Ms Asha I don't know who wants to imitate the Arabs, but IMHO, since the Quran is in Arabic, it is better to learn the language and read the Quran in it's native language. The reason for that is that Arabic is a very versatile language. When you translate the Quran into other languages, you lose the original beauty and attractiveness of the prose. Nevertheless, there is absolutely no problem in reading the Quran in whatever language you choose.
As far as Urdu is concerned, may I ask how you say it is not a part of our culture? Of course it's a part of our culture! Urdu is Pakistan's national language, so it's only reasonable that people speak and understand Urdu. You stated that Urdu is not a part of the culture of the majority of people living in Pakistan. Are we talking about the same Pakistan here? Coz in the Pakistan I know, the majority of the people speak their regional language, then Urdu and some broken English. What then do you mean by your statement? As far as scholarly works are concerned, pray tell me which Pakistani scholar has had ANY international impact on that field? Yes Pakistanis have made some contributions, but only when they've gone abroad and worked. I can't recall a single scholar who made any significant contribution to his/her field while staying in Pakistan? --Kamran Asha Bedar wrote: > I agree that Urdu alone does not constitute our culture and that not > being able to speak it (or not as well as other languages - English or > regional) does not make us any less Pakistani. And I agree that the > Urdu mantra that is constantly being thrown in our faces - especially > those of us who communicate better in English - is offensive and > basically misses the point of what it means to be a Pakistani. BUT > it's still much much more a part of our culture than Arabic is, which > brings me to the main point I'm attempting to make in this email: this > new trend of trying to somehow become Arab (in trying to be more > Muslim) makes no sense to me whatsoever. I thought the whole point of > Islam was that it was a universal religion, meant for all people. Why > then do so many of us feel we need to imitate the Arabs and their > language in order to be better Muslims? The most annoying (to me) > example of this is when Pakistanis pronounce Ramzan as Ramadan!! Sure > the original word is Ramadan and that's how we got Ramzan, but this > word is now a part of Urdu (in which "zuaad" has a "z" sound!!). I > really don't understand how this relatively recent Arabic pronuncation > makes us better Muslims! Are we being colonised by the Arabs now? > > Asha > > . > > --- On *Mon, 9/8/08, Shamsa Baloch /<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>/* wrote: > > From: Shamsa Baloch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [ankahi:749] Re: Pride and Prejudice > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, September 8, 2008, 12:03 AM > > I am not saying that urdu is compulsory but the trend now is that > Urdu has become cheap language..People who speak Urdu are illiterate > > On 9/6/08, *Asim Shehzad* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: > > I fully agree with you. Interestingly this group also > communicate in English. It must be remembered that languages > are spoken on the basis of their utility rather not on > compulsion. If we stick to a language by compulsion we will > get no good. > > Secondly this group has a very limited readers and members > and fortunately educated. But a great lot in Pakistan is > uneducated and they will kept uneducated and thats the open > secret of success of our leaders. > > > > On Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 9:35 AM, naushad shafkat > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > wrote: > > One can see your point and also agree with some. However I > strongly disagree with point No. 8. Urdu has never been a > part of the culture of the majority of people now living > in Pakistan. And it has also nothing to do with Islam as > many in our country would like to believe. We keep on > chanting the Urdu mantra as if speaking it would make us > better Pakistanis and even better Muslims. First we must > ask ourselves some questions; Is Urdu developed enough as > a language to be able to cater to the modern day world? > For example could we have become a nuclear power if our > scientists had only studied Urdu? Which scholar, in any > field, has made an impact on the international scene by > writing only in Urdu without his work being translated? > The answers are obvious. > Moreover what is the relation between Urdu and Islam? None > at all I dare say. But we dub anyone who refuses to speak > it as a non-Muslim. I remember being told of an incident > by my late and lamented teacher Professor Kemal Faruki, > who was an Islamic scholar well versed in Arabic and has > written several books on Islam. It so happened that > Professor Kemal Faruki had most of his education in Beirut > and then in the United States. Since all his children were > born and initially educated abroad they, like their > father, did not know Urdu although they all spoke fluent > Arabic and English. When Professor Kemal Faruki returned > to Pakistan one of his sons was studying at the St. > Patricks College, Karachi. One day Professor Faruki got a > phone call from the college to rush there because his son > had suffered some injuries as he had been beaten up by > some boys. When he reached there and asked his son the > reason for his being beaten up he was told that some boys > had insisted that he should stop calling himself a Muslim > as he did not speak Urdu and his refusal had led to the > scuffle!!!! > Yes Urdu is a beautiful language and poets like Ghalib and > Faiz have written poetry comparable with the best > anywhere. Yes we must respect Urdu like we must respect > all languages. But to consider it a part of our culture or > to tie it up with Islam is not on. And can you please > point out just a single word of pure Urdu in our national > anthem? Do more than 90% or even more understand the > national anthem? > > Regards > > > Naushad Shafkat > > P.S. The Quaid was always impeccably dressed according to > the occassion. > > > > > > > On Fri, Sep 5, 2008 at 11:28 PM, Shamsa Baloch > <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> > wrote: > > With regards to the last edition my comments and views > are as follows > > > > *_How can we expect our culture to grow when we have > such problems existing in our society:_* > > > > *First, we do not trust ourselves > > > > *Second, we do not promote homemade stuff 'coz we're > very much influenced by foreign > > > > *Thirdly, do we all know our National Anthem correctly > and complete? I doubt > > > > *Fourth, did we study Pakistan's history whole-heartedly? > > > > *Fifth, on questioning not only the youth of Pakistan > but few adults also failed to answer the question > "Significance of 23^rd March and in which year was it? > > > > *Sixth, we want all our works to be done by the > government, we don't like to take pain 'coz we enjoy gain. > > > > *Seventh, we do not want people to know that we are > Pakistanis when we are in foreign countries (I was an > example of this statement but now Alhamdulilah I take > pride in being a Pakistani) > > > > *Eighth, do we respect Urdu, I think now we have mixed > Hindi in it 'coz we love Indian dramas and Bollywood. > > > > *Ninth, we love Pakistan only on 14^th of August > > > > *Tenth, do we realize the sacrifices of our past? I > think no because if we did then our country could have > been better until this day. > > > > > > Did we know Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah by his clothes and > hairstyle? > > Did we know Mr. Allama Iqbal by his clothes and hairstyle? > > These two prominent figures made a mark in the history > not by clothing well and introducing new hairstyles > but it was their hard work which brought them to fame. > > > > Then why do we blame the celebrities about their way > of clothing…If we blame them, then first we should > turn the pointing finger's direction towards ourselves > because if they are stylizing themselves with western > styles, then we are also copying it… what will you say > to this!!! > > > > If we love & respect our Culture then it is obvious > that others will like it too… > > > > *What ever points I have stressed does not refer to > all Pakistanis > > > > With regards, > > Shamsa Baloch > > Po Box: 1853 > > Alain,U.A.E > > > > > > > -- > Naushad Shafkat > > > > > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Loose Ends Pakistan" group. 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