Friday 18 February 2011

Things I'd never done before moving to Turkey #6

Go for a shave and accidentally become a Muslim.

I was at the barber the other day. As always, the conversation of religion came up which, in term, leads to discussion of the health benefits of circumcision.

During the rather heated debate (well, monologue really. I never get into a debate about religion with a Turk... especially one who's holding a razor to my neck), the barber asked me to try and recite some Arabic. I did as he said and repeated his words.

"Now you're a muslim!", he said with a smile. "When you say those words, you automatically become a muslim".

"OK cool... How much do I owe you?"

...by the way, if you're interested, this is what you have to say:
“Eşhedü el la ilahe illallah ve eşhedü enne Muhammeden abdühü ve Resülühü”
Or more simply...
"لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله"

6 comments:

Bulut Aslan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Billfredo said...

Oh thanks Bulut. Can you point me in the direction of the right script? My Arabic is a little rusty.

Bulut Aslan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Billfredo said...

OK brilliant. Thank you Bulut. Is it OK now?

Apologies to anyone who recited it and assumed they'd adopted Islam. In fact, all you'd done is vocalise a phrase usually uttered before doing something scary.

Unknown said...

yeah, they love that trick, particularly in conservative schools and neighborhoods. i repeat the "“Eşhedü el la ilahe illallah" part, then smile and shake my head when i hear the prophet's name mentioned. and it's true: the shahada (spelled incorrectly) is the first, and only, step one needs to become a muslim. so it goes :)

Etem Tezcan said...

Script says "La Ilahe Illallah, Muhammedun Resulullah" (A slightly shorter form of Kelime-i Sahadet
)but also in a slightly wrong way. Qur'an verses have special signs under/over them to help reading. Script you put doesnt have them. These special signs are not used in contemporary Arabic.

Exact script can be seen at
http://www.sanalalemci.com/tag/kelime-i-sehadet-arapca-ve-turkce-yazilisi-anlami