feels hurt at this latest assault on the honour of the Beloved Nabī صلى الله عليه و سلم needs no elucidation. The same would hold true for any honest person that the West has double standards when it comes to freedom of speech. Attack Islām, that’s fine, but question “the holocaust,” Darwinism or the claim that human civilisation is only 6000 years old, you could face a range of punishments from imprisonment, academic character assassination or loss of a job.

Now let us stop imitating the Jews as we do with so many other things. Stop moaning, “Oh! The world is against us and we are so helpless and innocent!” Let us ask what does the faith we profess to follow ask us to do in these trying situations.

1       Respond to slander with facts, not emotion

When we are attacked, we always respond emotionally and forget the actual argument. This is contrary to the principles of the Qurān. For example, when the Quraysh accused Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم of acquiring the Qurān from a monk, not Allāh, the response was not, “How dare you accuse me, when you know I am truthful!” Instead, the reply was a clear logical statement that the monk was a foreigner who could not possibly compose the fluent Arabic of the Qurān.

Indeed We know that they say, “A man teaches it to him!” The tongue of him to whom they wickedly refer is foreign, whilst this is a clear Arabic tongue. [an-Naḥl: 103]

2.       Adversity is an opportunity to increase  good deeds

Indeed We know that your chest is constricted because of what they say. But you should instead recite the purity and praise of your Lord and be amongst those who prostrate. [al-Ḥijr: 97-98]

Thus if adversity and grief led Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم to increase in good deeds, how are we exempt? Let us do some soul searching and ask if running around screaming, “Death to America,” benefits the image of Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم in any way. Is it not embarrassing that the West can smugly say, “See! We accuse their Prophet of violence and they respond with violence!”


If I truly love Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم should I not act in the light of the above verse and increase my recitation of salutations [Arabic: Ṣalawāt; Persian: Darūd] upon Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم ? The Hadith teaches us that angels convey our greetings to him. Would that prove more profitable to our relationship to him when we meet on the Day of Qiyāmah or would “Death to America"?

Practically, how does my life and appearance conform to the man I claim to be honouring with my protests? Does my lifestyle resemble his, or that of the filmmakers? Condemning others is always easier than trying to reform oneself.

3.       No soul bears the burden of another [az-Zumar: 7]

Did the US ambassador make the film, or even know about its production? Please pray tell how we justify such killings in the name of the religion of peace. Perpetuating disbelief is worse than the shedding of blood. May Allāh save us from such acts which serve no purpose other than to tarnish the image of Islām and repulse people who might otherwise have been inclined to it. 

4.       There are etiquettes to dialogue

Uncouth behaviour from others does not excuse us from obeying the Qurān, especially when we are directing our response at parties innocent of the movie, “Do not debate the People of the Book except in a better way, except for those amongst them who do wrong.” [al-‘Ankabūt:46].


When the Jews, thinking themselves to be smart, greeted  Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم with a blurring between, "as-salaamu alaykum," (peace be upon you) and "as-saamu alaykum" (death unto you) our Mother, Aishah رضى الله عنها became furious. Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم however remained calm and replied, "And on you." Whatever they intended was replied to without resorting to their manners. 

Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم courteously addressed foreign dignitaries including the Byzantine Emperor, Heraclius Caesar, whom he addressed as, “Heraclius, great of Rome.” Make no mistake - Heraclius was a far greater enemy of Allāh than George Bush could ever dream of.  Rasūlullāh  صلى الله عليه و سلم clearly declared that by rejecting Islām, Heraclius was to condemn his Empire to disbelief. The burden of the rest of Europe, the Americas, Australia etc is the eventual result of him rejecting the truth despite knowing it. Yet he was not deprived of due courtesy.

Not only have we shamed Islām in the murder of a foreign dignitary, we have helped erase the accomplishments of our forefathers. There are academics in the West who are honest enough to admit that the entire concept of International Law and certain of its specifics were born from Islāmic jurisprudence. Would those jurists have justified the slaying of an innocent diplomat? The fruits of their labours have been erased.

5.       Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم was practical and looked at the bigger picture

When they were about to sign the Treaty of Ḥudaybiyah, the Quraysh objected to the phrase, “Muḥammad, the Messenger of Allāh.” They would only consent to, “Muḥammad, son of ‘Abdullāh.” The Muslims were most upset, and refused. Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم   however personally erased the phrase. He knew that there were bigger issues at hand.

Muslim historians record that as a result of his foresight, obstacles to preaching Islām were removed and more people entered Islām in the following two years than in the previous 19 years of Islām. That would not have been achieved had Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم been stubborn over the wording of the Treaty. He had vision and looked at the bigger picture.

The bigger picture for us is that even this filth could have had one positive aspect of creating curiosity amongst disbelievers. We could have seized the opportunity to explain the beautiful character and teachings of Rasūlullāh صلى الله عليه و سلم to our friends, colleagues, neighbours and the media. Instead we reveal our ignorance about the greatest personality who has the most detailed biography ever in human history. How many Muslims can describe this personality to their neighbours for even 5 minutes?


The words,  “Muḥammad, Messenger of Allāh,” holds a special place in the heart of every Muslim, but let emotion not cloud our judgement and make us lose our opportunity of Ḥudaybiyah and the deeper message of Muḥammad صلى الله عليه و سلم

To negate Jihaad is disbelief, but remember that there are various forms of Jihaad. Feel hurt, but follow his example.

سليمان الكندي

Hadīth Translation Errors (2/2)

Ḥadīth 3

عن أبى سعید الخدري رضى الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله علیه و سلم یقول: من رأى منكم منكرا فلیغیره بیده فإن لم یستطع فبلسانه فإن لم یستطع فبقلبه و ذلك أضعف الإیمان-رواه مسلم

This Ḥadīth is translated as follows in Chapter 2 of Virtues of Tablīgh: Whoever sees a forbidden thing being done, he must prevent it by the use of his hand; and if he has no power for this action, then he should prevent it with his tongue, and if he cannot do this even, then he should at least consider it a vice in his heart, and that is a very low level of one’s faith.”

1. Munkar is better translated as, “bad/evil/vice/disliked thing” instead of, “Forbidden thing.”

2. Falyughayyirhu means “change” not “prevent.”

3. Aḍ‘aful īmān means weakest faith, not just “a low level”

Ḥadīth 4

 عن أنس رضى الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله علیه و سلم :

 غدوة فى سبیل الله أو روحة خیر من الدنیا و ما فیها- رواه البخاري

This Ḥadīth is quoted as Ḥadīth 59 in the section of Da‘wah and Tablīgh of Muntakhab Aḥādīth, where the correct translation is give, “A morning or evening spent in the Path of Allāh is better than the world and all that it contains.” 

It is noticed that many quote that Ḥadīth as, “A little while spent in the morning and evening …”

Ḥadīth 5

The commentary of Ḥadīth No. 5 of Aḥādīth on Virtues of Kalimah Ṭayyibah [misspelt, “Tayyabah] of Virtues of Ẓikr ends thus, “According to another Ḥadīth, two Kalimahs are such that one does not stop reaching the Throne of Allāh, and the other fills the Heaven and Earth with its light or reward: one is لا إله إلا الله and the other is لا إله إلا الله" 

It is amazing that nobody ever questions if a senior scholar of the status of Shaykhul Ḥadīth Mawlānā Zakariyyā raḥmatullāhi ‘alayhi could write such an illogical statement. Referring to the original Urdu, we discover that he actually wrote, “One is لا إله إلا الله and the other is الله أكبر"

Ḥadīth 6

Hadīth III of the part, “Rewards of Jamaat,” of Virtues of Ṣalaat,” is a narration of ‘Abdullāh bin Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه commending Ṣalāh in the Masjid and denouncing its abandonment. The second last paragraph of the Arabic narration is:

و لقد رأیتنا و ما یتخلف عنها إلا منافق معلوم النفاق و لقد كان الرجل یؤتى بها یهادى بین الرجلین حتى یقام فى الصف

The translation given is: During the lifetime of the Prophet (Sallallaho alaihi wasallam) no one would miss Jamaat except an open munaafiq or a real invalid. A better and fuller translation would be: I can still picture us, and no one would miss it i.e. Ṣalāh with Jamā‘ah except an open munaafiq. A man would be led between two men until he stood in the Ṣaff. Even with the different translation it is clear that the hypocrites did not attend the Masjid. The next paragraph commences, “wa fī rawāyatin,” i.e., “and in another narration.” This means that another narrator has related the above words of Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه in a different way and not that his speech is continuing. This wrong impression was created when the translator omitted to translate, “wa fī riwāyatin.” The other riwāyah is:

لقد رأیتنا و ما یتخلف عن الصلاة إلا منافق قد علم نفاقه أو مریض إن كان الرجل لیمشى بین الرجلین حتى یأتى الصلاة و قال إن رسول الله صلى الله علیه و سلم علمن ا سنن الهدى و إن من سنن الهدى الصلاة فى المسجد الذي یؤذن فیه

The translation given is: Even the munaafiq dared not miss the Jamaat and a sick person who could be taken to the musjid with the help of two men would be helped to join the Jamaat. This translation contradicts the first and is the opposite of what Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه actually said. The proper translation is: “I can still picture us, none would miss Ṣalāh [with Jamā‘ah] except an open hypocrite or a sick person who would in fact walk between two men until he came for Ṣalāh [with Jamā‘ah].” He [Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه] also said, “Indeed Rasūlullāḥ صلى الله عليه و سلم taught us practices of guidance and amongst these practices of guidance is Ṣalāh in the Masjid wherein Azān is proclaimed.” What is clear from the Arabic is that Ibn Mas‘ūd رضي الله عنه condemned the hypocrites who did not attend the Masjid. This is understood from the first translation, but is contradicted by the second incorrect translation. 

This is further understood from the final Ḥadīth given in the commentary of Mawlānā Zakariyyā: It is said in another Ḥadīth, “Ishā and Fajr are very heavy on those who are munaafiq. If they knew the reward of the Jamā‘āh, they would go to the Masjid and join the Jamā‘ah even if they had to crawl.” Again, it is clear that the hypocrites were not attending. Some have explained this translation error by saying that perhaps the known hypocrites did not attend and the unknown hypocrites did in fact attend. The reply to this is quite simple. Firstly, even if true, that does not change the fact that the translation is wrong according to the original Arabic. Secondly, why should an assumption be accepted as opposed to the clear narration of a most senior Ṣaḥābī, a narration authenticated by al-Imām Muslim and al-Imām Abū Dāwūd? May Allāh guide us all.

سليمان الكندي