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Moslem vs. Muslim

Over the last two days, I had a lenghty and somewhat pointless series of arguments on a well-known online Muslim forum with an anonymous reader critical of Islam. There was a time when I used to do this quite often, and obviously still do, although much more rarely. I generally try to maintain my principle of not wasting time in useless debates that don’t go anywhere, but sometimes I can’t help it, especially when a blatant error in someone’s comment is too unbearable not to respond to. This particular debate began similarly: I felt compelled to respond to a remark that I thought was absurd and remarkably ignorant.

One of the several threads of argument in the debate was concerning the use of the term “Moslem.” This was a particularly interesting theme, for two reasons. First: as most of my friends know, I often say “Mozlem” instead of Muslim, largely out of humor, sarcams, and mockery. Second: the question once came up on my blog, when a reader severely criticized a phrase I’d used (“good ol’ Moslem beards”), saying: “First off, the use of the term Moslem is rooted in European racism stemming back to the 8th century. It is Muslim. But hey, living in Saudi Arabia must have taught you nothing. Secondly, what’s with the racist diatribe? Had you said good ol Jewish beards you would have been hazed like a m—–f—–. Why? Because its derogatory.” I had then responded:

First, a small correction. You meant the 18th century not the 8th? I’m assuming it was just a minor typo, since you seem to know your stuff.

Since you obviously have trouble understanding anything more than simple English writing, let me spell it out for you: it’s called satire, mocking not only European colonialism, but also many English-speaking people who still call us “Moslems.”

Let me also teach you something about “racist diatribe.” It is usually acceptable for African Americans to use the word n_gger within themselves, but it’s profoundly offensive when others use it. I personally find it okay to use “Moslem” within ourselves (again, as satire – see above). But I’m sure many will find it derogatory when non-Mulims use it.

Admittedly, ever since the above incident I have often wondered about the implications of saying/writing Moslem as opposed to Muslim. Since this issue came up again in my recent debate mentioned above, I thought I’d clip relevant snippets of the conversation and post it here, for further reflection. While I originally used a pseudonym in the forum, I’ll replace it here with a different name, Abel (hmm, double anonymity?). My opponent only revealed his initials, but here let me call him Cain. This particular strain of argument began with the following remark, which he made in response to my comment about his first comment. Enjoy:

Cain: Abel is typical of Moslem apologists who can only call their critics names instead of dealing with the issues…

Abel: …There’s a reason why I use the notion of “deliberate ignorance” – it’s very pertinent. An example: I’m quite certain you know very well that Muslims call themselves Muslims and not Moslems. And yet you are adamant in spelling it “Moslem,” you cannot break out of your anglicized perspective. A simple but significant case of deliberate neglect. In other words, you’re not so interested in seeing Muslims as they define themselves, but rather how you define them. You want them to conform to what you believe about them, and this manifests literally in language.

Cain: …And, yes, “Moslem” is a perfectly good English word. Look it up in any dictionary. It is not derogatory. If you want to call yourself “Muslim” instead of “Moslem”, that is your choice, but don’t tell me how to speak my language. There is no reason why I should Arabize my pronunciation. I don’t call Mexicans “Mejicanos”; I don’t call Frenchmen “Français”; I don’t call Germans “Deutsche”; and I don’t call Russians “Russkis”.

Abel: Re. “Moslem”: my point was not whether it’s a correct English word or whether it’s derogatory (It’s not). Nor do I want to tell you how to speak “your” language. I didn’t even request you to stop spelling it Moslem (or to Arabize your pronounciation). Rather, my brief exercise above was an analysis of how a relatively minor practice like this can reflect a broader state of mind. “Muslim” is the current standard English spelling of the word: every single major English newspaper has learned to abandon the older spelling, and it’s been a while too.

Cain: Concerning “Muslim” versus “Moslem”:

Yes, the politically correct media have, under pressure from Moslem organizations such as CAIR, adoped the editorial standard of using only “Muslim” in order, God forbid, not to offend Moslems. However, insistence by Moslems on everybody using the Arabized form of the word is, in the eyes of many people, just another indication of Moslem supremacism: the infidel world must adapt to Islam, even in the infidels’ own countries, rather than Moslem immigrants having to adapt to their host countries like other immigrants do. I use “Moslem” instead of “Muslim” deliberately in order to highlight this point. At least you, Abel, admit that there is nothing insulting or derogatory about “Moslem”. That being the case, what exactly is your problem with the use of “Moslem”?

Abel: Cain, perhaps inadvertently (and to my great joy), your comment above re. Moslem/Muslim has exposed all of your inherent biases and hatred of Islam/Muslims. Oh what a surprise! Another immigrant-hating xenophobe! We should’ve guessed it, when you alluded to English as “your” language. And please stop embarrasing us with your ignorance: FYI, newspapers started abandoning the older spelling much before organizations like CAIR even existed.

You asked: “what exactly is your problem with the use of “Moslem”?” I have no problem, as I’ve already implied above. My only point was to show how this minor example reflects broadly on your state of mind (Which, to my victory, you just proved by admitting that you do this “deliberately”). My point was that this deliberate choice reflects your stubborn desire to not allow Muslims to define themselves in their own terms and your wish for them to conform to your notions about them.

Sadly, you don’t realize the hypocrisy of your position. If you think it’s okay for you to call the Other not as they want to be called but as you wish to call them, then it should be okay with you when crazy imams call you apes/pigs? After all, that’s how they wish to call you.

Cain: Concerning Moslem/Muslim, Abel writes: “My point was that this deliberate choice reflects your stubborn desire to not allow Muslims to define themselves in their own terms and your wish for them to conform to your notions about them.” This is plainly false. I never said anything about how Moslems choose to define themselves. That is their business, not my business, and I would not for a moment dream of telling them which word to use about themselves. Only when they tell me how I should speak does it become my buisness. It is Abel and others who want me to follow their way. I choose to maintain my freedom to use the non-Arabized “Moslem” which is a standard English word and which is not insulting or deragotory in any way. By what moral right do people like Abel choose to make a big issue of this, demanding that I follow their lead?

Abel: I find it extremely frustrating that you keep twisting language to falsely accuse others of what they haven’t said/done. You can say that “It is Abel and others who want me to follow their way” but I never once asked you to follow my way! In fact, I explicitly said I don’t want you to stop saying Moslem. Nor did I ever “make a big issue of this” — in fact, I explicitly said this is a minor issue. If you’re wondering “By what moral right do people like Abel choose to make a big issue of this, demanding that I follow their lead?” — let me ask you this: by what moral right do you think Muslims should think about their scripture what you think about it? What moral right do you as a non-Muslim have to question a non-extremist Muslim’s religious authenticity?

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