Brother Sister

[Jenn! 918]

Can someone explain for me the whole brother/sister thing? Is this something in Islam, calling people Brother Joe or Sister Jenn? And why is it used for people who aren't even Muslim. I don't get it.

[browneyez40 0]

Can someone explain for me the whole brother/sister thing? Is this something in Islam, calling people Brother Joe or Sister Jenn? And why is it used for people who aren't even Muslim. I don't get it.

Some Christians use these terms too. I think why both religions (Islam more so than Christianity, though it is the same reason) is that by sharing the religion you are brothers/sisters in Islam (or Christianity, like by saying, My brother in Christ...).

My husband's friends (who are Sudanese) daughter calls me Auntie cause my husband and her parents are brothers and sisters in Islam and therefore she is my niece. She doesn't do it to all her parents friends though, I think it is because whenever we go over their house I spend all the time with the kids.

[brnidokiegurl 0]

probably a religious reference as in everyone is supposed to be brothers and sisters

[Jenn! 918]

Do Arabic speakers use brother/sister in Arabic when addressing other Muslims?

I guess the jist of my question is whether this is a VJ phenomenon or if you all hear this day to day in your communities. Before VJ, I had only heard it in films that portray Amish people.

[Yaads 0]

In the christian churchs I have attended in Jamaica and the JA based churches here everyone calls each other Brother ---- or Sister ----. Even when not in a church setting you would still use the term bro/sis. I think in some cases it is a respect thing and in others it is just said to show your unity/connection to the person.

It also helps when you don't remember the name and you can just call them Brother or Sister

Edited June 7, 2007 by Jme3584

[Jenn! 918]

It also helps when you don't remember the name and you can just call them Brother or Sister

LOL, good point. Now that I think of it, the Hey You that I use is kind of rude.

[browneyez40 0]

Do Arabic speakers use brother/sister in Arabic when addressing other Muslims?

I guess the jist of my question is whether this is a VJ phenomenon or if you all hear this day to day in your communities. Before VJ, I had only heard it in films that portray Amish people.

I've heard it a lot from American Muslims... not to sure about the arabic though...

[brnidokiegurl 0]

in the black churches here listen to them preaching and they will always say brothers and sisters

[sereia 0]

ya don't you remember the post where I mentioned Muslim brothers and sisters and I got harrassed because of that comment. It IS true that many of them call each other brothers and sisters. I've heard it plenty in America and Morocco.

[caybee 21]

I hear my fiance call other Arabic-speaking men "Brother So-and-so" in Arabic all the time. He never says it in English. It seems to apply to anyone he has known more than a few minutes My guess is it's more due to tradition than religion. I'll ask him... as soon as he gets off the phone with "Ahoya Ahmed."

[LaL 418]

Do Arabic speakers use brother/sister in Arabic when addressing other Muslims?

I guess the jist of my question is whether this is a VJ phenomenon or if you all hear this day to day in your communities. Before VJ, I had only heard it in films that portray Amish people.

I actually experienced this last year when we were car shopping. For some reason 3 of the car salespeople we dealt with at different dealerships were Muslim. They ALL called Abdel "brother". I had to ask him about that afterward.

[peezey 0]

Can someone explain for me the whole brother/sister thing? Is this something in Islam, calling people Brother Joe or Sister Jenn? And why is it used for people who aren't even Muslim. I don't get it.

I think it's abnormal for a non-muslim to call people that. But I think terms of familiarity are abnormal in a setting like this when familiarity is contrived and non-existent for the most part. I also think it is used condescendingly quite often here.

[Ban Hammer 13,470]

Can someone explain for me the whole brother/sister thing? Is this something in Islam, calling people Brother Joe or Sister Jenn? And why is it used for people who aren't even Muslim. I don't get it.

I think it's abnormal for a non-muslim to call people that. But I think terms of familiarity are abnormal in a setting like this when familiarity is contrived and non-existent for the most part. I also think it is used condescendingly quite often here.

so if i called you "sister" you'd be offended?

[doodlebug 3]

My husband just calls people by their name. ONe thing he does do though is say he's "in love" with people.....like, "this is Ahmed.....I am very much in love with him." THAT took a lil gettin' used to.

[Jenn! 918]

Can someone explain for me the whole brother/sister thing? Is this something in Islam, calling people Brother Joe or Sister Jenn? And why is it used for people who aren't even Muslim. I don't get it.

I think it's abnormal for a non-muslim to call people that. But I think terms of familiarity are abnormal in a setting like this when familiarity is contrived and non-existent for the most part. I also think it is used condescendingly quite often here.

Thanks, yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking too.