View Full Version : I think one of my professors is Muslims. How do I ask him if he is?
Assalaam Alikum.
One of my professors has an Arabic name and other students say he was an accent. Therefore, I have suspicions that he's Muslim. How do I ask him if he's Muslim? If he's Muslim, I think this could lead to good relations (and good grades), not to mention it would be nice having a Muslim professor.
So, how do I ask him if he's Muslim? I don't want to sound rude or stereotypical or anything.
LastFriday
07-01-08, 04:06 AM
Just go up to him and saw AssalamuAlaikum and ask him If he's a Muslim? if he says yes, say "KAIFA HALIKQ YA AKHI!!! YA'ALLAH LETS GO GET SOME BAKHLAVA! FAUDDAL!" :up:
(*_Hamzah
07-01-08, 04:29 AM
Assalaam Alikum.
One of my professors has an Arabic name and other students say he was an accent. Therefore, I have suspicions that he's Muslim. How do I ask him if he's Muslim? If he's Muslim, I think this could lead to good relations (and good grades), not to mention it would be nice having a Muslim professor.
So, how do I ask him if he's Muslim? I don't want to sound rude or stereotypical or anything.
Does he have a beard?
As a Muslim he should have ID card that states his name, D.OB. and religious status.
Just give him salams one day and he will either respond with salams back or ask you what you meant by that. Either way, it will let you know
muslimma
07-01-08, 10:38 AM
Assalaam Alikum.
One of my professors has an Arabic name and other students say he was an accent. Therefore, I have suspicions that he's Muslim. How do I ask him if he's Muslim? If he's Muslim, I think this could lead to good relations (and good grades), not to mention it would be nice having a Muslim professor.
So, how do I ask him if he's Muslim? I don't want to sound rude or stereotypical or anything.
"Are you a muslim?" :p normally works quite well
Tranquillity
07-01-08, 10:53 AM
Although I would imagine if you give him any indication that you were expecting good grades, he probably wouldn't be too impressed with you!
RashidD
07-01-08, 11:24 AM
"Erm, Sir... I noticed you have an arab sounding name, i just wanted to ask/ inquire what religion you follow?"
Pro_Candy
07-01-08, 12:35 PM
Just give salaams in passing and see if he looks towards you... if he's Muslim, he should return the salaams.
Just give him salams one day and he will either respond with salams back or ask you what you meant by that. Either way, it will let you know
Just give salaams in passing and see if he looks towards you... if he's Muslim, he should return the salaams.
Just FYI, I've known Christian Arabs, Jews, and athiests/agnostics familiar with Islam who will return salaams.
For Christians, there is nothing heretical about this, of course. It's literally, to us, just "shalom alaichem" except in Arabic.
Tahiyah
07-01-08, 01:13 PM
i come across those type of muslims that dont like to awknowledge other muslims or themselves being a muslim, from time to time.
if your sure he knows that your a muslim, then just simply ask him...excuse me, your name, nationality.. do you mind if i ask where your from or are you muslim? if he says, yes, then offer the salaams, if he says no, then just say something nice about his culture...etc. just make nice chit chat...
also, if he tells you that he is muslim, then just say, ok, i just wanted to know so i could give you the salaams, its our right over each other, to give it and return it
Kasim2k7
07-01-08, 01:21 PM
In Makkah beside the Kaaba, a few streets in there is a pakistani resturant called faislabad or something. Some American young muslim did a mistake by asking them is this food halal? Thats it. The reaction of the staff was unbelievable. They were angry and shouting and swearing at the poor boy. Some people dont take it nicely. Some do.
Irfan GBH
07-01-08, 02:11 PM
"Are you a muslim?" :p normally works quite well
Aye thats usually the easiest way ;)
.: Anna :.
07-01-08, 03:25 PM
you can't expect good grades just if he is muslim because you are muslim, because that is not even honest..
ummbilal
07-01-08, 03:32 PM
Just FYI, I've known Christian Arabs, Jews, and athiests/agnostics familiar with Islam who will return salaams.
For Christians, there is nothing heretical about this, of course. It's literally, to us, just "shalom alaichem" except in Arabic.
yep i know many people who will rturn the salaam including jews and bahais, best bet is introduce yourself, ask where hes from and then ask if he is a muslim, if he says no, just explain you were wondering as you are a revert yourself. hth
Tranquillity
07-01-08, 04:11 PM
In Makkah beside the Kaaba, a few streets in there is a pakistani resturant called faislabad or something. Some American young muslim did a mistake by asking them is this food halal? Thats it. The reaction of the staff was unbelievable. They were angry and shouting and swearing at the poor boy. Some people dont take it nicely. Some do.
Poor boy, but that is kind of funny...
I know someone who went into this Muslim restaurant and asked if it the meat was halaal and they started doing their whole 'of course it is, what do you take us for? etc etc. And then this brother just shouts back 'why do you serve alcohol then?!' and walks out. serves them right for being so shameless!
Anyway, I read that even some of the meat in Saudi is suspect because they get it from outside sources? Although unless you have a reason to doubt, you should take the word of a Muslim of course.
sunrise
07-01-08, 04:18 PM
just because he is a muslim doesnt make a difference.. in high skol i had an egyptian teacher with a 'muslim' seeming type name but actually he turned out to be christian so u never know
if u want to know him cause he is a muslim, maybe when ur MSA ia having an event invite him and see his resonse or something
but if ur expecting good grades like Anna said its not honest and wont work
All! of my professors are muslim, with the exception of one... but shes arab anyway
it wont work, they are there to teach and for nothing else
Mikha’eel
07-01-08, 04:23 PM
Just ask what religion he is or something..No need to directly ask if he is a muslim.
just ask him, my son thought one of his teachers was a revert muslim, cos he used to say salam to him, and ask about his mother, and he knew some quran could speak arabic..I told him ask him if he is a muslim, and he asked, and it turned out he was a christian who used to teach in U.A.E
"Erm, Sir... I noticed you have an arab sounding name, i just wanted to ask/ inquire what religion you follow?"
:up:
muslimma
07-01-08, 07:06 PM
Aye thats usually the easiest way ;)
i know and i like easy :) when you need to ask someone something its always best , well at least from what i have found to just say it staright, in stead of beating round the bush :rolleyes:
i mean c'mon how many times have you had people tryna ask you one thing but saying it in ten different questions. :)
it's just like okay well i know what really wanna ask :rolleyes:
Syrian714
08-01-08, 10:49 PM
I just want to echo others and say be careful about assuming he's a Muslim just because he has an Arabic name and/or is Arab! I'm Arab and lived nearly my whole life in ignorance, I didn't revert until just recently! :up:
Saudi Prince
08-01-08, 10:51 PM
Just go up to him and saw AssalamuAlaikum and ask him If he's a Muslim? if he says yes, say "KAIFA HALIKQ YA AKHI!!! YA'ALLAH LETS GO GET SOME BAKHLAVA! FAUDDAL!" :up:
:rofl1:
Saudi Prince
08-01-08, 10:56 PM
Anyway, I read that even some of the meat in Saudi is suspect because they get it from outside sources? Although unless you have a reason to doubt, you should take the word of a Muslim of course.
No not true!
Saudi Prince
08-01-08, 11:00 PM
Assalaam Alikum.
One of my professors has an Arabic name and other students say he was an accent. Therefore, I have suspicions that he's Muslim. How do I ask him if he's Muslim? If he's Muslim, I think this could lead to good relations (and good grades), not to mention it would be nice having a Muslim professor.
So, how do I ask him if he's Muslim? I don't want to sound rude or stereotypical or anything.
If you give me his/her name, I'll be able to give you a good guess.
Mullah_Din
08-01-08, 11:04 PM
If you give me his/her name, I'll be able to give you a good guess.
Names, do not really mean much. The ex-Deputy President of Iraq was Tariq Aziz, but, was he a Muslim? NO! A Christian.
Just make up a question - like, hmmm, excuse me Mr. Professor (name). I was wondering if you could help me? Just a query actually! If I've missed my Dhur Salaah, am I obliged to read the Fardh only or must I also read the Sunnah Mu'akkidah? If he is a Muslim - he will smile at you and answer your question - if not, he will frown at you and probably say something!
Sorted!
Saudi Prince
08-01-08, 11:10 PM
Names, do not really mean much. The ex-Deputy President of Iraq was Tariq Aziz, but, was he a Muslim? NO! A Christian.
Just make up a question - like, hmmm, excuse me Mr. Professor (name). I was wondering if you could help me? Just a query actually! If I've missed my Dhur Salaah, am I obliged to read the Fardh only or must I also read the Sunnah Mu'akkidah? If he is a Muslim - he will smile at you and answer your question - if not, he will frown at you and probably say something!
Sorted!
Come on try an easy question. Some professors don't know much about Islam. ;) Check this and you will discover that there is a surah called Arramz :rofl1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF--BD5N-4I
summer786
08-01-08, 11:14 PM
what if you ask and he gets all touchy feely, then your grades will suffer.
and if he is muslim he might not want anyone to think he's giving you special treatment = your grades will suffer
i think it's good trying to get to know muslims but not when its for the wrong reasons.
~Imaan~
09-01-08, 12:07 AM
:wswrwb:
i experienced a similar situation to this in Ramadhan....only it wasnt a professor.....and i couldnt determine whether this person was a Muslim or not....so i thought what better way to find out than to ask her how her fasting is going......anyway, after a lot of confusion and questioning and blank looks, i decided to ask her straight up......'Are you a Muslim?' and she replied.......'yes, obviously' (with rolled eyes)......and i was like :confused:......becoz she told me about her beliefs and they did not seem like a Muslim's beliefs to me....and to this day, im still not sure and i now see her almost everyday! and she does not want to discuss it...
so my advice to u, brother, is ask your professor straight up whether he is Muslim.....you will probably be saving yourself from a lot of confusion and headache!
wasalaam
Unique Muslimah
09-01-08, 12:13 AM
In Makkah beside the Kaaba, a few streets in there is a resturant called faislabad or something. Some American young muslim did a mistake by asking them is this food halal? Thats it. The reaction of the staff was unbelievable. They were angry and shouting and swearing at the poor boy. Some people dont take it nicely. Some do.
FAISALABAD?THE ONE INFRONT OF DAR-AS-SALAAM?
LOOL,that place is HILARIOUS:rotfl:
sapphire_blue
09-01-08, 12:15 AM
In Makkah beside the Kaaba, a few streets in there is a pakistani resturant called faislabad or something. Some American young muslim did a mistake by asking them is this food halal? Thats it. The reaction of the staff was unbelievable. They were angry and shouting and swearing at the poor boy. Some people dont take it nicely. Some do.
It's a valid question - but maybe could've worded it different. You kinda feel silly asking if the food is Halal in Saudi :o - instead ask them where the meat is from. If it's slaughtered in Saudi then fine InshaAllah - if overseas then AVOID.
Unique Muslimah
09-01-08, 12:16 AM
Come on try an easy question. Some professors don't know much about Islam. ;) Check this and you will discover that there is a surah called Arramz :rofl1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF--BD5N-4I
:eek:LOL
Ar-Ramz...Zumar..:rolleyes:Ana Muslimah:rotfl:
Well, one of my friends says he's Muslim and says he occasionally sees him at the Masjid.
However, you wouldn't tell he was Muslim. Arabic name, but blond hair, no beard or anything.
a mu-min
09-01-08, 02:45 AM
Typical muslim eh...
LastFriday
09-01-08, 04:05 AM
Come on try an easy question. Some professors don't know much about Islam. ;) Check this and you will discover that there is a surah called Arramz :rofl1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF--BD5N-4I
what are they arguing about??
Tahiyah
09-01-08, 04:17 AM
I just want to echo others and say be careful about assuming he's a Muslim just because he has an Arabic name and/or is Arab! I'm Arab and lived nearly my whole life in ignorance, I didn't revert until just recently! :up:
Congratulations/Mabrooks to you! Alhamdulillah you have found the true path.
mizfissy815
09-01-08, 11:14 AM
what are they arguing about??
Secular 'Muslim'- defending secularism.
Sheikh- naturally telling the dude, he's either a secularist or a Muslim and can't be both. Quite the oxymoron that one...
Anyhow, the secularist tries to defend his view by quoting from 'Surah ar-Ramz' only to have the Sheikh stop him and tell him there isn't a Surah ar-Ramz...but no, Mr. Secularist was very sure there was and said it was before/after Surah al-Ghashiyah...the Sheikh corrected him and told him it's Surah al-Zumr....he accepts it and continues with his rubbish...
I want to watch that whole episode, anyone know where I can?
Noor_Usman
09-01-08, 12:53 PM
Hmmm that's funny....I have an asain name yet brown hair and blue eyes...who'd have thought I was Muslim :rolleyes: lol. Sorry Bhai I do not mean to joke at your expense :up: Just ask him! :rolleyes:
Like people have mentioned bring it up in chit chat...something about "I like you're name, it's arabic isn't it?" and if he says yes just follow on "oh...so just out of interest are you muslim as well?" and if he says yes to this you can end it with "well asalamalikum brother I'm also a Muslim now."
And you don't need to make the conversation any longer than that if he seems uncomfortable :)
Syrian714
09-01-08, 03:34 PM
Congratulations/Mabrooks to you! Alhamdulillah you have found the true path.
JazakAllah sis :)
GAL-actic
09-01-08, 04:04 PM
Well, one of my friends says he's Muslim and says he occasionally sees him at the Masjid.
However, you wouldn't tell he was Muslim. Arabic name, but blond hair, no beard or anything.
I think it's really easy then just say Salamu alaykum when you pass him by. Or you can ask him which other mosques he visits?
You might try asking a neutral, indirect question, such as, "Excuse me, Professor. Are you circumcised?"
That'd be a nice start, a simple way of breaking the ice before you proceeded to more personal questions, like ones about his faith.
GAL-actic
09-01-08, 04:15 PM
You might try asking a more neutral, indirect question, such as, "Excuse me, Professor. Are you circumcised?"
:rofl1: :rofl1:
Yeah that should work
You might try asking a neutral, indirect question, such as, "Excuse me, Professor. Are you circumcised?"
That'd be a nice start, a simple way of breaking the ice before you proceeded to more personal questions, like ones about his faith.
lol isnt circumcision already personal enough? :p
Tranquillity
10-01-08, 10:27 AM
lol isnt circumcision already personal enough? :p
Might be Jewish though
Tranquillity
10-01-08, 10:30 AM
No not true!
Insh'Allah!
It was just because when I was at the gym the other day, I picked up the magazine of the organisation that cerifies halal food, can't remember what the abbreviation is. Anyway, there was an article about meat being imported from somewhere like Brazil I think and they were saying that there was something dodgy about it.
Do you happen to know if any of the meat is imported from outside into Saudi?
Ibn Al-Jarrah
10-01-08, 07:13 PM
EITHER Sneeze loudly and say Alhamdulillah, wait for a reply
OR start humming to a popular nasheed of your choice and see if it catches on
OR mention the Prophet's name SAW and listen closely for a whisper of durood
OR scream TAKBEER during lesson
~Imaan~
11-01-08, 12:06 AM
lol...scream TAKBEER during lesson! :D
i think that will definitely anwser your question, inshaAllah..
Well, it turns out he is Muslim. I ran into him at Jummah today. I went up, introduced myself, said I was in his class, etc.
So yeah, looks like it'll be good year. :)
Syrian714
19-01-08, 07:24 AM
Well, it turns out he is Muslim. I ran into him at Jummah today. I went up, introduced myself, said I was in his class, etc.
So yeah, looks like it'll be good year. :)
Masha'Allah that's great. :up:
I'm just gonna repeat though, don't slack off and expect good grades now just because of this connection (not that I'm assuming you're that kind of person). I made this mistake my 1st year taking a class taught by my mom's colleague who I had been friendly with for years and her grading was HARSH, she was nice to me in class but she clearly didn't give any leeway on her exams.
:torture:
Assalaam Alikum.
One of my professors has an Arabic name and other students say he was an accent. Therefore, I have suspicions that he's Muslim. How do I ask him if he's Muslim? If he's Muslim, I think this could lead to good relations (and good grades), not to mention it would be nice having a Muslim professor.
So, how do I ask him if he's Muslim? I don't want to sound rude or stereotypical or anything.
Well you could go through a list, like
"You Ahlul Musa, Ahlul Massih, Ahlul Bayt or Ahlul Sunna, mate?"
and then make a judgement depending on his reply
OR plain
"Are you Muslim?"
and hope he doesn't belong to any deviant sects (if you don't asociate with people beyond your manhaj) if he says "yes".
Hanifa
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