http://www.islamtoday.com/show_detail_section.cfm?q_id=676&main_cat_id=20
The reasoning seems to make sense.
From: Wohid <bidrohee@yahoo.com>
To: Alochona <alochona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:06:55 AM
Subject: [ALOCHONA] The Difference between MASJID & MOSQUE
So many of us think "mosque" is the English translation of "MASJID". I'm sure none of us ever wondered how this term came into being when it really had little in common with, and how it sounded compared to, Masjid. All Muslims since their childhood are familiar with the term "Masjid". However, we were introduced with "mosque" when we were taught English as if mosque is an English translation of what is otherwise better known to us as Masjid. Since our minds then were not critical & analytical, and in the absence of any clue about the historical emergence of this pejorative and disgraceful term "mosque", we didn't dare to challenge its usage. As a matter of unfortunate fact, the history of the coinage of the term 'mosque' reveals that it was derived from the Spanish word "mosquito." It was termed as such because during the Crusades, King Ferdinand said that his "soldiers were going to go and swat the Muslims like mosquitoes". Where else could they find Muslims in large number to be swatted if not in a Masjid? So they cheekily termed "Masjid" as "mosque" and since then this outrageous term has been so much popularized that we have inadvertently replaced our respectful term "Masjid" by this repulsive term "mosque".
Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, refrain from using the term "mosque", which is obviously a disgusting slap on the face of the Ummah. Educate our brothers and sisters to use original Islamic concepts and terms such as "MASJID" rather than using their translated or replacing alien terminologies that might be disgraceful to the Muslims and to our noble Deen. Why do we need to translate or introduce an alien term to replace the original Islamic term and its well established concept any way specially where the translated or replacing term does not serve any better than the original in illuminating the underlying concept? I hope we stand corrected right now and wait for a day when the world community – Muslims and non-Muslims alike – will be familiarized with the original Islamic term "Masjid" whereby the disparaging term "mosque" will have a good rest in the garbage of the history. Best regards. Sincerely, Wohid
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