Although I think your suggestions are good, I don’t get how someone would pray using both the English and Arabic together? :S that’s not allowed, is it :/

Also I don’t think a child of 7-10 would really fully understand even the English translation of what they read in the salah, and the reading the translation of the whole Quran would be even harder to understand, I think. :/

Peace dear brother Fezz,

It seems as though you have missed the point as many other cultural Muslims have. When someone challenges a cultural norm human nature tends to become defensive. Knowledge seeking humble Muslims on the other hand should have a different attitude to something which goes against peoples customs. First we look to see if the new proposed idea is in accordance with our religion. If it is- and I think throughout this series we established that- then you should not attack it or be facetiously critical of it. Rather if you are comfortable with your ways then don’t take it but respect it for its merit which is based in Islam. Namely the 4th verse of sura Ibrahim.

I am NOT calling for wholesale Anglicization of Islam. I am calling for Muslims to not promote themselves as culturally Arab, but rather be what we are a people of the most universal faith that happened to be finally revealed in Arabic thus some Arabic terms will remain if there is no easy native expression. I am asking French, Chinese, Russian, Brazilian and all other Muslims to do the same according to their language bro!

I am calling for a balance to what is currently an extreme rooted in my opinion in a response to the culture clash of post-colonialization and modern globalization. I am convinced and sincere to our Creator and Guide that my suggestion will do much better in disseminating Islam in the non-Muslim world than the current separatist attitude.

Eid is known as the Muslim holiday and that is something that we should be clear at. Quran is easier to identify what we are talking about rather than “The reading or The recital”. So these words like others need to be brought into English.

There’s obviously a sliding scale around this; in some circles (eg. educational seminars) there is no reason why more terminology cannot be used compared to a general talk at a multifaith group. I dont think a rigid wholesale attempt at latinising is helpful.

Some of the arabic terms have much greater depth of meaning and even within the Arabic language these terms are only used by Muslims Arabs and within a muslim context. (For example; “Eid”. Shall we ditch this for “the Festival”?)

You also said When a non-Arab is learning to pray they should first master it in English (even the Fatiha). Why still call it the Fatiha? Why not latinicise futher? Do we need to call it “the Quran”?

This definition is an error that we must fix. This was clearly suggested by the enemies of Islam and while you will find something like it in a book of Islamic Law, you will never find it the particular phrase holy war (حرب مقدسة) in either a dictionary or book of Islamic jurisprudence. It is our resposibility to correct this error.

That being said, in websters as well as a couple others they do mention the much more common and prevelant meaning of struggling against inner demons and evil influence.

That should be the first definition while the second should be – a war waged by a Muslim nation in order to combat invasion or injustice. It is only to be waged against military personnell strictly forbidding the killing of non-combatants including those under a treaty with that Muslim nation.

And God knows best

There is also a problem with “salah/salat”, I mean, just how do you pronounce it?