What Fatwa really means

**cricketfan** · March 18, 2008, 12:52 PM

The word fatwa means simply declaration, or announcement, or proclamation. The media dictionary gives a different meaning- Islamic violent religious edict. wrong. So when mansa musa said Zionist fatwa, technically all it meant was Zionist Edict. Glad to see so many fellow Americans brainwashed by CNN.

**Farnan** · March 18, 2008, 12:58 PM

I very much know what a Fatwa is, but it is an Islamic term, not a Jewish one.

Would be the same if I said the Islamic Ulema issued a bull.

**Syron** · March 20, 2008, 08:12 AM

And gay means happy.

Are you gay?

**Cluny the Scourge** · March 20, 2008, 05:28 PM

The technical meaning of the term is irrelevant - what matters is the meaning that is imputed by those who use-and-receive the word. Language is not sterile and mechanical - it is organic and open-textured from common usage by the people.

"Fatwa" quite obviously DOES mean "Islamic edict of violence" because that is how the word is USED.

**gaius valerius** · March 20, 2008, 06:56 PM

No, what matters is the etymology of the word and how it is used in practice. However words can be pulled out of context and be abused. A fatwa can very well be used to urge to an act of violence (like killing the infidel Rushdie), however it at the same time can also be used for something else.

What matters is that ppl should be informed about the world around them. In general ppl are not, so they stick to simplified messages given to them in the media. Words get twisted, just because the media makes it seem that violence is linked to the term fatwa, that this is the sole purpose/possibility of it.

**Serious Spamurai** · March 20, 2008, 06:59 PM

I don't get why people associate usage of the word "infidel" with Muslims.

**gaius valerius** · March 20, 2008, 07:02 PM

I'm not linking it to muslims, I just like to use it

, would use it in case of christians against others to.

**Каие** · March 29, 2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Serious Spamurai

I don't get why people associate usage of the word "infidel" with Muslims.

Its the muslims favourite word, thats why.

**Serious Spamurai** · March 20, 2008, 07:04 PM

Wasn't directly aimed at you, your post just reminded me of it and gave me an opportunity to bring it up.

**gaius valerius** · March 20, 2008, 07:19 PM

My bad perhaps, though it is not my intention, most ppl will link it to what you say (stereotypically followed by making that akward shout while rapidly vibrating their tongue like Osama Bin Laden in American Dad), could be confusing.

**Serious Spamurai** · March 20, 2008, 07:27 PM

You mean ululation?

Anyway, don't think I've ever heard a Muslims say "infidel" except in satire of the stereotype.

**Twfan55** · March 20, 2008, 10:12 PM

Heres another one. Liberal. I am a Liberal but not a democrat. I support Liberty!

**danzig** · March 29, 2008, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by cricketfan

The word fatwa means simply declaration, or announcement, or proclamation. The media dictionary gives a different meaning- Islamic violent religious edict. wrong. So when mansa musa said Zionist fatwa, technically all it meant was Zionist Edict. Glad to see so many fellow Americans brainwashed by CNN.

Welcome to the read world where the meaning of a word takes on a life of its own based on the most popular (or in this case infamous) usage of the word. Its not like fatwa is the first nor will it be the last word to take on a negative meaning.

**Scandinavisksoldat** · March 31, 2008, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by cricketfan

The word fatwa means simply declaration, or announcement, or proclamation. The media dictionary gives a different meaning- Islamic violent religious edict. wrong. So when mansa musa said Zionist fatwa, technically all it meant was Zionist Edict. Glad to see so many fellow Americans brainwashed by CNN.

What do you expect? The U.S. media has been repoting with bias since Hiroshima and Nagasaki.