Turkish convert, Islamic language?

[Mikail]

Hello, I am a Turkish convert to Orthodoxy and I have a question. Since I speak Turkish there are several religious expressions in the everyday language that are typically associated with Islam such as:

Allah! ("Oh my God!")
Inshallah ("God willing")
Mashallah ("Wow")
Selam aleykum ("Hello/peace be upon you")

Etc.

It is quite natural for me to use such exclamations as a native speaker. My question is whether Oriental Orthodox Christians use these expressions as well, thus making it OK to continue using them? For me, the expressions are not necessarily Islamic since "Allah" is simply the Arabic name for God, presumably also used by Arabic Christians?

 

[gzt]

I'm not part of that community but do know that inshallah and mashallah are common enough. Won't comment on the others.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I have heard 3/4 of those from Arab Orthodox I know, to include 3 I was in Seminary with.

not sure how the Oriental confession would view it, but I suspect they’d be fine.

 

[E.C.]

The only one not commonly used by Arab Orthodox is salaam aleikum.

 

[FenderTL5]

I'm merely a lay person in our parish.
However we have several families in the parish that have Arabic as their first language. I've heard the first three.

 

[rusmeister]

Merhaba!
Ben ingilizce ogretmenim, biraz Turkçe çalistim.
(My keyboard doesn’t have all the necessary diacritical marks.)
There should be no religious problem at all, because, as you say, the word “Allah” really does translate as “God”. Culturally, as EC pointed out, they might well not use that one expression. I would not worry too much about it. We come into the Church, and learn gradually. People - both converts and “cradle” Orthodox, are at all different stages of knowledge and understanding. The main thing is to be ready to accept authoritative correction.

 

[Mikail]

Merhaba!
Ben ingilizce ogretmenim, biraz Turkçe çalistim.
(My keyboard doesn’t have all the necessary diacritical marks.)
There should be no religious problem at all, because, as you say, the word “Allah” really does translate as “God”. Culturally, as EC pointed out, they might well not use that one expression. I would not worry too much about it. We come into the Church, and learn gradually. People - both converts and “cradle” Orthodox, are at all different stages of knowledge and understanding. The main thing is to be ready to accept authoritative correction.

Merhaba, memnun oldum. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't seem to be a problem, since it would be quite unnatural for me to stop using such expressions. I think the word "Allah" stems from the Hebrew word "Elohim" so it's not an Islamic invention. If I remember correctly I think "Allah" is also the word for God in Aramaic, which means Jesus himself would've used it or something similar.

I'm just trying to clear this up because I don't know any Arabic Christians.

 

[Mikail]

The only one not commonly used by Arab Orthodox is salaam aleikum.

That's what I thought, it's probably an exclusive Muslim greeting that might not be appropriate for me to keep using. But I'm not sure.

 

[E.C.]

That's what I thought, it's probably an exclusive Muslim greeting that might not be appropriate for me to keep using. But I'm not sure.

No problem. I am seeing my Arab Christian friends in a few weeks, so I can ask.
From what I remember, amongst Arab Christians, you are not wrong to use "salaam alaikum" however, because it is mandated in Islam the Christians tend not to use it amongst themselves. They will still use it when interacting with their Muslim neighbors and friends.

 

[Chesterton]

For me, the expressions are not necessarily Islamic since "Allah" is simply the Arabic name for God, presumably also used by Arabic Christians?

We have hymns in Arabic which use the word, yes. I recall years ago in East Timor (and I think Indonesia also) there was a lot of violence - Christians murdered and churches destroyed - perpetrated my Muslims who were upset by Christians using "Allah" in their church services.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

I say Inshallah and I'm not even Arabic.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I say Inshallah and I'm not even Arabic.

same here