Check out this new online magazine, the Muslim WakeUp. I stumbled across it thanks to AltMuslim, with whom it shares some contributors. It’s a riot. Far and away the best thing in it is the Hug-a-Jew column, where MWU staff interview and hug noteworthy Jews. I also liked the article The Islaam of Double Vowels just to find out somebody else finds that comical. There is a certain segment of we muslims that insists on the most ridiculous system of transliteration, especially for Arabic long vowels. Thus we wind up with Aboo instead of Abu, Islaam instead of Islam and so on. Google for it, there’s even Islaaam out there (I should confess I do prefer salaam to salam, don’t ask me why). And of course that pedantic habit does correlate well with a certain other distressing theological tendency that is often discussed on these pages…
Jew Huggers
Published by bingregory
Official organ of an American Muslim in Malaysian Borneo, featuring plants, pantuns and pictures from the Malay archipelago. Oversharing since 2002. View more posts
The “Islaam of Double Vowels” was hilarious. I’ve come across articles that are almost impossible for me to read because of the way they spell things. A little of that goes a long way.
Hug-a-Jew is an interesting column – both heartwarming and irritatingly patronizing at the same time. It would be interesting to see a Jewish newspaper take up Jeff Grubler’s suggestion and start a Hug-a-Muslim column.
I’ve personally hugged at least three Muslims, but it wasn’t political.
Well, while we’re disclosing our hugging habits, I should tell you my kids hug a Jew every day. I am originally Of the Tribe myself, though I imagine my continued membership would depend on who you ask…
Zayn – you are too cool – I love you! – mom
Jeez, Mom, not in public…! *blush*
I wish I could hug a Jew today. I want someone to have me over for Passover dinner. I discovered in college, hanging out with semi- observant Jews, that Kosher wine is the only kind I like.
Considering the Arab language considers the vowel length to differentiate meaning of words, I understand that people want the transliteration to be as similar as possible to Arabic when pronounced.
But I’m still somewhat irritated seeing double vowels ^^;;
My Qur’an teacher when I was in elementary school used to use lines above vowels to show that it is read longer (the ‘mad’). It’s similar to that of the Japanese transliteration. So I’m kinda stuck with that method now.
I’ve never met anyone Jewish… Not a lot of them here in South East Asia.