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  

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

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

Language – a sign of Allah, but no Muslim linguists

 

 

الرحمن علم القرآن خلق الإنسان علمه البيان الشمس والقمر بحسبان

The Most Merciful! He taught the Qurān. He created man. He taught him speech. The sun and moon follow fixed courses…. [ar-Raḥmān: 1-5]

 

ومن آياته خلق السماوات والأرض واختلاف ألسنتكم وألوانكم إن في ذلك لآيات للعالمين

And amongst His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth and the differences of your languages and colours. Indeed there are signs in that for those who know. [ar-Rūm: 22]

 

 

I had previously written about Muslims who are also intellectuals, but have difficulty fusing the two concepts into a single identity of Muslim intellectual. That does not make them bad Muslims. A Muslim engineer for example may be a Palestine activist or involved in great works of charity. Rare however is the Muslim engineer/ chemist/ mathematician, who before venturing into “classical” fields of good deeds, manages to see the Hand of the Creator in his own field. How delightful it would be to meet a “secular” Muslim academic, who going through decades of study and libraries of information, actually manages, even if it be just once in his lifetime, to see the Hand of the Creator in his field and falls into prostration, consumed with recognition of the Most Glorious.      

 

Language – a sign of Allah

 

The above verses make it abundantly clear that language is a sign of Allāh. Just to clarify to those who read their own thoughts into the Qurān, the concept of language is Allāh’s sign, not specifically Arabic. If Allāh wills, I might write on the beauty of Arabic vs other languages at a later stage, but here, in terms of pointing to the magnificence of the Creator, the mere existence of English, German, Mandarin, Pashto etc are all equally signs of the Creator, alongside Arabic.

 

There are two levels to this sign. Firstly, ar-Raḥmān points to the divine origin of the concept of speech. The atheist-evolutionists are at pains to explain the origin of language. Yet all their theorising and speculation cannot reach resolution.

 

How did this supposed descendant of the ape arrive at the concept of speech? What was the need? Does not every other creature survive well enough without complex grammatically systemised language? Cockroaches seem to thrive well enough without studying Shakespeare. Once they decided to speak, how did these “apelings” collectively use the same word for the same object? How did even 10 apes decide to call a stone by the same name? When did “stone” become insufficient and when was limestone, granite and rubies invented? How did the apes vocalise concepts they could not see like love? How did they conceive of shades of meaning and differ between love, fondness, inclination, liking and affection?

 

As long as they deny the Most Merciful teaching man speech, they will never find the answer. Similarly, every time a Muslim speaks, reads or writes, he should understand that he is participating in one of Allāh’s signs.

 

Certain individuals may have written about signs of Allāh in other fields such as astronomy and biology, but as far as I know, no in-depth exposition on language as proof of the Creator exists from a Muslim perspective. It may be a legacy of the colonialists’ brain washing us with nationalism, but it seems that there can be Muslims in love with Urdu, Persian and Turkish, but no professional Muslim linguist who finds his Creator in language in general.

 

PIE Project

The second level of this sign is the differing of tongues. Yet studies on reversing the process and discovering the original word for something, ultimately brings my thought to a single man uttering the original word. Is it not possible that a professional Muslim linguist can ultimately prove the existence of the first created man and thus his Creator?

 

The Proto-Indo-European language project aims to reconstruct a single language supposed to have been spoken from Europe to India thousands of years ago. Its origins lie in a British Raj judge noticing the amazing similarities between Sanskrit and Latin. Even if we look at their descendants there are still similarities, e.g. compare ignite to the Hindu fire-god, agni.

 

Professional linguists may blast me as merely clutching at unrelated coincidences, yet it seems that according to what I have noticed, even Arabic may be joined up to the P.I.E languages, either phonetically or conceptually. For example, The German Rhine River and Italian Renos River descend from the same PIE word meaning river. Is it just coincidence that Arabic, mainly based on three letter derivatives uses the similar sounding and same letters for nahr? The Romans claimed to descend from Aeneas whom they called Pius Aeneas. Just like the Arabic word used for pious, ṣāliḥ, pius actually means to do the right or appropriate thing at the right time, not necessarily someone who engages in constant prayer. Here the words may not have any similarity in sound, but the originating concept is the same in two cultures geographically and mentally distant.

 

I am not a specialist in the field and will be the first to admit that greater evidence is needed. Indeed, my conjecture may be utterly baseless, but my question stands…. Where is the Muslim linguist who can prove or disprove me, and more importantly, see the Hand of his Creator in language as indicated in the Qurān?

 

 

 

 

سليمان الكندي

Language – a sign of Allah, but no Muslim linguists

الرحمن علم القرآن  خلق الإنسان  علمه البيان  الشمس والقمر بحسبان

The Most Merciful! He taught the Qurān. He created man. He taught him speech. The sun and moon follow fixed courses…. [ar-Raḥmān: 1-5]

ومن آياته خلق السماوات والأرض واختلاف ألسنتكم وألوانكم إن في ذلك لآيات للعالمين

And amongst His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth and the differences of your languages and colours. Indeed there are signs in that for those who know. [ar-Rūm: 22]

I had previously written about Muslims who are also intellectuals, but have difficulty fusing the two concepts into a single identity of Muslim intellectual. That does not make them bad Muslims. A Muslim engineer for example may be a Palestine activist or involved in great works of charity. Rare however is the Muslim engineer/ chemist/ mathematician, who before venturing into “classical” fields of good deeds, manages to see the Hand of the Creator in his own field. How delightful it would be to meet a “secular” Muslim academic, who going through decades of study and libraries of information, actually manages, even if it be just once in his lifetime, to see the Hand of the Creator in his field and falls into prostration, consumed with recognition of the Most Glorious.      

Language – a sign of Allah

The above verses make it abundantly clear that language is a sign of Allāh. Just to clarify to those who read their own thoughts into the Qurān, the concept of language is Allāh’s sign, not specifically Arabic. If Allāh wills, I might write on the beauty of Arabic vs other languages at a later stage, but here, in terms of pointing to the magnificence of the Creator, the mere existence of English, German, Mandarin, Pashto etc are all equally signs of the Creator, alongside Arabic.

There are two levels to this sign. Firstly, ar-Raḥmān points to the divine origin of the concept of speech. The atheist-evolutionists are at pains to explain the origin of language. Yet all their theorising and speculation cannot reach resolution.

How did this supposed descendant of the ape arrive at the concept of speech? What was the need? Does not every other creature survive well enough without complex grammatically systemised language? Cockroaches seem to thrive well enough without studying Shakespeare. Once they decided to speak, how did these “apelings” collectively use the same word for the same object? How did even 10 apes decide to call a stone by the same name? When did “stone” become insufficient and when was limestone, granite and rubies invented? How did the apes vocalise concepts they could not see like love? How did they conceive of shades of meaning and differ between love, fondness, inclination, liking and affection?

As long as they deny the Most Merciful teaching man speech, they will never find the answer. Similarly, every time a Muslim speaks, reads or writes, he should understand that he is participating in one of Allāh’s signs.

Certain individuals may have written about signs of Allāh in other fields such as astronomy and biology, but as far as I know, no in-depth exposition on language as proof of the Creator exists from a Muslim perspective. It may be a legacy of the colonialists’ brain washing us with nationalism, but it seems that there can be Muslims in love with Urdu, Persian and Turkish, but no professional Muslim linguist who finds his Creator in language in general. 

PIE Project

The second level of this sign is the differing of tongues. Yet studies on reversing the process and discovering the original word for something, ultimately brings my thought to a single man uttering the original word. Is it not possible that a professional Muslim linguist can ultimately prove the existence of the first created man and thus his Creator?

The Proto-Indo-European language project aims to reconstruct a single language supposed to have been spoken from Europe to India thousands of years ago. Its origins lie in a British Raj judge noticing the amazing similarities between Sanskrit and Latin. Even if we look at their descendants there are still similarities, e.g. compare ignite to the Hindu fire-god, agni. 

Professional linguists may blast me as merely clutching at unrelated coincidences, yet it seems that according to what I have noticed, even Arabic may be joined up to the P.I.E languages, either phonetically or conceptually. For example, The German Rhine River and Italian Renos River descend from the same PIE word meaning river. Is it just coincidence that Arabic, mainly based on three letter derivatives uses the similar sounding and same letters for nahr? The Romans claimed to descend from Aeneas whom they called Pius Aeneas. Just like the Arabic word used for pious, ṣāliḥ, pius actually means to do the right or appropriate thing at the right time, not necessarily someone who engages in constant prayer. Here the words may not have any similarity in sound, but the originating concept is the same in two cultures geographically and mentally distant.

I am not a specialist in the field and will be the first to admit that greater evidence is needed. Indeed, my conjecture may be utterly baseless, but my question stands…. Where is the Muslim linguist who can prove or disprove me, and more importantly, see the Hand of his Creator in language as indicated in the Qurān?

  

سليمان الكندي

Companions of the Cave – language, chauvinism & Quraan commentary

 

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ قُلْ رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِمْ مَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً  …ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِمْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا

They will say [that there were] three [companions] the fourth being their dog. Others will five and their dog being their sixth. They but guess at the unknown. Others say seven and their eighth being their dog. Say, “My Cherishing Lord knows their number best.” None but a few knows them. So do dispute about them except for what is plain and apparent and do not enquire about them from any of them [unbelievers]….. [al-Kahf : 22]

They stayed in their cave for 300 years and increased 9. Say, “Allāh knows best how long they stayed…” [al-Kahf : 25-6]

 

Listening to the Jumu‘ah [Friday] talk, some thoughts which I had pondered on before, came to the fore. I wish to share some words on language issues and their broader context, and discuss some aspects which our attitude to knowledge reveal.

 

Respecting languages should work both ways

 

Having heard the desecration of Muḥammad into MO-HA-MID for the umpteenth time on a famous talk-radio station, I wrote to express my disappointment. When it comes to Italian or French names, the presenters take care to correctly pronounce the foreign name. Yet when it comes to Arabic names, which are far more numerous than those named in any single European language, any haphazard pronunciation will do. I did not mention that the presenter in question whom I was addressing is African, at least in terms of DNA, not Caucasian.  The station replied that they would note this for the future. Ha! Don’t hold your breath.

Conversely I find it symptomatic of the tribal chauvinism of some Muslims, as well as their academic laziness, that the entire history and geography of mankind magically conforms to their traditional language, whichever it may be. This may unfortunately include Arabic in itself for an Arab chauvinist, or Arabic vocabulary where an Arabic word is used by a non-Arab.

 

Someone told me that he had listened to a speech of a world famous scholar. He spoke on how Muslim explorers had apparently named a host of countries in the world. The examples cited seemed sensible enough, but I objected to Madagascar being al-Madīnah al-Aṣghar in origin. The grammar is incorrect. Had it been the case, it would have been al-Madīnah aṣ-Ṣughrā. The look of horror on the brother’s face, that I could DARE to have a different opinion, as well as his pious exclamation, “But that is what so-and-so said!” speaks volumes on the mentality of a good proportion of Muslims. By the way, you are welcome to do your own research on the etymology of Madagascar.   

 

Getting back to Friday, the classical commentators of the Qurān were generally monolingual. Based on their time and place, and when Arabic was the world language in terms of academia, trade, politics, literature etc, it was only practical and obvious that they would record the Greek names of the Companions of the Cave [“Seven Sleepers,” as the Christians call them] in an Arabicised form, amenable to their audience.

 

I would ask, why is it that a millennium later, Muslim scholars who are born in western lands would still not have the aptitude to pronounce the tyrant Emperor’s name as Decius instead of Diqyānūs? Is it really practical to give the name of one of the Sleepers as Miksalmīnā to a western Muslim, or would Maximillian make more sense? Are we lazy and chauvinistic, or is it just that we have as yet not worked on the balance of holding firmly onto our religion, whilst according our host countries and their cultures their respect?

 

Majority commentary, Qataadah and Greek records

 

The Qurān is a book of guidance, not a story book. It does not discuss historical details. I would not dare comment on Allāh’s Word based on my unsubstantiated opinion, but fail to see the validity of the extremism amongst Muslims. On the one hand, there are those who expect the Qurān to comply with their theories. These people lose sight of the Qurān being the absolute truth, and worship sciences whose absolutes today is discredited the next generation. If Allāh wills, I shall write one day on my discussion with a Muslim physicist in regards infinite parallel universes.

 

 On the other hand, some confine their minds to a single tradition. Findings from science, history, geography etc are of less than zero relevance to them, even when these fields are used as mere supporting evidence to an existing orthodox view in Islām, NOT primary proof. Any deviation from a school’s thought is disrespect to the instructors and pious predecessors. That is the problem of holding the middle ground amongst extremists. To the former, I am Neanderthal idiot, to the latter a disrespectful rebel verging on heresy.

 

 The commentary of Qatādah – Allāh’s mercy be upon him – appealed far more to me than the majority opinion when we studied the story of the Companions of the Cave as students.  

 

They majority view is that, “They stayed in their cave for 300 years and increased 9” means that they stayed for 300 solar equivalent to 309 lunar years in the cave. Qatādah however opined that the Verse is actually quoting the speculation of the unbelievers, just as they were quoted in regards their number speculation. Both the numbers and years are guesses in the unknown, hence the next Verse, Say, “Allāh knows best how long they stayed…”

 

Why I prefer Qataadah

 

• Decius ruled 249 -251. So there is no harm with the Greek dating of 250.
• If 300 is absolute, they awoke in 550.
• This is a mere 2 decades before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
• The Commentators explain that the story had been revealed in response to the unbelievers testing the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam with an incident so ancient, that the time and place had been lost to history. How is 20 years ancient lost history?
• The way Qatādah explains the speculation and that Allāh knows best, has a better logical flow that appeals to me.

All that being said, I can be wrong and 309 is clear and correct!

What then, is my point?

 

Deterioration in Muslim thinking

 

The point of this article is not to espouse my acceptance of Qataadah’s commentary, but to ask the reader to ponder over some points:

 

• The early commentators disagreed with Qatādah but mentioned his view with equal respect.
• Today it is not mentioned at all. 309 is mentioned as an absolute, with no difference.
• To me this but an example of the narrowing of Muslim thinking and inability to be open to differing opinions. A single monolithic narrative is the imperative and the diversity of the earliest Muslims is null and void.
• The above Verses clarify that the unbelievers should not be our point of reference. “…do not enquire about them from any of them.” Thus the Greek period of 180 years for them having slept is not a fact which can be used to interpret the Qurān. However, when the Greeks have a complete historical record of when the pagan Decius and believer Theodosius II ruled, can the historical Greek record not be utilised as supporting evidence for an existing view within Islām?
• My aim is to point out the forgotten middle path. Do we keep being in two groups, one worshipping science, the other living in an intellectual vacuum? Think about it. 

Companions of the Cave – language, chauvinism & Quraan commentary

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ قُلْ رَبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِمْ مَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً  …ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِمْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا

They will say [that there were] three [companions] the fourth being their dog. Others will five and their dog being their sixth. They but guess at the unknown. Others say seven and their eighth being their dog. Say, “My Cherishing Lord knows their number best.” None but a few knows them. So do dispute about them except for what is plain and apparent and do not enquire about them from any of them [unbelievers]….. [al-Kahf : 22]

They stayed in their cave for 300 years and increased 9. Say, “Allāh knows best how long they stayed…” [al-Kahf : 25-6]

Listening to the Jumu‘ah [Friday] talk, some thoughts which I had pondered on before, came to the fore. I wish to share some words on language issues and their broader context, and discuss some aspects which our attitude to knowledge reveal.

Respecting languages should work both ways

Having heard the desecration of Muḥammad into MO-HA-MID for the umpteenth time on a famous talk-radio station, I wrote to express my disappointment. When it comes to Italian or French names, the presenters take care to correctly pronounce the foreign name. Yet when it comes to Arabic names, which are far more numerous than those named in any single European language, any haphazard pronunciation will do. I did not mention that the presenter in question whom I was addressing is African, at least in terms of DNA, not Caucasian.  The station replied that they would note this for the future. Ha! Don’t hold your breath.

Conversely I find it symptomatic of the tribal chauvinism of some Muslims, as well as their academic laziness, that the entire history and geography of mankind magically conforms to their traditional language, whichever it may be. This may unfortunately include Arabic in itself for an Arab chauvinist, or Arabic vocabulary where an Arabic word is used by a non-Arab.

Someone told me that he had listened to a speech of a world famous scholar. He spoke on how Muslim explorers had apparently named a host of countries in the world. The examples cited seemed sensible enough, but I objected to Madagascar being al-Madīnah al-Aṣghar in origin. The grammar is incorrect. Had it been the case, it would have been al-Madīnah aṣ-Ṣughrā. The look of horror on the brother’s face, that I could DARE to have a different opinion, as well as his pious exclamation, “But that is what so-and-so said!” speaks volumes on the mentality of a good proportion of Muslims. By the way, you are welcome to do your own research on the etymology of Madagascar.   

Getting back to Friday, the classical commentators of the Qurān were generally monolingual. Based on their time and place, and when Arabic was the world language in terms of academia, trade, politics, literature etc, it was only practical and obvious that they would record the Greek names of the Companions of the Cave [“Seven Sleepers,” as the Christians call them] in an Arabicised form, amenable to their audience.

I would ask, why is it that a millennium later, Muslim scholars who are born in western lands would still not have the aptitude to pronounce the tyrant Emperor’s name as Decius instead of Diqyānūs? Is it really practical to give the name of one of the Sleepers as Miksalmīnā to a western Muslim, or would Maximillian make more sense? Are we lazy and chauvinistic, or is it just that we have as yet not worked on the balance of holding firmly onto our religion, whilst according our host countries and their cultures their respect?

Majority commentary, Qataadah and Greek records

The Qurān is a book of guidance, not a story book. It does not discuss historical details. I would not dare comment on Allāh’s Word based on my unsubstantiated opinion, but fail to see the validity of the extremism amongst Muslims. On the one hand, there are those who expect the Qurān to comply with their theories. These people lose sight of the Qurān being the absolute truth, and worship sciences whose absolutes today is discredited the next generation. If Allāh wills, I shall write one day on my discussion with a Muslim physicist in regards infinite parallel universes.

 On the other hand, some confine their minds to a single tradition. Findings from science, history, geography etc are of less than zero relevance to them, even when these fields are used as mere supporting evidence to an existing orthodox view in Islām, NOT primary proof. Any deviation from a school’s thought is disrespect to the instructors and pious predecessors. That is the problem of holding the middle ground amongst extremists. To the former, I am Neanderthal idiot, to the latter a disrespectful rebel verging on heresy.

 The commentary of Qatādah – Allāh’s mercy be upon him – appealed far more to me than the majority opinion when we studied the story of the Companions of the Cave as students.  

The majority view is that, “They stayed in their cave for 300 years and increased 9” means that they stayed for 300 solar equivalent to 309 lunar years in the cave. Qatādah however opined that the Verse is actually quoting the speculation of the unbelievers, just as they were quoted in regards their number speculation. Both the numbers and years are guesses in the unknown, hence the next Verse, Say, “Allāh knows best how long they stayed…”

Why I prefer Qataadah

·         Decius ruled 249 -251. So there is no harm with the Greek dating of 250.

·         If 300 is absolute, they awoke in 550.

·         This is a mere 2 decades before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

·         The Commentators explain that the story had been revealed in response to the unbelievers testing the Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam with an incident so ancient, that the time and place had been lost to history. How is 20 years ancient lost history?

·         The way Qatādah explains the speculation and that Allāh knows best, has a better logical flow that appeals to me.

All that being said, I can be wrong and 309 is clear and correct!

What then, is my point?

Deterioration in Muslim thinking

The point of this article is not to espouse my acceptance of Qataadah’s commentary, but to ask the reader to ponder over some points:

·         The early commentators disagreed with Qatādah but mentioned his view with equal respect.

·         Today it is not mentioned at all. 309 is mentioned as an absolute, with no difference.

·         To me this but an example of the narrowing of Muslim thinking and inability to be open to differing opinions. A single monolithic narrative is the imperative and the diversity of the earliest Muslims is null and void.

·         The above Verses clarify that the unbelievers should not be our point of reference. “…do not enquire about them from any of them.” Thus the Greek period of 180 years for them having slept is not a fact which can be used to interpret the Qurān. However, when the Greeks have a complete historical record of when the pagan Decius and believer Theodosius II ruled, can the historical Greek record not be utilised as supporting evidence for an existing view within Islām?

·         My aim is to point out the forgotten middle path. Do we keep being in two groups, one worshipping science, the other living in an intellectual vacuum? Think about it. 

سليمان الكندي