Mother Tongue … Who Cut You?

Arabic … Arabic … Oh Arabic!

Jazz apologizes on behalf of Jazz who let you down. You are a beautiful, rich, unique, great cultured language. Let alone the fact that you are the chosen language of the Quran. Jazz, for one, has let you down all those years! Jazz realizes that this article is written in English but that’s only because Jazz wants to advertise you to Jazz who’s attracted by the English language.

Two years ago to be exact, Jazz paused and thought deeply about something Jazz learnt in a gathering. Jazz learnt that in Arabic every word might have so many synonyms but each one is used at a different occasion or a different time or even for a different purpose. Jazz thought that she might be educated and quite knowledgeable in many aspects of life but unfortunately, Jazz was ignorant when it came to her mother tongue. Jazz sighed when it all hit Jazz… Jazz talks more English than Arabic; Jazz writes better English than Arabic and sadly enough Jazz thinks better in English too. Jazz believes that the English language is like a cordial invasion and unfortunately Jazz allows it to take over.

From that moment on, Jazz decided to join an Arabic language course. Jazz wanted to give Arabic an opportunity to stand a chance and overpower back its thrown. And so it was…  Jazz has been studying Arabic for almost two years now and with every class Jazz falls in love with this flawless and rich language. Jazz wishes all Jazzes would give Arabic a chance and learn it properly.

Jazz would like to point out some horrific meanings in the words Jazz uses in Jazz’s daily life while unaware of their real meanings or indications.

For example:

1.      “Allah yikhaleek” is a bad prayer not a good one…  It doesn’t mean I wish Allah would keep you safe and sound … quite the opposite actually … It means I wish Allah would  remove you or I wish god empties the place from  you so please Jazz stop using this phrase for little Jazz or Jazz the husband or any Jazz that is a dear Jazz.

2.      When Jazz congratulates a Jazz … Jazz says “mabrook” this also happens to be a bad word to say. The right word to say is “mubarak” that originates from the word “tabarak”. “Mabrook”, on the other hand, originates from the verb “baraka” which means to kneel to the ground.

3.      Also, when Jazz says to Jazz’s husband “Allah yorzo2ak”… (Jazz take a breath please) that literally means I wish Allah gives you a disaster… yes believe it or not, “al riz2” means a disaster while the correct word to use is “al rizq” or “Allah yorzoqak”.  “Al rizq” with the “q” or the letter“qaf” in Arabic means the good comings be it health or wealth.

What Jazz wants to say to Jazz is change what you can and then contribute, know your language, find its beauty and spread the awareness. Jazz…you are the heir to this great inheritance so cherish it and take care of it. That’s the least Jazz can do.

“Be the change you want to see in the world” (Mahatma Ghandi)