Reflections: Babi, Khinzir or Pig?
A relative of mine, a young 9 year old boy, came over to my house one day. He saw a snail in the yard. He said.. “Ohhh.. there's a siput babi (snail). Ooops!! I mean, siput khinzir! Cannot say babi (pig) because the word babi is haram (forbidden/prohibited/banned). Dosa kalau cakap. (It's sinful to say it).” I asked him, “Who told you that?” He said it was his teacher. According to his teacher, every word with babi has to be changed to khinzir because it is "haram and berdosa" (forbidden and sinful).
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The word babi means pig. Pigs are haram (forbidden) for Muslims. We aren't allowed to eat or touch a pig or eat in a restaurant that serves pork, and other prohibitions that go along with it that I don't have time to explain in depth today.
However, the WORD is certified by Kamus Dewan dan Pustaka (The Malaysian equivalent to Oxford dictionary). It is said to be one of the four original Malay words that is not derived and adapted from any other language. It means pig. Khinzir is the adapted Arabic word for pig which is also used widely in the Malay language.
So basically this teacher is telling that it's haram and berdosa (forbidden and sinful) to say it in Malay but okay to say it in Arabic? *Turn on your sarcasm detector.* How about saying the word in English, or any other language for that matter? So do we resort to saying “oink oink” like a 2 year old child?
I am no religious scholar. However, I know enough to know that the teacher is sending out the wrong message to his students. It is sinful to maki (curse) someone with the word babi (which I know and see a lot of youths doing, and I see the teacher's point), but can't he just tell his students it is simply sinful to curse someone in the first place? Regardless of the choice of word?
I honestly think it's not right to use the child's fear of God and making him believe he will be damned to hell just by saying this word? When this boy grows up and learns that the teacher is misguided in his teachings, how many more of this teacher's teachings will this boy start to doubt? That, I believe is more detrimental in his education and his learning process, don't you think?
I have nothing against teachers, whether regular or religious teachers, and I have the utmost respect for them. However, I just think teachers need to check themselves before they impart knowledge on young, impressionable and naïve children. At this tender age, teachers are more credible to children than their own parents. They think the world of their teachers and their teachers can do no wrong.
So back to the topic at hand. The word babi. Arguably, the word khinzir is more polite, yes. I don't oppose that statement. However, saying the word itself in a conversational context is NOT haram and berdosa. Siput babi (snail), gila babi (epilepsy)? HARAM and BERDOSA? Siput khinzir and gila khinzir. Same thing.
It is NOT haram and berdosa to say babi. I believe with all my heart and mind and soul that I will not accumulate sins just because I have been saying siput babi rather than siput khinzir.
HOWEVER, at the same time, to all the youths out there, be mindful of your choice of words. I do get why teachers, be them religious or not, scare the young ones to saying the word babi altogether. I don't agree with it. But I get it.
If somehow, somewhere, by some higher decree it states that saying the word babi is haram and berdosa, then I seek forgiveness from the AlMighty, then also to my readers for this post is peppered with it.
p/s: Righteous comments by easily offended people are welcome.
However, the WORD is certified by Kamus Dewan dan Pustaka (The Malaysian equivalent to Oxford dictionary). It is said to be one of the four original Malay words that is not derived and adapted from any other language. It means pig. Khinzir is the adapted Arabic word for pig which is also used widely in the Malay language.
So basically this teacher is telling that it's haram and berdosa (forbidden and sinful) to say it in Malay but okay to say it in Arabic? *Turn on your sarcasm detector.* How about saying the word in English, or any other language for that matter? So do we resort to saying “oink oink” like a 2 year old child?
I honestly think it's not right to use the child's fear of God and making him believe he will be damned to hell just by saying this word? When this boy grows up and learns that the teacher is misguided in his teachings, how many more of this teacher's teachings will this boy start to doubt? That, I believe is more detrimental in his education and his learning process, don't you think?
I have nothing against teachers, whether regular or religious teachers, and I have the utmost respect for them. However, I just think teachers need to check themselves before they impart knowledge on young, impressionable and naïve children. At this tender age, teachers are more credible to children than their own parents. They think the world of their teachers and their teachers can do no wrong.
So back to the topic at hand. The word babi. Arguably, the word khinzir is more polite, yes. I don't oppose that statement. However, saying the word itself in a conversational context is NOT haram and berdosa. Siput babi (snail), gila babi (epilepsy)? HARAM and BERDOSA? Siput khinzir and gila khinzir. Same thing.
It is NOT haram and berdosa to say babi. I believe with all my heart and mind and soul that I will not accumulate sins just because I have been saying siput babi rather than siput khinzir.
HOWEVER, at the same time, to all the youths out there, be mindful of your choice of words. I do get why teachers, be them religious or not, scare the young ones to saying the word babi altogether. I don't agree with it. But I get it.
If somehow, somewhere, by some higher decree it states that saying the word babi is haram and berdosa, then I seek forgiveness from the AlMighty, then also to my readers for this post is peppered with it.
p/s: Righteous comments by easily offended people are welcome.
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