A muslim visits you or is hosting a radio program and goes "Salam wa ilekum" when he/she can easily and more understandably say "peace be unto you". Why is this so?

Is it a religious tenet for Muslims to speak in Arabic?

I can say its like the official language....

0rex:
A muslim visits you or is hosting a radio program and goes "Salam wa ilekum" when he/she can easily and more understandably say "peace be unto you". Why is this so?

Is it a religious tenet for Muslims to speak in Arabic?

Using the language in which the holy book was revealed help to curb the loss of the message due to translation errors. Arabic is a language with so many nuances that translation or transliteration is hardly 100%correct.
So use of the language. Is encouraged but not compulsory. Only compulsory when praying salat. Not compulsory when you wanna talk to God directly, here a language you best understand is better.

kishimi8:

Using the language in which the holy book was revealed help to curb the loss of the message due to translation errors. Arabic is a language with so many nuances that translation of transliteration is hardly 100%correct.
So use of the language. Is encouraged but not compulsory. Only compulsory when praying salat. Not compulsory when you wanna talk to God directly, here a language you best understand is better.

Ok. Thanks for the insight.





Modified: I have been locked out of this thread because it has been moved to Islam section in which I can't make posts except I accept some unacceptable conditions. Hence, i can not reply anyone quoting me, sorry.

druxy:
I can say its like the official language....

Just like their lingua franca abi?

Allah does not hear any other language than arabic.

jcross19:
Allah does not hear any other language than arabic.

Seriously?

0rex:
Seriously?

yes that's why they believe that their language is inferior and allah can't hear it.

0rex:
Seriously?

Dont mind him/her. He/she is some anti Muslim crusader. And not knowledgeable, it seems.

What kishimi8 said is correct.

Farmerforlife:


Dont mind him/her. He/she is some anti Muslim crusader. And not knowledgeable, it seems.

What kishimi8 said is correct.

I got that from his/her last post. Thanks.

kishimi8:

Using the language in which the holy book was revealed help to curb the loss of the message due to translation errors. Arabic is a language with so many nuances that translation of transliteration is hardly 100%correct.
So use of the language. Is encouraged but not compulsory. Only compulsory when praying salat. Not compulsory when you wanna talk to God directly, here a language you best understand is better.

Is it the words that matter or what the word means? And what exactly is the point in greeting someone in a language they don't understand?

Reyginus:
Is it the words that matter or what the word means? And what exactly is the point in greeting someone in a language they don't understand?

How did you get into their heads to know if they don't understand the greeting.
A greeting which that are taught from childhood. But wait o them force you to follow them speak Arabic? Or if they speak the Arabic close to you you go die? Talk about hate smh.
I tire for people o.,

kishimi8:


How did you get into their heads to know if they don't understand the greeting.
A greeting which that are taught from childhood. But wait o them force you to follow them speak Arabic? Or if they speak the Arabic close to you you go die? Talk about hate smh.
I tire for people o.,

I'm talking of somebody greeting audience back home on a Radio Station. I listen to radio and I don't get the language so what's the point of the greeting to me? Or is the greeting not meant for me too?

It would have been better an intelligent if you answered my question like you did to the username above.

What I can deduce is that when Arabic is spoken, the message is only for the Muslims. That means other non-muslims are technically irrelevant and ignored.

Reyginus:
I'm talking of somebody greeting audience back home on a Radio Station. I listen to radio and I don't get the language so what's the point of the greeting to me? Or is the greeting not meant for me too?

It would have been better an intelligent if you answered my question like you did to the username above.

Who is the persons target audience?
In what language was the program being broadcasted?
Where exactly is backhome?
The presenter who used the Islamic greeting did he supplant it with an English or other language greeting?

Reyginus:
Is it the words that matter or what the word means? And what exactly is the point in greeting someone in a language they don't understand?

There are two reasons for the Arabic.

First, Islam is universal. I can enter any mosque between the Arctic and Antartica, and I will be able to join the prayer with perfect understanding. I can also look for any scholar and make my needs known to him, whether he is Chinese or Venezuelan. It brings unity among Muslims.

Second, any language, uses subtle innuendos, meanings and implications, which are lost on translation because each translator will translate according to his/her own understanding. You may understand 'kick the bucket' to mean death, another person may understand it to actually mean kicking a bucket. If you are both translators, we now have two different translations..., so a judge acting on one translation may sentence the criminal to death, while the other may sentence the same criminal to kicking a bucket around... this is just a very basic example. The Quran is a Book of laws and guidance. It should not be misunderstood. Even though we have it in the original Arabic, look at how many people still, deliberately or ignorantly, misunderstand it... ISIS, Boko Haram, different sects, etc. Imagine to what extent it will be lost if the Arabic was not even available. The Christian Bible contains almost no law to follow, yet the fact that the original Hebrew/ Armaic in which it was written is lost today, has led to thousands of different views on the only real aspect of religion spoken of in the NT; theology. Therefore you have trinitarians with hundreds of different concepts of the natures of God, Jesus and the Holy spirit, you have monotheists,also with different concepts, you have some who attribute divinity to more than the trinity....etc. While Islam does have its own sects, just a cursory knowledge of the meaning of the Quran in its original language will quickly show sectarial right from wrong...barring rank stubborness of course. That is why Arabic is important to our faith, and why we learn Arabic if we want to acquire religious knowledge.

On a final note, every Muslim in this world can greet every other Muslim with 'Assalam alaykum' and bond that way. It is very useful in Hajj, when you meet all nationalities, and that is the only common spoken word (said with a broad smile) between you. We Muslims love it that way. It is why we even greet perfect strangers who look Muslim.

0rex:
What I can deduce is that when Arabic is spoken, the message is only for the Muslims. That means other non-muslims are technically irrelevant and ignored.

Broadly speaking, yes. We do not seek to impose our religion on others, contrary to widespread belief. Our lectures are intended to increase the knowledge of our brothers and sisters in Islam.

Farmerforlife:

There are two reasons for the Arabic.

First, Islam is universal. I can enter any mosque between the Arctic and Antartica, and I will be able to join the prayer with perfect understanding. I can also look for any scholar and make my needs known to him, whether he is Chinese or Venezuelan. It brings unity among Muslims.

Second, any language, uses subtle innuendos, meanings and implications, which are lost on translation because each translator will translate according to his/her own understanding. You may understand 'kick the bucket' to mean death, another person may understand it to actually mean kicking a bucket. If you are both translators, we now have two different translations..., so a judge acting on one translation may sentence the criminal to death, while the other may sentence the same criminal to kicking a bucket around... this is just a very basic example. The Quran is a Book of laws and guidance. It should not be misunderstood. Even though we have it in the original Arabic, look at how many people still, deliberately or ignorantly, misunderstand it... ISIS, Boko Haram, different sects, etc. Imagine to what extent it will be lost if the Arabic was not even available. The Christian Bible contains almost no law to follow, yet the fact that the original Hebrew/ Armaic in which it was written is lost today, has led to thousands of different views on the only real aspect of religion spoken of in the NT; theology. Therefore you have trinitarians with hundreds of different concepts of the natures of God, Jesus and the Holy spirit, you have monotheists,also with different concepts, you have some who attribute divinity to more than the trinity....etc. While Islam does have its own sects, just a cursory knowledge of the meaning of the Quran in its original language will quickly show sectarial right from wrong...barring rank stubborness of course. That is why Arabic is important to our faith, and why we learn Arabic if we want to acquire religious knowledge.

On a final note, every Muslim in this world can greet every other Muslim with 'Assalam alaykum' and bond that way. It is very useful in Hajj, when you meet all nationalities, and that is the only common spoken word (said with a broad smile) between you. We Muslims love it that way. It is why we even greet perfect strangers who look Muslim.

Perfect response. Sums everything up nicely. Thanks for this reply.

kishimi8:

Who is the persons target audience?
In what language was the program being broadcasted?
Where exactly is backhome?
The presenter who used the Islamic greeting did he supplant it with an English or other language greeting?

English. The target was both Muslims and Non Muslims listening.

Farmerforlife:

There are two reasons for the Arabic.

First, Islam is universal. I can enter any mosque between the Arctic and Antartica, and I will be able to join the prayer with perfect understanding. I can also look for any scholar and make my needs known to him, whether he is Chinese or Venezuelan. It brings unity among Muslims.

Second, any language, uses subtle innuendos, meanings and implications, which are lost on translation because each translator will translate according to his/her own understanding. You may understand 'kick the bucket' to mean death, another person may understand it to actually mean kicking a bucket. If you are both translators, we now have two different translations..., so a judge acting on one translation may sentence the criminal to death, while the other may sentence the same criminal to kicking a bucket around... this is just a very basic example. The Quran is a Book of laws and guidance. It should not be misunderstood. Even though we have it in the original Arabic, look at how many people still, deliberately or ignorantly, misunderstand it... ISIS, Boko Haram, different sects, etc. Imagine to what extent it will be lost if the Arabic was not even available. The Christian Bible contains almost no law to follow, yet the fact that the original Hebrew/ Armaic in which it was written is lost today, has led to thousands of different views on the only real aspect of religion spoken of in the NT; theology. Therefore you have trinitarians with hundreds of different concepts of the natures of God, Jesus and the Holy spirit, you have monotheists,also with different concepts, you have some who attribute divinity to more than the trinity....etc. While Islam does have its own sects, just a cursory knowledge of the meaning of the Quran in its original language will quickly show sectarial right from wrong...barring rank stubborness of course. That is why Arabic is important to our faith, and why we learn Arabic if we want to acquire religious knowledge.

On a final note, every Muslim in this world can greet every other Muslim with 'Assalam alaykum' and bond that way. It is very useful in Hajj, when you meet all nationalities, and that is the only common spoken word (said with a broad smile) between you. We Muslims love it that way. It is why we even greet perfect strangers who look Muslim.

Universal? But I don't understand Arabic. How best could I get the message?

Reyginus:
English. The target was both Muslims and Non Muslims listening.

u have not answered all questions

Reyginus:
Universal? But I don't understand Arabic. How best could I get the message?

You are not Muslim.

kishimi8:
u have not answered all questions

Am I suppose to answer the questions I asked?

Farmerforlife:

You are not Muslim.

Is the preaching and greetings for only Muslims?

Reyginus:
Am I suppose to answer the questions I asked?

For in the questions lie your answer.

Reyginus:
Is the preaching and greetings for only Muslims?

Yes, I said that earlier.

kishimi8:

For in the questions lie your answer.

Lol. You can tell that to a new born baby.

Farmerforlife:

Yes, I said that earlier.

Wow! So how does Islam get converts?

Reyginus:
Wow! So how does Islam get converts?

Hard as it may seem to believe, we are not really interested in getting converts, though we are happy when someone becomes Muslim. In Islam, each person has his own relationship with his Lord, and the Quran acknowledges that not everyone will be a Muslim. Also, there is practically nothing I can gain from you being a Muslim, so there is no motivation for me to spend my time trying to convert you. Do you see knowledgeable Muslims going house to house with bells and tracts?

Most reverts (because we believe that everyone is born in submission to the Will of God, therefore they just come back to the true faith) to Islam are those who study Islam on their own, either out of curiosity or to fight it, or to try to debate with Muslims ( that is why a number of evangelists revert); or those who live among Muslims, like the way of life and become Muslims.

Farmerforlife:


Hard as it may seem to believe, we are not really interested in getting converts, though we are happy when someone becomes Muslim. In Islam, each person has his own relationship with his Lord, and the Quran acknowledges that not everyone will be a Muslim. Also, there is practically nothing I can gain from you being a Muslim, so there is no motivation for me to spend my time trying to convert you. Do you see knowledgeable Muslims going house to house with bells and tracts?

Most reverts (because we believe that everyone is born in submission to the Will of God, therefore they just come back to the true faith) to Islam are those who study Islam on their own, either out of curiosity or to fight it, or to try to debate with Muslims ( that is why a number of evangelists revert); or those who live among Muslims, like the way of life and become Muslims.

What about the few Muslims who preach on Christian and Moslem neighborhoods. Are there actions not Islamic?

And what do you mean when you say you'd gained nothing from trying to convert me? I believe all religious aims are humanistic. When you see a boy trying to fall into a ditch do you leave him alone?

Reyginus:
What about the few Muslims who preach on Christian and Moslem neighborhoods. Are there actions not Islamic?

I dont know who they are preaching to, or what their intentions are, so I cannot venture to guess whether they are right or wrong. Islam prohibits disturbing one's neighbours, so much so that the prophet (ﷺ) said in a hadith that if you want to knock a nail in your own wall, you must take permission from your neighbour. Sadly, some Muslims follow the footsteps of christians, and take it as a personal duty to convert others. Personally, I would never approach a non muslim to talk to him about anything concerning Islam, unless he/she personally and deliberately asked me questions, as you are doing, or if I see someone say something wrong about Islam on a public forum, then I can correct it if I think it is worth correcting.