Friday, October 13, 2017

Language Whispers: “Allahu Akbar” Between Islamophobia and Culture

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Islamophobia in the wake of terrorist attacks and media stereotypes (image copied from an article about Islamophobia on Washington State University Hub)
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.            
                                    - Surah Al-HujuratThe Private Rooms 49:13 (translated by: Sahih International)

 " يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَى وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ(١٣)"                                               -سورة الحجرات 



After a discussion with my sister regarding a story she was reading entitled “غربة الياسمين” /Ghorbit El-Yasmin/ or (The Alienation of the Jasmines) by Khawla Hamdi, I felt an urge to clarify somethings up regarding Arabic, Culture and Islamophobia. I felt that I have a duty to do that not only because I am working with languages and have been living abroad for a while but also because I am suffering from Islamophobia myself (yes, I am a Muslim) and maybe my views could help someone else.

Despite being abroad for more than 3 years now I have been insulted (as a Muslim) only twice, once in Stuttgart when a man said something in German that I didn't understand at that time but his words included the word Muslim and his look wasn't that friendly. And the second time was in Galway recently when a pretty lady called me “ISIS” after I smiled to her; maybe because I was wearing a traditional Muslim abaya and of course a headscarf which might seem too much cloth. It upsets me but I have strong feeling that she is not Irish as I believe that the Irish are the nicest people one can ever meet. Probably she didn't mean “Isis” /ˈaɪsɪs/ the ancient Egyptian Goddess of Motherhood and Kindness who has been worshiped by the ancient Egyptians, the Ptolemies, and the Romans; and whose legendary love story is well known among the Egyptians namely “The myth of Isis and Osiris” (to my generation, they are kind of the Pharaonic Romeo and Juliet).

Well, let us get back to our topic. The discussion of my sister and I was about a specific scene in the story “Ghorbit El-Yasmin” where there was an explosion in the lab of a chemistry researcher (who happened to be Muslim) and the phrase “Allahu Akbar” was heard and how the people and authorities reacted.

Although I don't read this genre of stories, this scene stopped me for a while. I was imagining it while my sister was narrating and to be honest, I was afraid! I feared for myself, my faith, my language and my culture (needless to say that I am not defending any of them here). We discussed further, should we stop saying such “religious” phrases because of our fear and insecurities that in an unlikely event something bad might happen and we/our faith will be the first and only suspect! But wait, this is not a linguistic issue but rather a cultural one. If we stopped using such interjections and phrases we will help in diminishing our culture.

The question is how other people (non-natives of a certain language) view certain expression in another language? What should be the basic assumption/feeling when a foreigner hear the Arabic phrase “Allahu Akbar”? 
The answer is simple: the same way when you hear “Jesus!” in Ireland or “Oh Gott!” in Germany; probably nothing.

Now let me shed some light on the linguistic and cultural aspects of this phrase. 

The word-for-word translation of “Allah Akbar” will be “God is greater”, grammatically something is missing here, right? In Arabic, this is a superlative construction where “Akbar” is the elative adjective means “greatest”, so a proper translation will be “God is greatest”. 

Allah Akbar is used in the Muslim prayers as an opening and before every prostration and kneeling. 

It is being used as a multi-purpose interjection in many Arab countries for different reasons of joy or distress. In Egypt, we say it when the electricity suddenly went off. And when your favourite football player scores a brilliant goal sending your team to victory (not to mention the last one by Mohamed Salah which qualified Egypt to the World Cup, I bet everyone was cheering the victory by saying, Allahu Akbar). In the Levantine, you might say it when you find a dining table filled with all the good dishes that you adore from Kebab to Mansaf passing by Stuffed Vine Leaves. 
Elsewhere you might say it when one of your kids comes back late at night or when your kids get high or low marks in the final exam (depend on your intonation and posture, they will know what to do either run to their room or run to hug you). More importantly, it is used in times of distress in most Arab cultures for example when seeing a fire or when hearing an explosion as a way to calm oneself down saying that God is greatest and He will help us (similar to holding the Cross in the times of distress). 

I am planning to do a comparative analysis of using such interjections in different languages. And I will post the results here.

To wrap up, there is a direct relationship between language and culture. Our everyday language reflects our beliefs, values and attitudes. Our role is to keep our language to preserve our culture.

It is normal to have insecurities towards the things that we don't know or understand. 

"الإنسان عدو ما يجهل"
“Ignorance is the parent of fear.” ~ Herman Melville


I understand that the media and the terrorist attacks by some extremists (who are claiming to be Muslims) helped a lot to distort the image of everything related to Islam. But humans are blessed with minds to think about these unknowns. 



So nothing bad will happen after hearing Allahu Akbar, Egyptians are not using camels anymore for transportation, and yes Arabic is written from the right to the left ;)

Be Safe...Learn Things...God is the greatest...
Live a better life… (Oh my god, I missed that)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Game of Life

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Boy jumping over trench in countryside (@Jake Wyman -From:Getty Images)

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
                                                         -Friedrich Nietzsche

Why shall we live? Maybe we ask ourselves this question every day, but actually we don’t have enough time to answer it. Once we enter life’s hamster wheel, we won’t be able to get off.

Our life is like a game and the key to winning, is the answer to this question. We join schools, institutes and even universities, and no one gave us an answer. After few years we realize that we must answer it ourselves before the game ends.

Every moment in our life we face questions like: why shall we live, what direction are we going and when can we realize that life is worth living? You would catch yourself stammering and can’t find the right answer, or you would answer according to your profession. There is no fixed universal answer that would satisfy everyone, the answer is forever changing and sometimes it leaves you more confused and befuddled, it also depends on the character of the person who is answering.

Before we were born, our mission in life was written. Once we are born, it becomes our destiny. But we must search for it and sometimes we can even choose it. If you don’t have a goal in this life, you must make one. And if you have one you must be sure that your goal will not die even with your death.

You could say: “I am not ambitious and I don’t even want to have a goal”. Trust me you must not do that, you have a great opportunity to choose your life and to create your legacy.

Dream big, what if you were to become one of the greatest characters known in the universe. Why do you not become a legend and set a goal that ignites your soul; a goal that is everlasting.

Linking your goal with learning, growing and inspiring others is one of the steps to achieve something worthy and great in this life.

If you ask a wise old man for his advice, he would tell you: “Worshiping Allah, learning, working, inspiring others and patience are the elements of worthy & unstoppable life; only if you use them with this inner power that lets you achieve the impossible. This inner power is your belief and your desire to be.
“Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power - a reason to get up every morning or to pick ourselves up and start in again after a disappointment.”
                                                               -Marsha Sinetar
Search for your potential and don’t let anything hold you back. Sometimes your work seems small and insignificant. But remember a small ripple can gain momentum and build a current that is insurmountable.

Begin with one small step; don’t let others stand in your way. Create your own path. Some may laugh, but many will follow.

Believe that beyond hope is absolute faith in Allah then in yourself, in your goals and in the outcome. Search for what gives depth and meaning to your life.

Your courage is your ability to place your dreams above your fears. Remember, fear keeps people small and insignificant; on the other side of your greatest fear, a great life exists.

It is time to be inspired and live your dreams with the passion that sparks your soul and drives you to complete your game of life.



Take time to know why you should live, and always keep in your mind; it is not enough to be the BEST, when you have the ability to be GREAT…

Just See, Touch and Taste your Dreams...
Dare to play this Game… Live Better Life…

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Teach the World…Leave your Print

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Americans Mourn Passing Of Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs (By: Andrew Burton)


“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”
                                                                      -Karen Ravn
Just four days after Steve Jobs’ death, the person who have taught the world how to be innovative even if you know that you will die after few months.

That young boy, whose hobby was working on electronics in his family garage, became a legend. His ambition and dreams were his tools to create the first truly personal computer "Apple" in this garage. His motivation was to expect that every day would be his last day in this life, so he must do something worthy. Every step he took, created his history.

Mr. Jobs have left his print in every place, in every hand and in every brain. He passed away leaving us with an important question; could we face death with this great passion and energy to improve the world and to create better life for the new generation?

Accepting that you will die one day is easier than insisting to make something good before that day.
You may dream to be in memory after death, to leave your print, to make something that keeps your existence even after 20 or 30 years after your death.

You could make it, by creating your own path of success, by dreaming to reach the stars, and by having a meaningful goal in your life.

Don’t wait until it will be too late to achieve something you want. Begin from now, dream with a better future for yourself, your family and the entire world. Put goals that nourish your creativity and sow the seeds of an effective change in your life and in others life.

“Be the change you want to see in the world” 
                                                                             -Mahatma Gandhi


Don’t let setbacks keep you away from achieving your goals and dreams; even if those setbacks are illness or facing death. Be brave to complete your way, face the illness with Allah’s power and dare to dream even if you are dying.

Follow your heart… Follow your dreams…
Create your path of success… Live Better Life…

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Open Your Eyes!

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1 Year Old Girl in Field of Mustard Flowers (From: Photographers-Choice)

“It’s marvellous what you can see when you open your eyes.”
                                                                          -Unknown

Seeing the secrets of this life, knowing what beyond every truth, understands what you should do and what you shouldn’t, all that need a power.

Open your eyes; it is the power of belief.

It is time to open your eyes, to open your heart and to give yourself a moment to think. Think in your existence, in the miracles inside you and those which surrounds you.

Open your eyes to feel this inner power that can drive you to achieve the impossible, this inner power that let you see beyond what you can see.

Either you are a successful person, famous, wise, genius, and know everything in this world, or you are still searching for your goal, want to have unstoppable abilities you need to open your eyes.

You can touch everything around you and change it to a better state. You can survive your pain, struggling and weakness. You can enjoy your happiness, love and life.



Search for your greatest love... Search for your greatest power...
Open your Eyes, Heart & Mind... Live Better Life...


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Real Friends…Real Treasure

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Buried Treasure (By: Andrew Dernie)
“Do people think they will be left alone after saying ‘We believe’ without being put to test? We tested those who went before them: God will certainly mark out which ones are truthful and which are lying.”
-Surah Al- ‘Ankabut “The Spider” 29:2-3          (translated by: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem)

" أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آَمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ (٢) وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ (٣)"ُـ                                          -سورة العنكبوت 2-3

Tribulation period is like swimming in stormy sea, as if all the waves come to hit you at the same time.

I am not writing today an inspiring article. And I am not going to tell you how to try to be strong when you have a hard time. And I won’t tell you that every tribulation is building your character and gives you strength.

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”
                                                                      -Helen Keller

But I am here to drop a thank you note. As I have realized that I found a treasure in my nowadays hard time. They are Real Friends…

I am here to thank you the smiling scientist-The Drone Girl- and you the small pretty flower- BB-.

Really thanks Allah that I have you beside me at this time.

You “The Drone girl” support me and give me your wise advice. And you have never left me alone, instead you became sad for my sadness, crying and praying to ask Allah to help me. Your wisdom always let me see some stuff that I couldn’t realize under my pressure, and your trust & experience encouraged me to tell you my secrets.

And you “BB” you make me happy when you smile. I know that I didn’t tell you some stories about this time, but this is because I don’t want you to be afraid of life, and I don’t want you think that life is so bad. But we must be examined by Allah. Only your way of talking and your charming face let me forget my distress.

I was always wishing to have a friend, a real and true friend. And I thank Allah that He blessed me with this tribulation to know that I have a great treasure.

Thank you… Wishing you the best ever…
Wishing you a better life full of success, joy and happiness…

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Alone Between Yesterday & Tomorrow!

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Sunrise looking down fairway of desert golf course (By: Thomas Barwick)


"The past is behind, learn from it.
The future is ahead, prepare for it.
The present is here, live it.”
                                                         - Thomas S. Monson


Sometimes you find yourself alone, surrounded with a lot of disasters. Sometimes you find yourself a stranger, weak and small in a stormy sea.

You find that you have to fight alone in the weird battle of life. Alone because no one has the ability to fight with you, no one dare to complete a battle with you.

Not only no one dare to continue this fight but also no one have the patience and steadfast to continue till the end.

Although you suddenly realize that you won the battle, you also realize that it was too late and no one could survive and stay beside you.

After all you win, even if you have stayed alone but you learnt that the victory was too closer than you have thought. And you learnt not to give-up quickly.

The only danger after this winning is to be trapped in the past, over thinking about the future, not knowing that your life is too short and you don't have much time to complete your legendary.

Your brain triggering you, please don't waste the remaining time, try to focus on your mission in life. You have the ability to be satisfied with the past and learn from it, hope and plan for a wonderful future full of success, joy and happiness and finally live for today.

Today is the only gift you have and if you lose it, it will never come again till the Day of Judgment, so benefit with the maximum of it.




If you find yourself alone and very weak, if you find yourself a stranger with a pile of load on your shoulder; don't give-up, Allah knows and He will be with you all the way, giving you the strength and the power to continue  until you finish your mission, until your death and after.

Don't be concerned with what was and what will be. Everything in our life is a destiny.

Everything is between Allah's hands. You are not alone.
Live your destiny… Live Better Life…

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Let it out, Mail from my DEAREST Friend!

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toned shot of envelopes (By: Stockbyte)


"Dear The Legend;
I wrote this.. just wanted to let it out.. thought i'd share it with you..

Death changes everything.
First of all I’m a believer, and I know that there comes a moment when a person has to go.. it’s his time.. he was chosen.. he finished what he was sent here to do.. and its time for him to leave.. di 7ekmet rabina w mo2mena beeha..
The difficult thing about it is the chances you missed. The things you wanted to say, the things you wanted to do, but never got the chance. You keep procrastinating not knowing that the time you have left might not be enough. You keep setting reminders, things you’re planning on doing but you never get around to it.
Death is sudden. It takes you by surprise.
Now you wish you hadn’t postponed anything. You wish you had called when you had the chance. 
Cherish every moment because it might very well be the last.
Photographs… one day they’ll be all you have left to remember him by.
In the blink of an eye, it all fades away.
All what remains is the memory of you, for I shall never forget you my dearest friend.
Goodbyes are inevitable but I will see you again isA..
B.F.S  
28 July 2011"