Allah
Malaysian government tries to copyright the word “Allah” so that it could be only used by Muslims. The ban was reversed soon after, but it’s still pretty funny, because the word “Allah” is actually Arabic for God, and according to Wikipedia, the term is most likely derived from a contraction of the Arabic article al- and ʾilāh “deity, god” to al-lāh meaning “the [sole] deity, God” (ho theos monos) while another theory traces the etymology of the word to the Aramaic Alāhā. It has been used in the Arab world for years before Christianity and Islam were born.
Talk about being lost in translation.
[via SubzeroBlue]
Talal
December 31, 2007 @ 3:50 pm
You know what I’ve never understood/liked? That people use the word “Allah” in English when referring to God. I mean, “Allah” is the Arabic language word for “God”, it’s not a proper name/noun. It’s like saying “Oh, I went to the tabeeb yesterday”–it just doesn’t sound right! AND it really doesn’t help with the whole Christians/Jews thinking Muslims worship a different god. Bah.
Roger
December 31, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
I don’t think it’s only funny, but also stupid, it’s like trademarking the name “God”.
I agree with Talal, I just want to point out that it’s not correct to say (Christians/Jews thinking Muslims worship a different God) because this phrase includes Eastern/Arab Christians and Jews (they use the word Allah since it’s Arabic for God).
I don’t know a term that refers to the sect of people I want to refer to :)
Maybe “Non-Arabic-speaking-non-Muslims”?
bambam
December 31, 2007 @ 5:37 pm
hmm get over the ego trip, jews got jehovah we have allah they got … i don’t pick one … maybe mithros :P
so yeah and out of observation arabic speaking christians use rab more so than allah while jews aren’t exactly allowed to say it and write it hence G_D
sheeeeesh
Sarah
December 31, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Jews are forbidden for using the ‘holy’ Hebrew name for God, not for using ‘God’, ‘Allah’, ‘Jehovah’, etc. as they aren’t considered as sacred as the ‘original’ name for Him.
A lot of Jews will however censor their use of even the English word, I guess in keeping with tradition, or if they don’t generally converse in Hebrew, etc. etc.
As for Allah being a Muslim thing, well let’s not forget that Muhammad’s father was called Abd’allah, so the useage obviously predates the founding of Islam, as we all know anyway…but when Muslims (myself included) use ‘Allah’ in English, I think it’s a way of steering away from the general Christian idea of God and the trinity, placing a particular empahasis upon ‘allah’ referring to a SOLE deity. Perhaps those who live in countries that are almost entirely Muslim don’t feel the need to make this distinction, and thus may (or may not) feel more comfortable using the word ‘God’ when speaking in their second language of English.
طفيلي( ahmad)
December 31, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
I disagree with Tala because when a Muslim says Allah instead of God in frond of english speakes he emphasis that we worship differen God. In genaral, Christian and Jewish do not consider Islam as religion from sky. Even Jewish does not believe in jesus chris. Anyway This topic might bring unwelcomed discusiion. Some of extermist in christain accuse Prophet Muhmmad that he learnt about islam through his trade trips. Allah word comes from Africa.
bani adam
January 1, 2008 @ 5:04 am
hmm, interesting. first off no one can copyright “Allah” obviously. but just to comment on the distinction of muslims using the word “ALLAH”, there is a reason for that. take the english word “God”. you can say God, you can also say ‘Gods’ so fee jame3 la kilmet “God”. the word Allah on the other hand does not have plural form. ma fee jame3 la Allah. whereas fee jame3 la “ilah” u can say “aliha”. so thats why muslims or example in western countries prefer the use of ‘Allah’ when refrring to the almighty God.
speaking of the almighty, Allah yiwaf2ek ya roba, keep up the good work:) and happy new year
Simon Columbus
January 1, 2008 @ 1:17 pm
It’s correct that there is a plural of the word “god” (which is from the Germanic language) as well as of the Greek / Latin words Theos / Deus, which were used in the first versions of the christian bible. That’s because Christianity was adopted by the formerly polytheistic roman empire.
But Jesus mother tongue was Aramaic, a semitic language - like Arabic and Hebrew. In Aramaic, God is called Alah or Alaha. This word is not just descending from the same origin like Allah, but as well like Hebrew “Elohim” (or “El”), another word used to call the Jewish god.
So, at the end it’s all the same again…
btw. I like your captcha! It just let me type “love”.
Love to everyone wish you a happy new year.