Assalaamu `alaykum
Before starting, please translate my title.
I hope the hardest part were the abbreviations and not the upside down text. Unfortunately for most it's probably the other way around, or equally easy. With the proliferation of online chatting - slang and abbreviations to simplify written speech have become commonplace. The meaning of these letters are like general knowledge to many and dont even require a second glance.
I've found it used by the general masses, and every time I come across it, I have to ask WHY? Honestly, It makes me question if we have arrived at state where even in our conversations we cannot articulate simple statements to actually give them meaning. Now, this is surely an opinion, so the floor is open to discussion, but this is how I see it.
It reminds me of this incident:
Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) once passed by a group of archers who missed their targets. He reprimanded them, and they responded that they were only beginners, but they made a grammatical mistake in phrasing their response. He told them, "Verily, your mistakes in (Arabic) grammar are more difficult for me to bear than your mistakes in archery!"
(Quote from Lughat al-Qur'aan by Abu Ubadah Ibrahim ibn Muhammad)
Now one may argue that it isnt a 'grammatical' mistake, nor is it Arabic (in a literal sense), but the importance of speaking well and properly still stands. As Muslims we should strive to be and follow the examples of our predecessors and adorn our speech in the best and most correct of ways, but by utilizing these abbreviations we're truly in my opinion robbing them of their intent! It's not about all abbreviations, but when using Islaamic phrases, many of which are ad`iya (du`aas) can we truly say that this is correct?
Take for example - AA WR WB .. or simply even ASA or the other forms. What is it taken to mean?
At first when I came across it, I thought it was a typo. Until after encountering it at the start of a conversation a few times I came to realize that it was the salaam! SubhanAllaah, the greeting handed down to us as a blessing and mercy between believers, we've reduced it to a few letters! The Du`aa when greeting, we've changed it to a split second sending. How then does it translate?
AA = Battery Size, As Above, Asian American, Ana, Amino Acid, Alcoholics Anonymous etc
And now - Assalaamu `alaaykum ?! Is it not sad that we cannot take a few more seconds to spell out the word that we have to use an abbreviation which has little to no connection to what we wish to express? And even further, there's a reason for which it is more rewarding and good that a Muslim extends their greeting with 'wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu' but if all that means is just four more letters, are we truly getting the benefit of that reward? Moreover, are we even truly expressing the extent of what that entails? It's all just a bunch of letters people have come along and used to justify that meaning, but does it really?
A secondary matter along with this is the use of "Salaams" or "Salaamz" when greeting. Firstly, in Arabic it is grammatically incorrect to pluralize something by adding a 's' at the end, secondly what does this actually mean? And thirdly, if you add a z to it in the name of coolness, now truly tell me... what does that mean, and why are you saying it?
Sure sometimes we're a culture of made up words and meanings, I dont fail at this myself, but when we're referring to Arabic, and greetings of Salaam and du`aa... how can we expect to twist them any which way and believe it doesnt matter because it's all the same thing?
I mean think about it. One of the most common ones I've come across : Jzk =
By understood and accepted definitions, jzk is known as either 1) Jak Zawsze Kapitalne (Poland) 2) Junior Zoo Keeper
But those are based off of the beginnings of the words, but here we construe Arabic and pick off a few letters and sounds from the entirety of a word, mash them together and give it off to people as if it is a du`aa. And it's swallowed and returned often with a "wi" ... I almost wish I was joking. I'm quite impassioned by this because it has become such a common trait.
Join that together with - iA = inshaAllaah - mA = :mashallah: mashaAlaah - swt = Subhanahu wa ta`ala - saws/ pbuh / saas = :saw2: etc...
If you took any of these abbreviations and took them anywhere and asked anyone what they meant, unless they were familiar with Islaam, would they have any meaning? No, they may come up with a million excuses and explanations of what they thought, but unless they knew... it would not have any meaning. On the other hand, however way you write "Assalaamu `alaykum" even if a person did not know what it meant, it would be the same meaning, however way you choose to write "JazaakAllaah khayr" it would still remain the same in meaning, and the same with all the rest.
All I mean to say is, I truly believe that as Muslims we should strive our hardest to be as best as we can with our speech, and remove ourselves from using these types of abbreviations or alterations within our writing. Give a just a few more seconds to write it out.
There are some fataawa also about the usage of (saw) (pbuh) etc in abbreviation:
Can We Write "SAWS" in Place of "Sallallaahu 'Alayhe wa Sallam"?
Abbreviating (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) to (S) or (SAW) or the like
BAFK, MAGUA
= BarakAllaahu feekum, May Allaah guide us all.
I thought I would provide the translation, in case these hadn't caught on yet.
wasalaamu `alaykum
Before starting, please translate my title.
I hope the hardest part were the abbreviations and not the upside down text. Unfortunately for most it's probably the other way around, or equally easy. With the proliferation of online chatting - slang and abbreviations to simplify written speech have become commonplace. The meaning of these letters are like general knowledge to many and dont even require a second glance.
I've found it used by the general masses, and every time I come across it, I have to ask WHY? Honestly, It makes me question if we have arrived at state where even in our conversations we cannot articulate simple statements to actually give them meaning. Now, this is surely an opinion, so the floor is open to discussion, but this is how I see it.
It reminds me of this incident:
Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) once passed by a group of archers who missed their targets. He reprimanded them, and they responded that they were only beginners, but they made a grammatical mistake in phrasing their response. He told them, "Verily, your mistakes in (Arabic) grammar are more difficult for me to bear than your mistakes in archery!"
(Quote from Lughat al-Qur'aan by Abu Ubadah Ibrahim ibn Muhammad)
Now one may argue that it isnt a 'grammatical' mistake, nor is it Arabic (in a literal sense), but the importance of speaking well and properly still stands. As Muslims we should strive to be and follow the examples of our predecessors and adorn our speech in the best and most correct of ways, but by utilizing these abbreviations we're truly in my opinion robbing them of their intent! It's not about all abbreviations, but when using Islaamic phrases, many of which are ad`iya (du`aas) can we truly say that this is correct?
Take for example - AA WR WB .. or simply even ASA or the other forms. What is it taken to mean?
At first when I came across it, I thought it was a typo. Until after encountering it at the start of a conversation a few times I came to realize that it was the salaam! SubhanAllaah, the greeting handed down to us as a blessing and mercy between believers, we've reduced it to a few letters! The Du`aa when greeting, we've changed it to a split second sending. How then does it translate?
AA = Battery Size, As Above, Asian American, Ana, Amino Acid, Alcoholics Anonymous etc
And now - Assalaamu `alaaykum ?! Is it not sad that we cannot take a few more seconds to spell out the word that we have to use an abbreviation which has little to no connection to what we wish to express? And even further, there's a reason for which it is more rewarding and good that a Muslim extends their greeting with 'wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu' but if all that means is just four more letters, are we truly getting the benefit of that reward? Moreover, are we even truly expressing the extent of what that entails? It's all just a bunch of letters people have come along and used to justify that meaning, but does it really?
A secondary matter along with this is the use of "Salaams" or "Salaamz" when greeting. Firstly, in Arabic it is grammatically incorrect to pluralize something by adding a 's' at the end, secondly what does this actually mean? And thirdly, if you add a z to it in the name of coolness, now truly tell me... what does that mean, and why are you saying it?
Sure sometimes we're a culture of made up words and meanings, I dont fail at this myself, but when we're referring to Arabic, and greetings of Salaam and du`aa... how can we expect to twist them any which way and believe it doesnt matter because it's all the same thing?
I mean think about it. One of the most common ones I've come across : Jzk =
By understood and accepted definitions, jzk is known as either 1) Jak Zawsze Kapitalne (Poland) 2) Junior Zoo Keeper
But those are based off of the beginnings of the words, but here we construe Arabic and pick off a few letters and sounds from the entirety of a word, mash them together and give it off to people as if it is a du`aa. And it's swallowed and returned often with a "wi" ... I almost wish I was joking. I'm quite impassioned by this because it has become such a common trait.
Join that together with - iA = inshaAllaah - mA = :mashallah: mashaAlaah - swt = Subhanahu wa ta`ala - saws/ pbuh / saas = :saw2: etc...
If you took any of these abbreviations and took them anywhere and asked anyone what they meant, unless they were familiar with Islaam, would they have any meaning? No, they may come up with a million excuses and explanations of what they thought, but unless they knew... it would not have any meaning. On the other hand, however way you write "Assalaamu `alaykum" even if a person did not know what it meant, it would be the same meaning, however way you choose to write "JazaakAllaah khayr" it would still remain the same in meaning, and the same with all the rest.
All I mean to say is, I truly believe that as Muslims we should strive our hardest to be as best as we can with our speech, and remove ourselves from using these types of abbreviations or alterations within our writing. Give a just a few more seconds to write it out.
There are some fataawa also about the usage of (saw) (pbuh) etc in abbreviation:
Can We Write "SAWS" in Place of "Sallallaahu 'Alayhe wa Sallam"?
Abbreviating (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) to (S) or (SAW) or the like
BAFK, MAGUA
= BarakAllaahu feekum, May Allaah guide us all.
I thought I would provide the translation, in case these hadn't caught on yet.
wasalaamu `alaykum