mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
There’s an interesting debate going on at the Guardian about why English-speakers use the word Allah to refer to the Muslim version of God:
There is no logical reason for this. Why use an Arabic word in English-language news reports when there is a perfectly good English word that means exactly the same thing?
Various Arabic words — jihad and sheikh, for example — have crept into everyday usage because no precise equivalent exists in English, but “Allah” is not of that type. It is simply the normal word that Arabic speakers use for “God” — whether they are Muslims or not. Arab Christians worship “Allah” too, and the first verse of the Arabic Bible informs us that “In the beginning Allah created heaven and earth.”
And there’s a lot more to the argument. Are those who use the word Allah unwittingly “aligning themselves, in effect, with those who view international politics in terms of a clash of civilisations?” Is this an example of “reverse orientalism?” Any thoughts?
via Brainiac
Comments (25)
Comment
That’s interesting to point out, I never noticed any increase of the use of ‘Allah’ by English speakers. I would put forth the theory that English speakers use the term Allah in connection with Arabic beliefs in order to distance ourselves from islam. We refuse to accept that Allah and God are one in the same since islamic extremists pervert their religion, we want no part of it, and we dont want their extremism associated with our beliefs.
posted by Chris on 1-23-2007 at 8:18 am
There may be many different reasons, but for me here is primary one: Muslim Allah and Christian God are *not* the same. By using the term “Allah” when referring to the Muslim god, I make an intentional distinction from the Christian God.
posted by Thinker70 on 1-23-2007 at 9:13 am
Here in Malaysia, God in Islam is referred to as “Allah” (other religions, including Christianity, have other words), even though the Malay word for “God” is not “Allah” but “Tuhan”. While sometimes “Allah” and “Tuhan” are interchangable, there is a certain level of respect and honour attached to the word “Allah” - the word becomes more holy than the generic “Tuhan”. Words have power in Islam; it is said that just reciting the verses gets you pahala (spiritual rewards; the opposite of sin), and God is referred to as “Allah” all over the Quran, so extra holiness. That may explain why Muslims use “Allah” more often than “God”/”Tuhan”/etc despite the similarity in meaning.
posted by Tiara on 1-23-2007 at 9:17 am
Allah is used in English and, I am sure, in other languages, for the Muslim version of God either out of ignorance, thinking Him to be a different God or to distinguish between the different interrutations of Gods commandements. When someone speaks of Allah you can be sure they are speaking of the Muslim version/interrupation.
She closetes synonym of Jihad would be Cursade, a Holy War where you slaughter all those that do not worship in the same manner as you?
posted by Fred on 1-23-2007 at 9:26 am
I understand that jihad traditionally means an inner struggle; sort of a fight against temptation within your own soul.
It has been perverted in recent years to become an actual armed conflict justified by religion.
I am not Muslim, so I may be mistaken.
posted by n2y2 on 1-23-2007 at 9:41 am
It seems that by using a different name it’s almost implying Muslims worship a different God. It’s alarming how many people truly believe Muslims worship a different God than Christians and Jews. After all we don’t say Jews worship Yahweh, we say they worship God.
posted by Rexmons on 1-23-2007 at 10:36 am
fascinating story, Mary.
posted by Mangesh on 1-23-2007 at 11:31 am
I think it is interesting that we all fail to realize that in the end we are all worshiping the same supreme being. If we could come to that realization, globally, it would provide a preface for peace.
posted by teach7 on 1-23-2007 at 12:33 pm
English speakers use the word/name “Allah” for one reason - English speaking Arabic people use it.
There is much truth to the idea that each ’side’ to think of the two deity beliefs as separate enough in form/function/fit that they deserve to be recognized separately.
But the primary reason is that the people involved in various religions predominantly use one form or the other, and so news media typically tries to use the “correct” term when referring to either deity.
-Adam
See my website for a few electronics projects.
posted by Adam on 1-23-2007 at 1:07 pm
As a Muslim myself, I feel that God and Allah are the same, yes sometimes Allah is used in English to distinguish (or distance) yourself from the Muslim beliefs (as has been said earlier), but personally I feel there is no difference. I notice that I use Allah mostly when I’m around people from my parents country (while conversing in English), probably because I’m used to using it in that context. Whereas, I use God in my normal day to day life, and mean Allah, Yahweh, the ‘Christian God’. :) They’re all the same.
posted by Humaira on 1-23-2007 at 1:25 pm
I think the difference may stem from those who “God” sent. Do Muslims believe that God sent Jesus Christ and in fact Jesus was the son of God or that he was just a Teacher? Like wise I doubt many Christians that are well versed in the Bible would agree with a Muslim that “Allah” or “God” sent the profit Mohammed. So that is where the conflict truly lies, not in words but in doctrine. So since both religions believe that both their doctrines are… well God inspired how and why would they be so conflicted? In my humble opinion arguing that “Allah” and “God” are the same person or being is a trivial pursuit because the doctrines are so divided.
posted by Jarred Hanson on 1-23-2007 at 2:21 pm
It is,in my view, clear that we are all worshiping the same “supreme being”. Once we can recognize this on a global level, it will pave the way for the beginnings of world peace.
God is God, no matter how you slice it.
posted by teach7 on 1-23-2007 at 3:49 pm
I have used ‘Allah’ with my Muslim friends out of respect. I find communication is more open when I make an attempt to honor their beliefs.
Fundamentally, the Muslim ‘Allah’ and the Christian ‘God’ can be understood to be different beings. They have different traits that set them apart from one another. Particularly when Christians recognize Jesus as God.
posted by Jason Rehmus on 1-23-2007 at 7:11 pm
I grew up Muslim and n2y2 has the right idea about jihad. It is primarily an inner struggle; the other meaning is “war to fight enemies of Islam”, though in Islam, peace is most important and war should only be a very last resort, if nothing else works.
posted by Tiara on 1-23-2007 at 7:28 pm
I’m sure the debate going on at “The Guardian” is interesting and all, but surely it can’t compare to the amazingness of the Lego figure pictured above.
posted by Drew on 1-23-2007 at 7:38 pm
Drew — it’s from “The Brick Testament!” I can’t post the link here, but Google it; it’s highly amusing.
posted by Mary on 1-23-2007 at 7:53 pm
Comments #11 and 13 have got it: Muslims, Jews, and Christians worship different entities; anyone who says that each religion worships the same God is mistaken and needs to learn more about each religion. The closest to worshiping the same God are the Jews and Christians, hence the same term “God” is used, but Christians see God as triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), where the Jews just see God as the Father.
I use “Allah” to differentiate the god Muslims worship from the one I worship.
posted by Tim on 1-23-2007 at 9:20 pm
Do you call the Jewish God “Yahve” ? And think it is different from the Christian God ? No, Im’ sure not. So remember that we Muslims, Jews and Christians are “Book Brothers” as our religions took their origin in the same book. So Allah, Yahve or whatever you call him is the same entity in my own opinion.
posted by Sylvain on 1-24-2007 at 2:22 am
Muslims, Jews and Christians all worship the God of Abraham. They diverge on the acceptance of the Messiah, the Profit and the Christ.
posted by Marc on 1-24-2007 at 9:13 am
Tim I am an American born Muslim therefore I believe I have a firm grasp on both Christianity, from being around it my entire life, and Islam, from practacing it. Make no mistake, Muslims believe in Jesus and believe he was a prophet of God.
posted by Rexmons on 1-24-2007 at 9:35 am
duh…that should have been Prophet.
posted by Marc on 1-24-2007 at 9:46 am
Rexmons - that is what I understand as well–that Muslims believe Jesus was a Prophet. However, Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God (and is one with God) and came to save us, not that He was a Prophet.
posted by Tim on 1-24-2007 at 12:13 pm
This reminds me of a snipet from Bill Moyers speech at the National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis earlier this month:
“One of my favorite stories is of the fellow who was about to jump off a bridge, when another fellow ran up to him crying, “Stop, stop, don’t do it.”
The man on the bridge looks down and asks, “Why not?”
“Well, there’s much to live for.”
“What for?”
“Well, your faith. Your religion.”
“Yes?”
“Are you religious?”
“Yes.”
“Me, too. Christian or Buddhist?”
“Christian.”
“Me, too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?”
“Protestant.”
“Me, too. Methodist, Baptist or Presbyterian?”
“Baptist.”
“Me, too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Savior?”
“Baptist Church of God.”
“Me, too. Are you Original Baptist Church of God or Reformed Baptist Church of God?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God.”
“Me, too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God Reformation of 1879, or Reform Baptist Church of God Reformation of 1917?”
“1917.”
Whereupon, the second fellow turned red in the face and yelled, “Die, you heretic scum,” and pushed him off the bridge.”
posted by Heather on 1-24-2007 at 3:59 pm
Easy way to decide if the religions and the God of those religions are the are the same in one question (One Muslim, Jew and Christian to answer it yes or no)”Do you believe that Jesus the Christ is the son of God?” We should have 2 No’s and 1 yes. Point made. I think that we could all agree that God does not contradict himself so to say that he is the same would be a fallacy.
posted by Jarred Hanson on 1-25-2007 at 7:20 pm
(Preface: I have a strong Muslim upbringing, completely juxtaposed to the American Christian lifestyle I witness/experience simultaneously).
For Muslims, we are emphatically taught that “Allah” is the more deferential term for God. In English, ‘god’ is just another monosyllabic noun diluted by–and I hate to say this–secularism. Thus, as Muslims and Anglophones, we prefer “Allah” to convey a deeper, richer respect for the God we worship. Also, I’ve noticed that God is rarely uncapitalized in Arabic, but in English, it commonly is..
posted by Sabrina on 1-26-2007 at 10:18 am