The word Islam revisited

Submitted by dihmmi no more (United States), Jun 12, 2007 at 07:42

Hi prof. Pipes

I very much agree with your explanation of the meaning of the word Islam but I would like to add the following:

1. The Arabic language root system is based on the great grammarian Sibawayhe analysis of the Arabic language and _invented_ the great idea of verb or F`L and from the word F`L or root of the verb we will have stems. But this is where it ends as stems will have nothing more in common except a common root.

2. Now take the root SLM we have the following stems:

A- Yislam (YIF`AL) of he becomes a Muslim. Islam means deen al-Islam or Islam. Islamiya or (it) belongs to islam.

B- Yusalim (YUFA`IL) or he provides greetings/he provides peace. Salam means peace. Salama starte of safety.

C- Yastalim (YASTAF`IL) or he receives. Istilam or receiving. Mustalim means recipient

D- Yastaslim (YASTAF`IL) or he is surrendering (in the physical sense). Istislam or the surrendering.

But the above stems have nothing in common except they come from the same root SLM

References:

1. Hans Wehr Dictionary pages 424B-426B. The reader will find the root SLM and the various stems of the root.

2. For a introduction to the Arabic language root system and the concept of verb or F`L please see: "Arabic verbs and essentials of grammar" by Jane Wightwick and Mahmoud Gaafar and see pages 38-39 and introduction to "Forms of the verb" which is used by Western scholars of Arabic as you can see above. But notice that native Arabic speakers "they will know them (Form of the verb) by the PRESENT TENSE (see the above examples) of the pattern using the root F`L.

3. Notice that the word Yislam or he becomes Muslim and the word yastaslim or he surrenders come from two different stems!

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