why is it that trying to get paper stamped or some sort of form to be looked at or anything of that sort can be such a hassle in the Arab world? they will tell you to come 'tomorrow' and then tomorrow comes and then then they say 'well the person who deals with this sort of thing is not here right now, come back tomorrow', again tomorrow comes and again another excuse.if a competition was to be held on who can make their people wait the longest to get an official stamp, us Arabs would win it, hands down.
ok so maybe I'm not being fair but has any one heard of the phrase IBM? to put it quite simply IBM stands for Inshallah Bukrah Maybe ( translation -god willing, tomorrow, maybe), IBM.....
i remember as a child the word inshallah (god willing) used to annoy me, i know know astaghfurallah and all that, but i was a child, and i felt that when adults used to say to me 'inshallah' then that was a guarantee that they wouldn't do as they promised, to me inshallah was a way of shutting me up, a way of getting me out of their face, for example 'can we got to the park tomorrow?' adult: 'inshallah'tomorrow comes, me: 'when are we going to the park?' adult: 'bukrah inshallah (tomorrow good willing), me: 'but you said we would go today' adult: 'torrow inshallah'
tomorrow comes, me: 'so what time we going to the park?', adult: inshallah on Saturday', me:' what? you said today', adult:'the weather will be better on Saturday, inshallah Saturday'
and the circle continues to go round, that's why i have learnt to never abuse inshallah, to me inshallah is a promise that is guaranteed unless Allah wills it not.
recently i found that some of my non-muslim friends have picked up on the types of
inshallah, so i found it really hilarious as well as upsetting at the same time when i heard one of them say to a person in the Islamic society at university 'so when you just said inshallah right now, was that an inshallah of the type to mean i will be there unless i am struck down by lightning, or was it the type of inshallah to mean yeh yeh stop talking and shut up?'see when i heard this i couldn't believe that even the non-Muslims had picked up on this and even though it was funny, it still was sad to think that inshallah is being abused and not used in the correct sense.
it's like the word 'wallahi' (i swear by Allah) that word was only used in serious cases such as in court, now every one uses it for the most simplest of things inculuding myself, i have this habit of asking people 'say wallah' whenever they tell me anything, i dont even realsie that its come out my mouth.
you hear the shabab (youth) saying 'walah man' this and 'walah man' that in amongst there conversations, and non-arabs will always vouch that there arab friends will always put the word wallah into conversation.
i have kinda diverted from what i was saying initially but i find it interesting.
13 comments:
Hey white A,
“i have kinda diverted from what i was saying initially but i find it interesting.”
Interesting???
This is our most confusing problem, everything we say and use, from inshallah, allah 3’allib, rabbi essabir, gatha wa gader = fate, and more… these sayings give people the licence to mix laziness, selfishness, and cruelty with religion without feeling the slightest sense of guilt – it is considered normal, healthy, and a lot may believe it is ajjr as well
You know that many of our people can’t read or write, women mainly but men as well, they can’t read newspapers or books, so the spoken word is the ONLY source of education and guidance … “ eg: man can marry 4 wives” a woman with a curious mind may start feeling guilty if she wants to do some very basic research to see the significance of that ‘rule’, so all of our ‘wisdom’ if you like, is verbal and vocal
The subject is more than interesting ya white, imo it is the main reason why we still prefer living in darkness. If we say something we don’t mean; if we promise and can’t keep, the first victim is our self-confidence, trust in others, and theirs in us ..
Massive topic, thanks … lol, if I went too far allah 3’allib lol
( Off-topic: Anglo told me “this documentary is called Women only Jihad, it was shown last year on channel 4, whiteafrican is involved in a simillar dispute, check her archive, i truely could not believe it when i found out that some mosques ban women and not only that but in a free country like the UK” – white a, could I ask please to help me locate where I find what anglo was talking about? I tried and failed, thanks )
White African, it's the first time I comment here,
Growing up I had the same feeling about "insa'Allah" and I am trying not to pass it down to my daughter.. if I say insha'allah then I am going to do whatever she's asked for..also I thought IBM stands for "nsha'Allah, Bukra, Ma3lish" and the expats here will always say inshallah for things not sure going to happen :o( it's sad..
unfortunately you are 100% right about the abuse of some Islamic phrases, that is why most arab countries are still backward and that is why we get critisised by many westerners for being unreliable and only good at saying InshaAllah without meaning it.
thanks cofman for your comment, i agree with you, the reason i say interesting because to put it simply i really do find it interesting :)
interesting in the sense that its become such a part of our communication process that like you said it doesnt carry meaning anymore, it's a total abuse, the scary thing is the fact that its become a part of every day language so a second thought isint even given to it.
anyway you raised some good points.
concerning the mosque thing, well my experinces can be found on http://whitelibyanafrican.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_archive.html
i was also approached by the people behind the documentary your asking about, they wanted some sort of criteque on their programme.
maysoon welcome and thank you for your comment:)
i have heard of the version ma3lish instead of maybe, i guess it's been evolved, changed etc..
your right it is sad, but with examples such as yourslef of passing down to the next generation the correct use of words like 'inshallah'
in that sense change will happen inshallah (used in the correct sense lol)
just noticed your comment now anglo, unreliable is the word i'm looking for.
how sad, especially because the muslims at one point where the ultimate role model/example of everything a society should be.
what has happened to us?
Thanks for giving the link & saving me time
I agree with you entirely White Af
Yes, it is interesting.
( as I am sure you know the number of visits to your page are numbered, unfortunately.
I just wish Anglo stops writing for a week or 2 so I could catch up with many fantastic Libyans such as yourself White Af )
I am honoured I am able to speak with you.
its a pleasure cofman :) and its an honour spekaing to you as well.
if anglo stopped writting then where would the rest of the bloggers get their inspiration form? :)
i will be sure to visit your blog cofman.
it's real issue, and it's depend on the families and how they grow their children up.
the problem is nonmusliums believe that it means it cannot happen. i faced this problem in my job when it comes to agree in plan and we say inshalih foreign partner star complain, cause he think the plan will not be implement.
to be honest, i always use inshalih and walhi even when i talk with my supervisor or my tutors but in good way i hope that.
btw how can i contact u WA, i didnt find ur email here, i might need ur help.
brave your right we can make a difference bringing up the next generation in the right use of inshallah and other such words.
its sad how even the non-muslims have picked up on the fakeness of saying such words.
i can be contacted on sandwichmalek@hotmail.com
dont ask about sandwich, there is a story behind that name which i may blog about one day.
thanks WA:i'll add to my list now.but u didnt tell me which kind of sandwiches ,shaorma, tuna with dahi,what exactly!!!!!!!
well brave khubzaat tanoor with tuna and hareesa, zaytoon mmmmmmm, with a twesat shahee
u know WA, I cant resist food especially haresia, can u send 2 frda khubza to me.
Maybe tomorrow there will be apricots!
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