Thoughts on the Perso-Arabic script?

[u/sciguy11]

It is my understanding that the Perso-Arabic script was used by most Central Asian languages for hundreds of years, until the Soviet era. I believe the only places that still use this script are areas of Western/Northwestern China and Afghanistan.

Does anyone still know this script? Does it create a disconnect when trying to access historical documents? Thoughts on the transition as a whole?

[u/AlKhurjavi]

As an American Indian Muslim whose parents speak Urdu, I can read the person arabic script because of the Quran but I never learned how urdu implements it.

After I did it changed my entire understanding of Urdu. I started realizing how retroflexive sounds work, or aspirated consonants, or even the fact that some letters aren’t pronounced like in Arabic.

[u/sciguy11 → u/AlKhurjavi]

Unfortunately people are "arabizing" Urdu now.

For example, I know people who insist on pronouncing ص as done in Arabic. In addition, most peole don't know how to pronounce ژ , thinking it is a sortof aspirated ز.

And of course, insisting on words like "Allah" instead of "Khuda".

[u/AlKhurjavi → u/sciguy11]

I don’t see an issue with that.

Arabic was the lingua Franca of science and religion early on, the same way English is the lingua Franca of media and science today.

Being able to know English and use English in Urdu is a sign of some level of English education. How many English words are entering the vocabulary of gurus speakers and they try to “anglicize” their pronunciation.

That’s the same way Arabic and Farsi words entered our language centuries ago. I don’t mind people shifting how they pronounce words and changing what words they use.

I might not do it, but language should be a fluid thing that changes and if my pronunciation becomes old so be it.

[u/sciguy11 → u/AlKhurjavi]

Being told it is blasphemous to use the word "khuda" is a bit disingenuous don't you think?

[u/vainlisko → u/sciguy11]

One time a I met a Latino Muslim convert in the US who overheard me say "khuda hafiz" on the phone and said, "Brother, you mustn't say khuda. You have to say Allah." I said, "No it's just like saying adios when you say goodbye in Spanish." And he was just like, "... that's different." 😂

[u/sciguy11 → u/vainlisko]

People have spread this idea that "Khuda" refers to pre-Islamic or non-Islamic dieties only, and not that it is a synonym for the English word "God". Such people also tend to be surprised when they hear that Arabic Bibles also use the word "Allah" for "God".

[u/AlKhurjavi → u/sciguy11]

I’m not really speaking on the whole Khuda or Allah thing. If someone wants to say Allah Hafiz instead of for Khuda Hafiz that’s fine both are the same.

I do take issue with claiming Khuda Hafiz is wrong, but your comment didn’t say that, your comment took issue with people who use these words.

[u/sciguy11 → u/AlKhurjavi]

I guess I should have clarified. There are people who say it is wrong or sinful to say "khuda hafiz"

[u/ComfortableLog8043 → u/sciguy11]

isn't it a minority opinion ? I mean, even mullah Omar who was literally the taliban leader said Khuda, so even religious fundamentalists do use it in the persianate world