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What would you say?

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What would you say?
Emerald
01/01/04 at 21:16:10
    Today was really boring for me! The gloomy weather has a major effect on me plus having a long break isn't helpful either! What am I talking about anyway, you ask???? Wellllll...my endless boredom got me thinking about death.
    I remembered ages ago when someone in the family died and all the relatives came over to give their condolences. They were Jordanian and I'm Syrian. Obviously we have some minor differences in our accents and the way we talk. Well I always felt uneasy speaking in Arabic because I was afraid people would laugh at me and my mistakes in Arabic grammar. ( Never was around a Arab community or even a Muslim one growing up). So I avoided Arabic altogether. Ahh, I digress... to make a long story short ( I'll try), they told me some terms of condolence which I had NEVER heard of. I felt that such words needed some sort of response but like a complete moron all I said was thank you!?  ::) In defense of my stupidity, I was never in that kind of position before, my Arabic was not perfect to begin with, and they were talking in Jordanian which was like Martian to me at the time!  :P
    Anyway, I just got to thinking what if I was put into that position again? How would I respond? I mean all I know is "Inna lilah wa ina ilayhi raji'oon" but that doesn't always fit into certain situations, ya know what I mean? About the whole fear of speaking Arabic, it's not as bad now that I'm older. I've heard alot of different accents and even though mine sounds too feminine, as my husband teasingly states it is, I feel it's pretty ok for someone who's lived all her life in the States.
    Allright. Now you guys have to help me. Insha-Allah I won't need it but it would be nice to get your input on what to say and or how to respond to others when there's a death in the family (or of a friend of the family).

Thanks
Emerald  :-)
Re: What would you say?
Halima
01/02/04 at 06:08:28
[slm] Sis,

Inallilahi.... is the first thing a Muslim says upon hearing of a death.  It is standard everywhere and most Muslims are not Arabs.  But it is the Islamic response to news of death in Arabic hence everyday knows it.

[quote]Anyway, I just got to thinking what if I was put into that position again? How would I respond? I mean all I know is "Inna lilah wa ina ilayhi raji'oon" but that doesn't always fit into certain situations, ya know what I mean? About the whole fear of speaking Arabic, it's not as bad now that I'm older. I've heard alot of different accents and even though mine sounds too feminine, as my husband teasingly states it is, I feel it's pretty ok for someone who's lived all her life in the States.[/quote]


Responses differ and words of condolences can conveyed in any language depending on the situation at hand.  It can be in Arabic or native language. This is in accordance with wishing the dead to be pardoned from the punishment of grave and a place in Jannatul Firdowsa.  And the family rahma from Allah for their pain and loss.

I don't if I have answered you question.

Wasalaam.

Halima


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