'Birds of a Feather Flock Together'

Previously a Pakistani Minister who failed to recite chapter 112 of the Quran correctly, that's Surah al-Ikhlas, created much furore amongst ordinary Muslims. Of equal disappointment was his enunciation of the 'basmalah' too, that is the 'bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim' during a statement he gave after the murder of his friend Salman Taseer.

Rahman Malik is the Interior Minister of Pakistan. His Surah al-Ikhlas and Basmalah can be viewed on the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=305bHHvGh4o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uS6r9Oarl8

The purpose of mentioning this here is to remind us that he is not alone. I understand politicians and leaders are not expected to outdo leading academics, although if they could I believe that would only work to their advantage, but not knowing the basics - and I mean rudimentary basics here - is shameful at the very least.

On Friday, the heroic Egyptian public had succeeded in its historic protests demanding the resignation of President Husni Mubarak. This all important news was brought to the world by none other than Omar Suleiman, the vice president. His speech concluded with a mispronunciation that was essentially blasphemous. His last words were Wa Allah al-Muwaffaq wa al-Musta'aan, which basically implies that God is in need of guidance!

I'm guessing the contents of his statement were so timely that it had people overlook this mistake, sending them into instant merry making instead. Either that, or grammar consciousness died a long time ago. I fully understand Egyptian colloquial is founded on breaking Arabic grammar rules with 110% precision but blasphemous readings of this nature come across as more of a conspiracy than acceptable variant colloquialisms. I'm sorry but it's simply wrong and whatever the case, an 'Ajmi 'Arab like myself who was taught Arabic militarily (through physical abuse) has no plans on giving up aspirations of becoming a grammar bully just yet!

Wa Allah al-Muwaffiq (fa'il, agent), not al-Muwaffaq (maf'ul, patient), is the correct fixation.

Here's his statement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8GxGWAucWk

So while Minister Rahman's blunder received millions of pounds of coverage, Suleiman's has gone unnoticed. It shouldn't have. Both are jahil and who knows may have many other things in common.

Birds of a feather flock together.