Expressions

When Mak noticed I wrote “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” in an article published in the NST about a decade ago, I got a slight reproach for it.

“You don’t have to use such expression, Kak. Muslims have better expression for it – From Allah we come and to Allah we return. Why else do you think we say ‘Innalillahi wainna ilaihi rajiuun’ during any mishaps?”

Mak also taught me not to use certain phrases – like “fingers crossed”, “touch wood” and as such. Keeping fingers crossed for good luck in fact originated from some old practice of making the cross in the quickest way to ward off evil. Saying “touch wood” to avert bad luck has its origin in some pagan belief that certain trees would give protection if touched. Alternatively, it might originate from medieval times when relics, including pieces reputed to be from Jesus’ cross were hawked around, to be touched for blessings.

Mak, who admitted that she used to use these expressions when she was younger, wants her children to use Islamic phrases – because they are also do’a, not mere sayings.

So, we have been taught to say “Insya Allah” when we hope for things; “Nauzubillah” when we hope to ward off bad luck; “La hawla wala quwwata illa billah” when calamity struck or we are taken over by a situation beyond our control; “Alhamdulillah” when we feel blessed and thankful; “Astaghfirullah” to seek forgiveness from Allah when we realized we did something wrong; “Subhanallah” or “Masya Allah” when we see wondrous things and so on and so forth.

We say “Alhamdulillah” when we sneeze too, whereas someone else upon hearing this will reply “Yarham kallah” (for male) or “Yarhamkillah” (for female) – a simple do’a of “may Allah have mercy on you”. To which the sneezer replies “Yahdikumullah wa yuslih balakum”, a do’a for the listener “may Allah give you guidance and improve your condition”. (In extended version, the listener will reply "Dakhala jannah", a do'a for the sneezer to "enter the paradise" and the sneeezer replying back "Insya Allah", "Allah's willing"...) Certainly an improvement compared to just saying ‘bless you”, isn’t it?

Alhamdulillah, my brothers and I have Mak who has instilled usage of Islamic expressions in us when we were still young. Sometimes, when I chanced upon some possibly-Christian-in-origin expressions used by Muslim bloggers, I felt called upon to comment on it, yet I seldom do it. Maybe because I don’t want to sound like I’m preaching. Maybe because I’m not that pious and thus not quite ‘qualified’ to point this out to others. Some might say that they are just saying it without any reference to its Christian/pagan origins, and it is no big deal.

Still, at times I wonder – why should we continue using meaningless idioms and phrases when Islam has taught us better and more meaningful do’a to be uttered during numerous occasions?