Here's What 15 Common Words Actually Mean To Muslims

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1. Moon

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What it usually means: A thing that comes out in the sky every night.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A thing that tears apart the community every Eid.

2. Fast

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What it usually means: An adjective meaning something that moves quickly.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A noun meaning refraining from food and water from sunrise to sunset. Contrary to what is implied, a fast moves very slowly.

3. Fart

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What it usually means: An involuntary passing of gas

What it means if you’re Muslim: A sign that it's time to redo your wudu.

4. Date

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What it usually means: A dinner and a movie with someone you met on the internet.

What it means if you're Muslim: A ridiculously sweet fruit you eat to break your fast. Probably followed by a bunch of overeating.

5. Neckbeard

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What it usually means: A weird beard style that no man should have.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A sunnah beard style that the brother at the mosque believes every man should have.

6. Safety Pin

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What it usually means: A small item you find in your sewing box.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A small item essential to keeping your hijab on your head.

7. Chai

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What it usually means: Add "tea" and "latte" and it's the name of a drink at Starbucks.

What it means if you're Muslim: A precious drink shared by the South Asian members of your community.

8. Brother

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What it usually means: Your sibling.

What it means if you’re Muslim: Literally every man at the mosque you don’t know.

9. Auntie

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What it usually means: Your mom or dad's sister.

What it means if you’re Muslim: Literally every older woman at the mosque.

10. Inshallah

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What you explain it means: "God willing."

What it really means: "Never gonna happen."

11. Mecca

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What it usually means: A central place where people gather.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A city in Saudi Arabia your ma has been saving money to visit her whole life.

12. Allahu Akbar

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What people think it means: A weird, uncomfortable phrase that terrorists say.

What it means if you're Muslim: Something totally normal you want to say when good things happens, but you whisper it because of what people think it means.

13. Halal

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What people thinks it means: A type of street cart food that serves lamb or chicken over rice or in a pita.

What it means if you’re Muslim: Anything that's not haram (hopefully).

14. Water Bottle

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What it usually means: Trash to be recycled.

What it means if you’re Muslim: A valuable resource to be reused for the bathroom.

15. Zayn Malik

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What people usually think: OMG LOVE 😍😍😍

What Muslims think: OMG LOVE 😍😍😍

This piece is part of a series of posts and essays celebrating Ramadan. Click here to read more!