Hajji
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Hajji(Arabic:الحجّي;sometimes spelledHajjeh,Hadji,Haji,Alhaji,Al-Hadj,Al-HajorEl-Hajj) is an honorific title which is given to aMuslimperson who has successfully completed theHajjtoMecca.
Stemming from the same origin is the termHadžiorΧατζής,used byOrthodox Christiansin someBalkancountries, which denotes people who have gone on pilgrimage to theChurch of the Holy SepulchreinJerusalem.
Etymology
[edit]Hajjiis derived from the Arabicḥājj,which is the active participle of the verbḥajja( "to make the pilgrimage" ). The alternative formḥajjīis derived from the name of the Hajj with the adjectival suffix -ī,and this was the form adopted by non-Arabic languages.[citation needed]
Use
[edit]Hajjiand its variant spellings are used as honorific titles for Muslims who have successfully completed theHajjtoMecca.[1]
InArab countries,ḥājjandḥājjah(pronunciation varies byArabic dialect) is a commonly used manner of addressing any older person respectfully, regardless of whether or not the person in question has actually performed the pilgrimage. It is often used to refer to an elder, since it can take years to accumulate the wealth to fund the travel (particularly before commercial air travel), and in many Muslim societies to a respected man as an honorific title. The title is prefixed to a person's name; for example, Saif Gani becomes "HajjiSaif Gani ".[citation needed]
InMalay-speaking countries,HajiandHajahare titles given to Muslim males and females respectively who have performed the pilgrimage. These are abbreviated asHj.andHjh.(in Indonesian, it isH.andHj.)[citation needed]
InIran,the honorific titleHaj(حاج) is sometimes used forIRGCcommanders, instead of the titleSardar( "General" ), such as forQasem Soleimani.[citation needed]
Other religions
[edit]The term was borrowed inBalkanChristian countries formerly underOttomanrule (Bulgaria,Serbia,Greece,Montenegro,North MacedoniaandRomania), and are used for Christians who have travelled toJerusalemand theHoly Lands.[2]In some areas the title has been fossilised as afamily name,for example in the surnames common amongBosniakssuch asHadžić,Hadžiosmanović( "son of Hajji Osman" ) etc.[citation needed]
InCyprus,the title is so prevalent that it has also been permanently integrated into someGreek Christiansurnames, such asHajiioannou.This is due to Cyprus' long history of Christian and Muslim influence.[citation needed]
The title has also been used in some Jewish communities to honor those who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem or other holy sites in Israel.[3][failed verification]
Ethnic slur
[edit]In the 21st century,Americansoldiers began using the termHajiasslangfor Iraqis, Afghans, orArab peoplein general. It is used in the way "gook"or"Charlie"was used by U.S military personnel during theVietnam War.[4][5][6][7]
See also
[edit]- Hatzi,a Greek surname prefix, stemming from the same origin
- Islam
- Pilgrimage
References
[edit]- ^Malise Ruthven (1997).Islam: A very short introduction.Oxford University Press.p. 147.ISBN978-0-19-285389-9.
- ^"Jerusalem and Ancient Temples"(in Greek). apologitis.RetrievedMay 4,2010.
- ^"ISRAEL ii. JEWISH PERSIAN COMMUNITY – Encyclopaedia Iranica".iranicaonline.org.
- ^"Put 'Haji' to Rest | Marine Corps Gazette".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-02-16.Retrieved2011-04-16.
- ^Learning to 'embrace the suck' in IraqLos Angeles Times,28 January 2007
- ^Slang from Operation Iraqi Freedomglobalsecurity.org
- ^Herbert, Bob (May 2, 2005)."From 'Gook' to 'Raghead'".The New York Times.