Stranger in a Strange Land–Foreign Words

I HAVE NEWS FOR MY LOYAL BLOG FOLLOWERS! I will be taking a trip to Egypt sometime during December and/or January. You might wonder why I want to go to Egypt. My answer is that Egypt is the only place on my bucket list— I have vowed to stand before those pyramids before I exit this life. If I never do anything else, at least I can say that  I went to Egypt!

There are so many reasons why I have been drawn to Egypt’s amazing blend of ancient, mysterious civilization and contemporary Islamic society. I have loved Egypt for as long as I can remember. As a child, I wore costumes of Isis or Cleopatra for Halloween. The only reason that I go to Vegas is to visit the Luxor and buy Egyptian statues and other items.

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MY STUDY of Islam and the Arabic language also draw me to Egypt. Travel to predominately Muslim Middle Eastern or African countries (Egypt is technically in Africa, but usually gets lumped into the “Middle East”) can be difficult and dangerous. However, if I delay my trip to Egypt until there is peace in the Middle East, I fear that I will be waiting for the rest of my life! Luckily, Egypt is a relatively safe Islamic country to visit. My knowledge of Islam, which gave birth to my Editing Islam series of posts on this blog, will serve me in good stead!

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In order to make the most of my trip to Egypt, I am studying both Arabic and the ancient hieroglyphs. I have a lot to learn between now and my journey—and I’m sure that, as I study and prepare for my trip, some writing and editing topics will pop up and that can inform new blog posts.

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THIS WEEK’S TOPIC IS THE USE OF FOREIGN WORDS

The Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook differ on the typeface used for foreign words. Chicago uses italics (Rule 7.49), and the AP uses quotation marks (entry foreign words, p. 106).

The Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook also differ on the punctuation of the definition that should be given after a foreign word. The AP favors a short definition or explanation in the body of the text. Chicago requires an explanation or definition after the foreign word be given in either quotation marks or parentheses.

HOWEVER, both stylebooks agree that when a foreign word becomes familiar through repeated use, it can enter the lexicon of English in normal [Roman] typeface.

[I have not yet mentioned “Roman” typeface in my posts, but it is just the formal word for regular typeface. The other most common typefaces are bold, italics, underline and smallcaps (yes, all capital letters, just smaller). I usually use italics for all of my examples. Here, because we are discussing Roman typeface versus italics, I will give my examples in Roman and use italics only in examples where italics are actually used.]

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FOREIGN WORD TYPEFACE

The Chicago Manual of Style states that italics “are used for isolated words and phrases in a foreign language if they are likely to be unfamiliar to readers.”

Chicago lists some foreign words that have become familiar and, thus, can appear in regular Roman type: pasha, in vitro, de novo, a priori, the Kaiser, eros and agape, bourgeoisie, weltanschauung, and recherché. I would argue that the last two words would be a judgment call. I only know weltanschauung because I speak German; I had to look up recherché in Webster’s. Recherché is an adjective meaning rare, exotic, or obscure.

Chicago also lists some Latin words and abbreviations that should not be italicized: ibid., et al., ca., and passim.

Chicago notes that “if a foreign word becomes familiar through repeated use throughout a work, it need be italicized only on its first occurrence.” Rule 7.49. Thus, if I used a word from one of my Editing Islam posts, hajj, in an article or a book intended for those not familiar with Islamic words—and hopefully, that’s not you my readers, but pretend!—the book might use italics for hajj on first use, but then use ordinary type if the word is used throughout the book. However, “If [the word] appears only rarely, however, italics may be retained.”

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE about a word, look it up in Webster’s. If it is not there, you should definitely treat it as a foreign word. If it is, but you still think it may be unfamiliar to your readers, treat it as a foreign word.

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The AP Stylebook also stresses that “some foreign words and abbreviations have been adopted universally into the English language: bon voyage; versus, vs.; et cetera, etc.” These words do not need special treatment

He waved bon voyage to Jennifer as she boarded her flight to Cairo.

Omar wanted to get his student visa extended, but he did not produce his passport, application, photo, etc.

She just ran on and on about this and that, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

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Note: Legal stylebooks never use versus and vs. Instead, they use v., and the v. is not italicized. Thus we have Brown v. Board of Education. Legal texts almost never italicize case, statute, or regulation names. I say almost because legal citation is a complex world of its own. The national legal stylebook is the Harvard Bluebook. But many states, courts and jurisdictions have their own stylebooks or style sheets. California’s legal stylebook is the California Style Manual.

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OK, NOW IT IS GOING TO GET REALLY TRICKY

FOREIGN WORD DEFINITIONS

BOTH STYLEBOOKS require a definition or explanation of meaning following a foreign word.

Chicago uses italics for the foreign word (as mentioned above) and then quotation marks OR parentheses for the definition.

AP uses quotation marks for the foreign word and a definition in the body of the text (right after the word).

You see how this can get very confusing!

Chicago references three more rules (6.93, 11.6, and 14.109) that determine whether quotation marks or parentheses are used for the foreign-word definitions. I list them here in case you care, but will not discuss them—I don’t know about you, but this is all the complexity that I can handle right now. The examples in Rule 7.50 itself are all over the place—so confusing that I will not restate them here. However, from the examples given in Rule 7.50, it seems that one-word definitions generally use quotation marks, while longer explanations use parentheses.

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EXAMPLES OF FOREIGN WORD DEFINITIONS

Chicago Manual of Style

The Arabic words marhaba (the secular word for hello) and a salaam u aleikum (an Islamic greeting, meaning peace be with you) are both common greetings in Egypt.

The Arabic words marhaba, “hello,” and a salaam u aleikum, “peace be with you,” are both common greetings in Egypt.

Akhmed told Layla that she couldn’t touch his Quran because she was just a bintun (the common Arabic word for girl) and might get it dirty.

Akhmed told Layla that she couldn’t touch his Quran because she was just a bintun, “girl,” and thus might get it dirty.

In Arabic 101 we learned the words bintun (a girl) and waladun (a boy).

In Arabic 101, we learned the words bintun, “a girl,” and waladun “a boy.”

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AP Stylebook

The Arabic words “marhaba,” the secular word for hello, and “a salaam u aleikum,” an Islamic greeting meaning “peace be with you,” are both common greetings in Egypt. Note how I also put the definition of “peace be with you” in quotation marks. The AP example does this as well.

Akhmed told Layla not to touch his Quran because she was just a “bintun,” a girl, and thus might get it dirty.

In Arabic 101, we learned the words “bintun,” a girl, and “waladun,” a boy.

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Offhand Punctuation Note: The sentence in the first paragraph—You might wonder why I want to go to Egypt.—is a good example of a sentence that contains a question but does not need a question mark. Generally, when you have a sentence that is talking about a question, you may not need a question mark. In some sentences, the issue of question mark versus period is up to your own discretion. The more the sentence sounds like a question, the more appropriate the question mark. For example, the sentence— You might wonder why Egypt. sounds more like a question and would read better as You might wonder, why Egypt? This way, the actual question is separated from the beginning of the sentence.

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THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE

WHICH TREATMENT of foreign words and definitions do you like best? I like putting the foreign word in italics and the definitions in parentheses.

However, if your publication or author uses a particular stylebook, or an internal style sheet, you will have to cede to those authorities. The main thing is to learn or decide the rules that you will or must apply and then to apply them—consistently.

To end, I wish that peace is indeed with you tonight. Wa aleikum u salaam!

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Tip of the Week: Getting Your Period

NO WOMAN LIKES to get her period—except maybe the first time, when its onset means entry into “womanhood”—or later, when she’s late and thinks that she might be pregnant and does not want to be. I once asked a male gynecologist why the pharmaceutical companies didn’t just make pills that eliminated the period altogether. He answered, “Because women like to feel their fertility, and the period is a reminder that a woman is still able to bear children.”

I changed to a female gynecologist. No female doctor could say that with a straight face. And now, there are pills that you can take for three or four months without a period! Just as I suggested! I should have patented it! Okay, that was probably TMI (“too much information”) for a professional blog.

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I THOUGHT that it might be time, here at Tip of the Week, to get back to the basics and discuss the uses of the different punctuation marks. The period is, by far, the most-used punctuation mark (followed by the comma). So now I will give you the basic facts about that lowly, but hardworking, little dot.

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 General usage

The Chicago Manual of Style states that a period is used “at the end of a declarative sentence or [mildly imperative] sentence. A period may follow a word or phrase standing alone. Between sentences, it is followed by a single space. A period may follow a word or phrase standing alone.” [my insert from AP Stylebook] Older usage or typeface often put two spaces after a period, but this is not recommended by either the CMS or AP.

Examples:

The two Islamist militias faced each other in a heavy silence. [declarative]

Wait here. [imperative] Wait here!  [use of exclamation point for emphasis]

My answer? Never. The U.S. should get out of the Middle East. [word standing alone]

The period also is used at the end of some rhetorical questions.

Why don’t tourists go to Egypt anymore. Is it really too unsafe for tourists? [mildly rhetorical question, followed by actual question]

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Periods in relation to parentheses and brackets

Now it gets as tricky as Richard Nixon!

PERIODS ARE boring. But grammar geeks (or future employers) will want your periods used correctly. Many people make mistakes when it comes to using periods within or outside of other punctuation marks.

CMS: “When an entire independent sentence is enclosed in parentheses or square brackets, the period belongs inside the closing parentheses or bracket. When matter in parentheses or brackets, even a grammatically complete sentence, is included within another sentence, the period belongs outside. … Avoid placing more than one complete sentence within another sentence.”

Correct: Sarah insisted on rewriting the paragraph. (Her new-found ability to write was both a blessing and a curse.)

Incorrect: Sarah insisted on rewriting the paragraph. (Her new-found ability to write was both a blessing and a curse).

Correct: Todd had an angry message for Isadora on the mantel (she noticed it while glancing in the mirror).

Incorrect: Todd had an angry message for Isadora on the mantel (She noticed it while glancing in the mirror.).

Note: You don’t need to capitalize “she,” even though the material in the parentheses is a full sentence.

Correct: “All of the evidence pointed to the second location [the bathroom floor].”

Incorrect: “All of the evidence pointed to the second location [the bathroom floor]”.

Historical note: Old grammar dictated that periods follow all punctuation, so you sometimes see this today. But it is not recommended by CMS or AP.

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Initials

George W. Bush (ick!); T.S. Elliot [no space between T. and S. to prevent them being placed on two lines when typesetting].

Names using only initials do not need periods: JFK, LBJ, FDR.

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When to omit a period

CMS: “No period should follow display lines (chapter titles, subheads, and similar headings) … ” [Simple rule, right?]

I just removed all the periods from the titles in each section of this post. [Remember, there is always something NEW to learn—no matter what you do, you will still fuck up. Look at me!]

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Change in plans

[I just omitted a paragraph here. I mentioned that my next post would involve commas, but I was suddenly inspired to blog on colons, so that will be the next post—and it is shaping up to be a funny one!]

Tip of the Week : Apostrophe Abuse

EVEN EDITORS MAKE MISTAKES. I confess that I have been abusing the poor apostrophe. I have been making a certain apostrophe mistake for as long as I can remember. In addition, my research into the apostrophe has led me into the wild world of quotation marks. There I was also mortified! I just never have examined typeface style requirements in this area. All documents should use correct grammar and typeface, but blogs about grammar—like mine—should be held to the highest of standards.

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WE MUST BEGIN with a quotation-mark discussion before launching into the world of the apostrophe. The issue here is not grammar, but typeface. You need to check to see if “smart” quotation marks are the default in your word-processing program. Both the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook require the use of the “smart” (I call them “curly”) quotation mark, as opposed to the unidirectional marks ( ‘ ).

Curly marks are not the default in WordPress—one must go to the special characters list to find the curly quotation marks. Curly marks are the default in Word, so those using Word have nothing to worry about.

[Note that the unidirectional mark in a published WordPress post looks a LOT like a right-hand curly mark. I did not realize this until I viewed the finished post, so this might get a little confusing. One way to tell the difference is that pairs of unidirectional marks, if they are curly at all, both point in the same direction when they encase a word: “quote“ (unidirectional) vs. “quote” (curly).

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Up until now, I have been using the unidirectional mark in these blog posts because that is the WordPress default mark. Frankly, I never really gave it much thought.

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Incorrect: “I hate it when writers use incorrect quotation marks.“

Correct: “I hate it when writers use incorrect quotation marks.”

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NOW WE FINALLY CAN enter the domain of the apostrophe. I will use the Chicago Manual of Style definition. “The apostrophe has three main uses: to indicate the possessive case, to stand in for missing letters or numerals, and—more rarely—to form the plural of certain expressions.”

According to the Chicago Manual of Style, the apostrophe is “one of the most abused marks in punctuation, especially in the last generation or so. There are two common pitfalls: using the default unidirectional mark ( ‘ ), on the one hand, and using the left single quotation mark [ ‘ ] on the other. The latter usage in particular should always be construed as an error. Some software programs automatically turn a typed apostrophe at the beginning of a word into a left single quotation mark; authors and editors need to be vigilant in overriding such automation and producing the correct mark.” [emphasis is mine]

The mark for an apostrophe is ALWAYS the single right curly quotation mark. Just remember that right is right!

TO DEAL WITH this first mistake, you just need to make sure you do not use the unidirectional mark. If it is not default, it is likely in the special characters menu. However, this is a huge pain in the ass if you have to do this every time you need a quotation mark or apostrophe.

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Must I choose special characters and insert the “curly” quotation marks and apostrophes every single time when writing this blog? No. There is a way out. I figured it out all by myself! I can cut and paste from a Word document:

“The ‘formatting’ in Word can be pasted into WordPress without losing the formatting, including the curly quotation marks.”

[From now on, I will use Word first, so that the formatting will be correct. Using Word also will give me new fonts and stylistic choices not available in the WordPress system. In addition, I will have an offline folder for my posts that will exist on my PC, not just in cyberspace.]

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HOW ABOUT that second mistake mentioned in the Chicago Manual of Style—use of the left single quotation mark for an apostrophe instead of the right? I have always violated this rule when the apostrophe comes before the other letters in a word.

Here are some examples:

We spent the ’90s [not ‘90s] in thrall to our gadgets. Here the apostrophe is used to replace the first two numerals in a four-number year [19].

Where did you get ’em? [not ‘em]. Here the apostrophe is used to replace the letters t and h.

In both of these situations, I have always used the left single quotation mark.

That stops today!

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I APOLOGIZE that this apostrophe post is a tad long, given that the subject is so anal. I have dragged you along with me through the jungle of quotation marks and apostrophes. Personally, I think you will agree that we never need to go sight-seeing in this jungle again!

Editing Islam–AP Stylebook’s Glossary of Islamic Terms

IN ORDER TO write or edit works about Islam intelligently, writers and editors must be familiar with some basic Islamic terms. My glossary here will be the AP Stylebook (2014). I am using this stylebook because it is the most up-to-date resource that I have. (A 2015 edition is in the mail!) However, while the AP Stylebook is the most current resource, some definitions are too brief or contain errors. So I will provide some added commentary in brown type. However, the AP Stylebook is updated every year, so it never goes out of style!

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YOU WILL also notice that many important Islamic words and phrases discussed in my Editing Islam posts are not here. Maybe in a future post …

The entry under the term Islam in the Religions Section of the AP Stylebook has a good basic overview of the faith and some statistics about Islam. It is interesting that the AP’s general definition of Islam uses the term “Allah (God),” while the specific AP definition of Allah discourages the use of that term, as it is just the Arabic word for God.

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WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, here are the AP definitions in the Religions Section:

Al-Aqsa The mosque completed in the eighth century atop the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, in the old city of Jerusalem. … Arabs also use Al-Aqsa to refer to the whole area, which houses the Dome of the Rock shrine too. To Jews the area is known as the Temple Mount, the site of the ancient Jewish temples.

Allah The AP term is discussed above, as well as in many of my Editing Islam blog posts.

Allahu Akbar The Arabic phrase for “God is Great.”

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Ashoura The Shiite Muslim commemoration marking the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad [and son of Ali] at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq in the seventh century. Shiite Women wail and mourn and men flagellate themselves until they are bloody to commemorate the death of Hussein.

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Burqa The all-covering dress worn by some Muslim women. Also, burka.

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Eid al-Adha Meaning the “Feast of Sacrifice,” the most important Islamic holiday marks the willingness of the prophet Ibraham (Abraham to the Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. During the holiday, which in most places lasts four days, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle, distribute part of the meat to the poor and eat the rest. … This holiday occurs … during the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Fitr The three-day holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting.

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Hajj The pilgrimage to Mecca required of every Muslim who can afford it. [Another exception is those who are unable to make the pilgrimage due to their health. Note: I generally see Hajj uppercased. As Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, I think capitalization is due. The two Eids are capitalized, so why not Hajj?]

halal The Arabic word for “permitted” or “lawful.” The word is used to describe foods allowed under Islamic dietary laws. Always lowercase. [Note: Halal is used in many other contexts than just food.]

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hijab The headscarf worn by Muslim women. [The term hijab means cover or covering or veil. The interpretation of just what must be covered is a discussion for another post. Reza Aslan defines it as “The Muslim practice of veiling and seclusion of women.”]

iftar The breaking of the daily fast during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.

imam Lowercase when describing the leader of prayer in a Muslim Mosque. Capitalize before a name when used as a formal title for a Muslim leader or ruler. [This term means different things to different Muslims. It is very important to Shi’ites. Reza Aslan, in No god but God (Random House 2005), defines imam in Shi’ite Islam as “the divinely inspired member of the community.” This book is my favorite book about Islam, and I recommend it in my Book Recommendations post].

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Islam I won’t give you the entire entry here, but will pick out something interesting. The entry has the names of different Islamic clerics:

Imam [See entry above.]

Grand Mufti: The highest authority in Quranic law and interpretation, a title used mostly by Sunnis. [I have never heard of this term, so it may not be pervasive. But what do I know?]

Sheik Used in the same manner as the Rev. [the Reverend] is used as a Christian title, especially common among Sunnis. (Not all sheiks are clergymen. Sheik can also be a secular title of respect or nobility.)

Ayatollah Used by Shiites, especially in Iran, to denote senior clergymen, such as Ayatolla Ruhollaha Khomeini.

Mullah Lower level clergy.

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Islamist An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam. … Those who view the Quran as a political model encompass a wide range of Muslims, from mainstream politicians to militants known as jihadi.

jihad Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use. [Note: See my Editing Islam posts on the meaning of jihad. Christians invented the word “Holy War” during the crusades.]

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Koran Use Quran in all references except when preferred by an organization or in a specific title or name.

Muhammad The chief prophet and central figure of the Islamic religion, Prophet Muhammad. Use other spellings only if preferred by a specific person for his own name or in a title or the name of an organization. [Note: Muslims usually say “peace be upon him” when speaking Muhammad’s name. I have heard this shortened to “PBUH.”]

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mullah An Islamic leader or teacher, often a general title of respect for a learned man.

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Muslims The preferred term to describe adherents of Islam. The term black muslim has been used in the past to describe members of predominately African-American Islamic sects that originated in the United States. However, the term is considered derogatory. [Many well-known African Americans, including Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were members of this sect (“The Nation of Islam”) at some point in their lives. However, Malcolm X converted to regular Sunni Islam after making the Hajj. Many believe that members of the Nation of Islam were involved in his assassination.]

Nation of Islam The nationalist religious movement … called for racial segregation. Elijah Muhammad took over leadership in 1934, holding this post until his death. A son, Warith (Wallace) Dean Muhammad, succeeded to the leadership and pointed the movement towards integration and traditional Islam. Louis Farrakhan led a militant faction into a separatist movement in 1976. … Use the title minister on first reference to clergymen: Minister Louis Farrakhan.

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niqab The veil worn by the most conservative Muslim women, in which, only the eyes show. [One might mention here that in the burka, the whole face is covered by mesh-like material, including the eyes. Therefore, it seems like the burka is most conservative dress. Compared to the burka, I find the niqab kind of alluring.]

Quran [Read! Recite! LOL]

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OK PEOPLE KEEP WITH ME, WE ARE ALMOST DONE!

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Ramadan The Muslim holy month, marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, ending with the Islamic holiday of Edi al-Fitr. Avoid using holiday on second reference.

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Shariah Islamic law. [Learned scholars of the Quran, Sunnah, and hadith are called the Ulama. They study particular issues submitted to them and then provide an answer. This answer is used by religious leaders and by judges who decide individual cases involving Sharia. The Sharia legal system has developed over the centuries and is just as rich and nuanced as what Westerners call “common law.” See Khaled Abou El Fadl, Speaking in God’s Name (2005) in Recommended Books post.]

Shiite The spelling for this branch of Islam. Plural is Shiites. The alternate spelling Shia is acceptable in quotes. [Other usages use the apostrophe: Shi’ite, Shi’a.]

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Wahhabi Followers of a strict Muslim sect that adheres closely to [their version] of the Quran; it’s most powerful in Saudi Arabia. [Our oil-rich Saudi “allies” funnel support to Wahhabi-like schools, militias (like ISIS) and governmental bodies and other organizations all across the Middle East, thereby spreading more of “their” kind of Islam, which certainly does NOT follow the Quran in many ways. We overlook it because we need their oil.

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In effect, our blind submission and foreign aid to Saudi Arabia created ISIS. See photos below. Sorry I just had to get my two cents in somewhere!]

How can Hillary Clinton hob-nob with leaders of a country that doesn’t allow women to drive and prescribes 100 lashes or stoning of women for adultery? Ah yes, American foreign policy …

Editing Islam–AP Stylebook’s Glossary of Islamic Terms

IN ORDER TO write or edit works about Islam intelligently, writers and editors must be familiar with some basic Islamic terms. My glossary here will be the AP Stylebook (2014). I am using this stylebook because it is the most up-to-date resource that I have. (A 2015 edition is in the mail!) However, while the AP Stylebook is the most current resource, some definitions are too brief or contain errors. So I will provide some added commentary in brown type. However, the AP Stylebook is updated every year, so it never goes out of style!

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YOU WILL also notice that many important Islamic words and phrases discussed in my Editing Islam posts are not here. Maybe in a future post …

The entry under the term Islam in the Religions Section of the AP Stylebook has a good basic overview of the faith and some statistics about Islam. It is interesting that the AP’s general definition of Islam uses the term “Allah (God),” while the specific AP definition of Allah discourages the use of that term, as it is just the Arabic word for God.

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WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, here are the AP definitions in the Religions Section:

Al-Aqsa The mosque completed in the eighth century atop the Haram al-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, in the old city of Jerusalem. … Arabs also use Al-Aqsa to refer to the whole area, which houses the Dome of the Rock shrine too. To Jews the area is known as the Temple Mount, the site of the ancient Jewish temples.

Allah The AP term is discussed above, as well as in many of my Editing Islam blog posts.

Allahu Akbar The Arabic phrase for “God is Great.”

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Ashoura The Shiite Muslim commemoration marking the death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad [and son of Ali] at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq in the seventh century. Shiite Women wail and mourn and men flagellate themselves until they are bloody to commemorate the death of Hussein.

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Burqa The all-covering dress worn by some Muslim women. Also, burka.

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Eid al-Adha Meaning the “Feast of Sacrifice,” the most important Islamic holiday marks the willingness of the prophet Ibraham (Abraham to the Christians and Jews) to sacrifice his son. During the holiday, which in most places lasts four days, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle, distribute part of the meat to the poor and eat the rest. … This holiday occurs … during the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Eid al-Fitr The three-day holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of fasting.

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Hajj The pilgrimage to Mecca required of every Muslim who can afford it. [Another exception is those who are unable to make the pilgrimage due to their health. Note: I generally see Hajj uppercased. As Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, I think capitalization is due. The two Eids are capitalized, so why not Hajj?]

halal The Arabic word for “permitted” or “lawful.” The word is used to describe foods allowed under Islamic dietary laws. Always lowercase. [Note: Halal is used in many other contexts than just food.]

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hijab The headscarf worn by Muslim women. [The term hijab means cover or covering or veil. The interpretation of just what must be covered is a discussion for another post. Reza Aslan defines it as “The Muslim practice of veiling and seclusion of women.”]

iftar The breaking of the daily fast during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan.

imam Lowercase when describing the leader of prayer in a Muslim Mosque. Capitalize before a name when used as a formal title for a Muslim leader or ruler. [This term means different things to different Muslims. It is very important to Shi’ites. Reza Aslan, in No god but God (Random House 2005), defines imam in Shi’ite Islam as “the divinely inspired member of the community.” This book is my favorite book about Islam, and I recommend it in my Book Recommendations post].

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Islam I won’t give you the entire entry here, but will pick out something interesting. The entry has the names of different Islamic clerics:

Imam [See entry above.]

Grand Mufti: The highest authority in Quranic law and interpretation, a title used mostly by Sunnis. [I have never heard of this term, so it may not be pervasive. But what do I know?]

Sheik Used in the same manner as the Rev. [the Reverend] is used as a Christian title, especially common among Sunnis. (Not all sheiks are clergymen. Sheik can also be a secular title of respect or nobility.)

Ayatollah Used by Shiites, especially in Iran, to denote senior clergymen, such as Ayatolla Ruhollaha Khomeini.

Mullah Lower level clergy.

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Islamist An advocate or supporter of a political movement that favors reordering society in accordance with laws prescribed by Islam. … Those who view the Quran as a political model encompass a wide range of Muslims, from mainstream politicians to militants known as jihadi.

jihad Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use. [Note: See my Editing Islam posts on the meaning of jihad. Christians invented the word “Holy War” during the crusades.]

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Koran Use Quran in all references except when preferred by an organization or in a specific title or name.

Muhammad The chief prophet and central figure of the Islamic religion, Prophet Muhammad. Use other spellings only if preferred by a specific person for his own name or in a title or the name of an organization. [Note: Muslims usually say “peace be upon him” when speaking Muhammad’s name. I have heard this shortened to “PBUH.”]

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mullah An Islamic leader or teacher, often a general title of respect for a learned man.

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Muslims The preferred term to describe adherents of Islam. The term black muslim has been used in the past to describe members of predominately African-American Islamic sects that originated in the United States. However, the term is considered derogatory. [Many well-known African Americans, including Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali were members of this sect (“The Nation of Islam”) at some point in their lives. However, Malcolm X converted to regular Sunni Islam after making the Hajj. Many believe that members of the Nation of Islam were involved in his assassination.]

Nation of Islam The nationalist religious movement … called for racial segregation. Elijah Muhammad took over leadership in 1934, holding this post until his death. A son, Warith (Wallace) Dean Muhammad, succeeded to the leadership and pointed the movement towards integration and traditional Islam. Louis Farrakhan led a militant faction into a separatist movement in 1976. … Use the title minister on first reference to clergymen: Minister Louis Farrakhan.

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niqab The veil worn by the most conservative Muslim women, in which, only the eyes show. [One might mention here that in the burka, the whole face is covered by mesh-like material, including the eyes. Therefore, it seems like the burka is most conservative dress. Compared to the burka, I find the niqab kind of alluring.]

Quran [Read! Recite! LOL]

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OK PEOPLE KEEP WITH ME, WE ARE ALMOST DONE!

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Ramadan The Muslim holy month, marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, ending with the Islamic holiday of Edi al-Fitr. Avoid using holiday on second reference.

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Shariah Islamic law. [Learned scholars of the Quran, Sunnah, and hadith are called the Ulama. They study particular issues submitted to them and then provide an answer. This answer is used by religious leaders and by judges who decide individual cases involving Sharia. The Sharia legal system has developed over the centuries and is just as rich and nuanced as what Westerners call “common law.” See Khaled Abou El Fadl, Speaking in God’s Name (2005) in Recommended Books post.]

Shiite The spelling for this branch of Islam. Plural is Shiites. The alternate spelling Shia is acceptable in quotes. [Other usages use the apostrophe: Shi’ite, Shi’a.]

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Wahhabi Followers of a strict Muslim sect that adheres closely to [their version] of the Quran; it’s most powerful in Saudi Arabia. [Our oil-rich Saudi “allies” funnel support to Wahhabi-like schools, militias (like ISIS) and governmental bodies and other organizations all across the Middle East, thereby spreading more of “their” kind of Islam, which certainly does NOT follow the Quran in many ways. We overlook it because we need their oil.

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In effect, our blind submission and foreign aid to Saudi Arabia created ISIS. See photos below. Sorry I just had to get my two cents in somewhere!]

How can Hillary Clinton hob-nob with leaders of a country that doesn’t allow women to drive and prescribes 100 lashes or stoning of women for adultery? Ah yes, American foreign policy …

Numbers Game Revised With Chicago Rules Added–PLUS SHOUT OUT TO SCRIPPS SISTERS!

This is a new version of “Numbers Game.” I am re-blogging an earlier post that did not include the Chicago Manual of Style.

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I RECENTLY ATTENDED my Scripps College Class Reunion in Claremont, California. In addition, I just returned from another Scripps College event: Camp Scripps. This is a summer camp for Scripps alumni. We live in our old dorm rooms, attend interesting presentations, make fun crafts and beautiful art, play Cards Against Humanity, and just hang out with our sisters and drink lots of wine. I gave a presentation called Islam 101. As my followers know, I have blogged regularly about Islam in my Editing Islam columns.

If any Scripps campers missed my presentation but would like to learn more about Islam, check out my earlier posts.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH NUMBERS? My examples will have a Scripps College theme.

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Cardinal numbers are used in counting or showing how many of something (one, five, 10). Ordinal numbers are used to indicate order (first, fifth, 26th).

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ONE EASY way to tell which stylebook a publication uses is to look at its treatment of numbers. The AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style differ quite a bit.

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AP Style book

The general rule is that you spell out the numbers one to nine and then use numerals (another term is figures) for 10 and above. One should use figures for numbers 10 and above for units of measurement, ages of people, years (in some instances), animals, events or things.

The four years that I spent at Scripps College were some of the best years of my life. Scripps College is a college for women. Our school is listed as one of the best U.S. colleges in the U.S. News and World Report. Scripps College is also a [no “an” before the “h”] historical landmark and one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/28/beautiful-college-campuses-2015_n_6374822.html?utm_hp_ref=tw. Even after 25 years, returning is just like coming home.  [The “an” used before “historical” is old usage, and losing ground among grammarians.]

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One exception to the general rule is where the number is the first word in a sentence.

Fifteen people from the class of 1990 attended the reunion. But our graduating class had about 300 students. Five or 6 of my classmates spent their freshman year in Browning or Dorsey Halls.

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For ages of people, always use numerals; use hyphens when the age is a compound modifier.

When I went off to college, I was 17 years old.  Seventeen- and 18-year-old girls look very young to me now. Scripps College was founded in 1926, so we have many alumna who are over 90 years old. A few still attend reunion.

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For periods of time, use numerals. NEVER add an apostrophe with the  “s” when you are referring to a period of time. An apostrophe makes it possessive. You may omit the first two numerals of a period of time and use an apostrophe to indicate the missing numerals, but again, do NOT add an apostrophe with the “s.” This error is so rampant that I fear one day it will be accepted. That will be a sad day indeed. Note further discussion of the “apostrophe” below.

In the 1980s everyone had big, big hair. The ’80s had a lot of “New Wave” music featuring guys with weird Euro-trash haircuts playing keyboards. Hip-hop appeared in the late ’90s but didn’t establish itself until the mid-1990s. My friend and I liked to go to reggae concerts because people were friendly enough to pass around the ganga—we didn’t need to buy our own. I really liked the Goth music of the 1980s–’90s. My favorite band was Lords of the New Church.

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[Anal Punctuation Note: Periods of time are separated by an en dash, not a hyphen or em dash. Ex: Heavy metal “Hair Band” music became popular during the late ‘8os–’90s. The Los Angeles Kings won the game 3–1.

This is a hyphen –, an en dash –, and an em dash —. The en dash is rarely used and often not used when it should be. It is generally used for periods of time, sports scores, and a few other situations.]

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For million, billion or trillion, use a figure and then the word, unless it starts a sentence.

The planet has over 1 billion people on it. One million people in the United States live below the poverty line. The jackpot is $10 million, but don’t buy a ticket, because you have more chance of being struck by lightning.

I wish that millions of women could receive the wonderful education that I had at Scripps College.

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Chicago Manual of Style

(The CMS acknowledges the AP Stylebook rule as an alternative in the scientific or journalistic context. It notes that many of the exceptions to the CMS general rule also apply in the AP Stylebook.)

The general CMS rule is that you spell out all whole numbers from zero to one hundred.  Spell out hundreds, thousands, and hundred thousands. However, you may use figures for numbers that are not rounded out. 

She thought that her chances of getting into Scripps College were zero, but she was accepted, along with three hundred other women.  The number of applicants was 1,345.

Scripps College has 935 students currently attending the school. The number of those graduating this year is 374. The number of graduating in 1990 was 295.

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All numbers at the beginning of a sentence are spelled out. However, the CMS recommends reworking sentences so that they do not begin with a number. Why? I don’t know.

Forty alumna attended Camp Scripps this year. They drank 243 bottles of wine. [figure used for 243 because it is not rounded out]

Camp Scripps had forty alumna attending. They drank 243 bottles of wine.

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The CMS general rule also applies to ordinal, as well as cardinal numbers.

I had more fun at the tenth reunion that at the twenty-fifth. But I like Camp Scripps better than the reunions. This was my fifth Camp Scripps.

Decades can either be spelled out (if the meaning is clear) or expressed in numerals.

A lot of people think that the sixties were groovy. However, the class of 1990 was way more groovy! Totally!

The oldest alumna attending Scripps Camp is from the class of 1952.

Numbers in the millions and billions follow the general rule.

Building a new dormitory on the Scripps campus would cost at least three million dollars. The exact amount of the estimate is $3,24 million.

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Year standing alone are expressed in numerals, unless they begin a sentence.

Nineteen sixty was a good year.

She was born in 1969.

Dates can be abbreviated by removing the first two numbers and replacing them with an “apostrophe.” You can refer to the decade using an “s”— but DO NOT use an apostrophe and the “s”. As mentioned above in this post, it is 1990s, not 1990’s.

SHOUT OUT TO SCRIPPS CAMPERS OF 2015!

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Note: In the CMS, they specifically warn editors to use an apostrophe, not a single quote character, in front of abbreviated dates. However, I cannot find an apostrophe in the special characters in the WordPress template. Use of the single quotation mark is prevalent and probably not a big deal. I never even thought about the distinction until I wrote this post. I have always called the single quote an apostrophe in these situations! Live and learn!

So if you want to be super-correct, use the apostrophe (I’m sure it is available in Word). The worse sin is to use the possessive (apostrophe+s) at the end (the 1980’s).

 

Editing Islam: Sunni versus Shiite: What’s the Big Deal?

Editing Islam: How to tell a Shiite from a Sunni?

9/11 made the United States, as well as much of the non-Muslim world, sit up and take notice of Islam—this often-strange and mysterious faith that has 1 billion followers world-wide. We Americans get most of our information from TV, newspapers, and online sources. But how do our editors and journalists learn about Islam? I have no idea. Some are very astute; you can tell that they have done their homework. Others are still woefully inadequate and incorrect when reporting on Islamic issues.

You would think that, 15 years after 9/11, those who bring us the 24-hour news cycle would have a better understanding of Islam and some basic, yet vital, Islamic terms and ideas. As editors and reporters cover the clusterfuck that is the Middle East, they often label people and groups as Sunni or Shiite. Now this info is good to know, but what do these terms actually mean?

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So here today I am going to give you the entry in the AP Stylebook that discusses this great schism in the Muslim faith. It is certainly just a drop of water in a very big well. As always, if you want more information, refer to the books in my Editing Islam Resources post. The AP Stylebook quote is verbatim, but I will add some notes in green paraphrased from Seyyed Hossein Nasr‘s book The Heart of Islam.

AP Stylebook, Religion Guidelines, page 461

“The schism between Sunni and Shiite stems from the early days of Islam and arguments about Muhammad’s successors as caliph, the spiritual and temporal leader of Muslims during that period. [The record is uncertain about whether Muhammad himself designated an heir. Shiites believe he privately chose Ali, but Sunnis dispute this.] The Shiites wanted the caliphate to descend through Ali, Muhammad’s son-in-law [and first cousin. Much in the Shiite–Sunni conflict was about how a leader should be chosen, by bloodline or by merit. Those supporting merit, not lineage, chose Abu Bakr, who was a wise man and one of Muhammad’s first followers. Abu Bakr was the first caliph.] Ali eventually became the fourth caliph, but he was murdered; Ali’s son, al-Hussein, was massacred with his fighters at Karbala, in what is now Iraq. Shiites considered the later caliphs to be usurpers. The Sunnis no longer have a caliph.”

Nasr paraphrased: Shiites got their name from the words shi’at (partisans) of Ali. The word Sunni means follower of the sunna (actions) of the Prophet; and also is a term for “the majority.” Here is another tidbit: Currently, 87% of Muslims are Sunni and 13% are Shiite.

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Grammar note for editors and writers: Shiite–Sunni takes the en dash. It is also used in dates (“the July–August school session”) or where you might mean “versus” (the Bears–Steelers game”).

There are many spellings for Shiite Islam. I used Shiite here because that is the AP Stylebook spelling.  You will also see Shi’a, Shia, or Shi’ite. I prefer Shi’a Islam myself. However, because these words are transliterated from the Arabic, various spellings of many Islamic words are common.

Editing Islam: What Jihad is About?

Disclaimer: I am not a Muslim, but I have studied this faith for many years. I find it woeful that writers and editors, 14 years after 9/11, still display such ignorance about the world’s fastest-growing religion. I hope that the Editing Islam series will benefit editors and writers, so that they can deal with Islamic subjects properly.

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My last Editing Islam (which I reposted today if you want to check it out) post dealt with what jihad is NOT. It does not mean holy war. If we as editors and writers use the term holy war, we are participating in the continued misunderstanding of jihad. In addition, if we call terrorist groups, like the Islamic State “jihadis,” we participate with them in the obscene warping of the word jihad and concept behind it.

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So how does the AP Stylebook define jihad?

“jihad Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic concept of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use.”

So we see that even the AP Stylebook perpetuates the “holy war” definition. As mentioned in my earlier Editing Islam post, the term “holy war was coined by Christian crusaders who were sent by the Pope to fight against Muslims during the Crusades.

(Now you see why many Muslims were offended when George W. Bush, after 9/11, called for a “crusade” against terrorism. Many Muslims heard this just as another new crusade by the West to occupy and subjugate the Muslim world. If the president’s handlers had done a better job . . . well it probably doesn’t matter now. A new crusade against the “evildoers” has resulted in nothing for the West, except a greater hatred among Muslims.)

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As writers and editors, do we have an obligation to give equal time to those who know the true nature of jihad, or will we continue to let it be abased? When these terrorist organizations, which seem to be vying with each other to see who can commit the most gruesome human-rights abuses, tell us that they are acting under the flag of jihad, do we have an obligation to counteract this bullshit with the truth?

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So, you must be thinking WTF is jihad? OK, here goes.

There are actually two types of jihad. These were derived by the Prophet’s words, after his followers won a victory at over the ruling tribe of Mecca, which allowed them to come out of exile in Medina: “You have returned from the lesser to the greater (akbar) jihad.” When asked what the greater jihad was, he replied, “It is the jihad against your passionate souls.”

What does this mean? The fight to end injustice is a “lesser” pursuit than the fight within oneself to be a good person and a good Muslim.

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Seyyed Hossein Nasr writes of the greater jihad: “In Arabic, the term jihad is derived from the root jhd, meaning “to strive” or “to exert effort,” and in the context of Islam this striving and exertion are understood to be in the path or God. The person who performs such a task is a mujāhid usually translated in the West as “holy warrior.”

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“On this basic level it might be side that all of life, according to Islam, is a jihad, because it is a striving to live according to the Will of God and to exert oneself to do good and oppose evil.”

One of the main struggles for any Muslim is performing the five Pillars of Islam. As with many of these issues, this topic is vast, but I will summarize:

1. The Profession of Faith: “There is no God but God, and Muhamad is the Messenger of God.” This is called the shahada. Note here that the correct terminology is used. Allah is simply the name of God in Arabic. Allah is not separate from the God of Abraham and Moses.
2. Prayer five times a day (called salat)
3. The payment of charity to the poor (zakat)
4. The fast during the month of Ramadan from dawn to dusk (abstaining from food, water, tobacco, perfumes, and sexual relations).
5. The pilgrimage to Mecca (called the Hajj)

This sounds like a lot to do. But exceptions are allowed. If one is sick or poor, for example, and can’t make the hajj, that is acceptable. If someone is ill or a child and needs to be fed during the day, that is also acceptable.

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Wow, we have gotten so far! We have learned a little about the difference between the lesser and greater jihad and discussed the Pillars of Islam. I think that I will leave discussion of the lesser jihad (fighting oppression) until next Editing Islam post.

Tip of the Week: Apology, Marriage, Emergencies, and Las Vegas–Plus New Posting Date

I WOULD like to apologize to my readers for the fact that I have not posted for the last two weeks. Generally, I write my posts on the day that I publish them, so if life gets in the way, it is difficult to post. Life gets in the way frequently on weekends.

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THE last two weekends (and some weekdays too) have included a three-day spiritual festival; a wedding (not mine); a trip to the emergency room (not my emergency, but I needed to be there); and a last-minute, four-day trip to Las Vegas.

(What happens in Las Vegas stays in Vegas!)

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I HAVE decided that it might to easier for me, and maybe some of my readers, if I posted during the week. So I am going to start posting on Wednesday. I think that this change will be good for us all–especially those who indulge in weekend craziness.

Editing Islam — Jihad Is Not a “Holy War”

My Tip of the Week posts are designed for editors and writers—and normally deal with issues of grammar, punctuation, spelling and the use of stylebooks. But writing and editing go beyond these prosaic issues every day. We are constantly making decisions and judgment calls about the treatment of difficult issues—such as writing and editing material dealing with Islam.

Editors must make these decisions every day: What do you call groups like ISIS or al Queda? Islamic fundamentalists, radical Islamists, Islamic terrorists, jihadists, Islamic jihadists, Islamists, Muslim fundamentalists, Islamic-inspired terrorists, Muslim terrorists, radical Muslims—this list is never ending.

And why have these super-violent organizations hijacked the word jihad?

And what about the vast majority of Muslims who do not think that a suicide vest is the fashion of the day? Who are horrified about what people do in the name of their religion? They are routinely killed for speaking out. Can we speak out for them? 

Today’s subject is the difference between the terms jihad and holy war.

Before attempting to define jihad, we need to do battle with some of the stereotypes and put the word jihad in its historical and religious context. (If you are hungering for more info between posts, please check out my last post listing recommended books on Islam.)

I hope to give writers and editors a better understanding of this word and its historical and religious meanings.

As any good copyeditor, my first source of information about everything fit to print is the AP Stylebook.

“Jihad. Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic concept of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use.”

Here, the AP Stylebook both helps us and fails us. While the first sentence is fairly correct, second sentence is problematic. It does not mention that Christians, not Muslims, invented the phrase holy war. It is true that “some extremist Muslims” translate the word jihad into holy war. What is really sad is that these young jihadis are more familiar with an AK-47 that with the Quran.

Reza Aslan in his book No god But God, writes: “‘Holy War’ was not a term used by Muslim conquers, and it is in no way a proper definition of the word jihad. There are a host of words in Arabic that can be definitely  translated as “war”: jihad is not one of them.”

Gabriel Mandel Khân, in Muhammad, makes this clear when he writes: “The word for holy is quds and the word for war is harb.”

Aslan continues:”The deep-rooted stereotype of Islam as a warrior religion has its origins in the papal propaganda of the Crusades, when Muslims were depicted as the soldiers of the Antichrist in blasphemous occupation of the Holy Lands (and, far more importantly, of the Silk Route to China).”

I also would recommend the film Kingdom of Heaven, which portrays this time period of the Crusades well; although it is not totally historically accurate. It also stars Norman Reedus, that hot guy Daryl from The Walking Dead.

So how does an editor at a news publication deal with the words holy war (if used as a synonym for jihad)? Do not use the term holy war unless it is in a quotation. If you must use it, briefly discuss the two terms and let your readers know why holy war is not appropriate.