Bismillaah al Rahmaan al Raheem بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Convention for Arabic vowels [by Dar El Hadeeth]
In most translations of Arabic names, translators shy away from using double vowels for long Arabic vowels, and the reader must guess the proper pronunciation, and therefore, the proper meaning.
The reason provided by those translators is that the double vowels "look unnatural" or "unsightly", and that the "decision has been made", i.e. the convention has been set (by Orientalists).
This is answered, in five parts:
1-The Random House Webster's Dictionary, among others, does use double vowels for many foreign names and words. Following is but a sample list: Aaron, Isaac, Afrikaans, Dar es Salaam, Baalbek, Bazaar, Sanaa (Yemen), Vaal (river in S. Africa), afreet (i.e. ifreet), ameer (1. Emir. sic.), muumuu (Hawaiian dress).
This can only be called "correct" when compared to "disfigurations" of other names in that same dictionary. The transmittal of Islamic sciences is the duty of Muslim Scholars, and THEY are the ones to chose the conventions that match their own criteria. It is true that writings by "orientalists" are more numerous, but "number" does not make right. The opinion of one qualified Muslim Scholar outweighs those of any number of orientalists, and following is the continuation of the correct Islamic discussion on this subject.
It is the firm assurance (and challenge) of the writer that this "article" will be approved by any formal Islamic Institute of knowledge, such as El Az-har in Egypt, or other similar Universities. As for those thinking, or claiming that Islamic Institutes have no qualified people fluent in English, it is only a proof of their own ignorance, if not denial of the truth in order to justify their own position.
Alas! Any convention that was not set by Muslim Scholars is not worth its weight in paper, until Muslim Scholars advance their own; and if they have been late on this issue, as a multitude, this does not change their prerogative, set by the nature of Islamic Sciences.
Let us remember one point: A very serious debate still runs, whether the "door to Ijtihaad" has been closed in Islamic Sciences or not. It is a far shot indeed to have the "door of Ijtihaad" on this issue closed by Orientalists and a few Muslims, before the majority of qualified Muslim Scholars have even knocked on it!
This is but a call to humility: Let us not pretend what we are not, nor overqualify ourselves above potential Muslim Scholars.
ولا تبخسوا النَاس أشيَاءهم:
The door of Ijtihaad on any Islamic subject may be declared closed only upon their own consensus.
2-Non-English names are, let's face it, non-English. They will all look unnatural to the person unfamiliar with them. The author of these lines has been using the "double vowel" convention, and to him, "Ghazaali" looks as natural and familiar as "Ghazali" (yet more correct). According to the rules of logic, it is a very gross error to use exclusively one convention, and then claim that others are "unnatural": it is a postulate used to prove itself. This concept pertains to human logic and is undeniably accepted in any "University", world-wide.
The author remembers, when he first came into contact with legal terms, how the latter seemed "alien", to say the least. But soon, they became as common and familiar as others: Acceptee, addressee, admittee, adoptee, agreement, amputee, appellee, appointee, arrestee, assignee, cosignee, deportee, designee, electee, employee, escapee, franchisee, grantee, guarantee, invitee, mortgagee, referee, refugee, remittee, returnee, selectee...
3-Double vowels occur frequently in the English language: Moore, Moorish, loom, doom, soon, mood, moon, seen, aardvark (ant-eater), agree, agreeable, airspeed, antifreeze, apogee, cheese, fleet, freedom, heel, honeybee, needle, seaweed, speed, tree, continuum, residuum, squush, vacuum...
It is only arbitrary to prevent oneself from using them for Arabic words, just because they look "unnatural". And why object against double vowels and not double consonants: Surely, "Meca" looks svelter than "Mecca"! Compare also "Muhamad" with "Muhammad", and the words "Alah" and "Allaah", or is it "Allah"?
4-Our aim, in serious writings is to be correct. The following examples are undeniable proof:
The word "Alim", pronounced "aalim" - with a long "a" - means scholar, while "aleem" - with a long "e" - means a person who knows.
The difference is more important with a multitude of other words such as the verb "aazhan" which means "allowed", and "azhaan" which is the Muslim call to prayer; and such as "aamir" which means the person who gave the order, and "ameer" which means leader.
And we still have more serious mistranslations with "ghazaali" which means coming from Ghazaal, or relating to deer, and "ghazali" which means relating to love poetry; and "haraam" which means sinful or unlawful, and "haram" which is the sanctuary, such as the sanctuary around Meccah!
An argument goes: "but the reader knows". The answer is, based on decades of learning, teaching and writing: This is absolutely incorrect, I am absolute proof, and my IQ is not below average; I am almost sure those opposing my view also had to stop several times during their readings, and try to figure this or that word! It is unacceptable to deny the truth: English texts about Islam are mostly read by non-Arabs; initially the poor reader has no clue about which word is intended in a particular sentence.
5-"Amaanatul naql" أمَانة النقل: Islamic principles dictate "faithfulness" in transmittal of knowledge. It is therefore imperative to approximate the Arabic pronunciation to the best of the writer's ability.
Furthermore, another Islamic principle prohibits "calling" a brother Muslim by a name or title that he does not approve of, thus again, it is imperative to attempt to convey the proper pronunciation.
Except for the person already fluent in Arabic, no serious study can be conducted without the use of the double vowel convention. In this document, the double vowel convention will be used as much as possible, except in the unfortunate cases where the alternate method has gained overwhelming acceptance such as: Islam, Qur'an, Allah...