Word Register

Word Register

1987 9 September 14-15 Word Register (574) There were a number of Jewish tribes settled in Medina when the Prophet Mohammad emigrated to that city in the thirteenth year of his prophethood. Some of these Jews used to come and sit in the Prophet’s gatherings. On such occasions, it sometimes, happens that people do not understand what has been said. An expression is then used to attract the speaker’s attention. For this purpose, the Jews chose the Arabic word ra’ina. This means, “Have regard for us.” A questioner uses this word to indicate that he would like the speaker to define or clarify some point.

Taken literally, some words may seem harmless enough. But in common usage these same words may acquire an unpleasant meaning. This was true of Ra’ina, which the Jews used in an insulting way: as used by them, it meant, “Oh, foolish one!”

When the Jews used to do something, other people would naturally jump to the conclusion that this was the way of saints and prophets. Why, if the Jews were doing it, this must be what saints and prophets had done before them. For who if not the Jews were great followers of a long prophetic tradition? That is how the Arabs of Medina had come to think of the Jews. So when they heard the Jews saying, “Ra’ina”, they started saying it too. But the Quran forbade the Muslims to do so, enjoining them to say Unzurna which means “Look upon us.” This has much the same meaning as Ra’ina, but unlike it is not open to distortion.

In another verse of the Quran (24:27), the believers have been enjoined to seek permission before entering others’ houses, and then to enter with the greeting–“Peace be upon you”. At first, the Muslims did not quite know how this commandment was to be carried out. This led to some curious incidents, one of which Abu Daud has related:

A man of the Banu ‘Amir came and sought permission to see God’s Messenger in his home. “Can I rush in?” he enquired. God’s Messenger sent his servant to explain to the visitor how he should ask permission. “Tell him to say, “Peace be upon you; may I enter?”” And that was what the visitor said, when he heard the Prophet’s message. God’s Messenger gave him permission and he entered.

The two words in question were A’Aliju and A’Adkhulu, both meaning the same thing–“Can I rush in?” or “Can I enter?”. But far as usage was concerned, A’Aliju had acquired base connotations, while A’Adkhulu was a simple, straightforward, unambiguous word for asking permission to enter. The word that this visitor had originally used was linguistically correct, but colloquially incorrect. So the Prophet set him right at once.

Whether in writing or in speaking, it is essential that the words used should be appropriate, in the sense that they should correspond to the context in which they are being used. Some words are acceptable in one context, but not in another. It all depends on how they register on the scale of words. It is not the dictionary definition of words which determine where they “register”; it is their usage, their suitability in a certain context and unsuitability in another.

It is symptomatic of Islam’s all-pervasive nature that it has given us clear guidelines for every sphere of existence. It. has even laid down rules about correct register, bearing in mind the context which one is speaking.