Not here in Najd, Saudi Arabia, where I live and work, it isn't. 2008/8/24 Eris Discordia <eris.discordia <at> gmail.com>: > One more bit on Arabic: > > In a predicative sentence the subject is necessarily "Marfu'" (= "مرفوع") > which means it either has a "damma" (= "ضمه") or a "dammatan" (= "ضمهٌ") on > the ending letter. Whether the "damma" or the "dammaton" is used depends on > whether the subject is "Ma'rafa" (= "معرفه", "known") or "Nakara" (= "نکره", > "unknown"). When "Salam" has the definite article "Al" it is considered > "Ma'rafa" and therefore receives the "damma" but when it is used without > that article it is "Nakara" and receives the "dammaton." So, both forms > "Al-Salam-u" and "Salam-on" are correct. However, the greeting in actual use > is "Salam-on alaikom." > > --On Sunday, August 24, 2008 10:27 AM +0300 John Waters <jcwjr215 <at> gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Small correction, it is actually " ال سلام " , or "As-Salaam" (the L >> in AL elides with "shams" letters). It would also be inappropriate for >> you to receive such a greeting, which is a du'a reserved for muslims >> only. Since you are using the name "Eris, is the name of a "deity", it >> is safe to assume you are not a muslim. :) It is also "As-salaamu", >> there is a "damma" or "u" vowel atop then meem in "salaam". >> >> "marhaban" is a more appropriate greeting in this case. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 2:51 AM, Eris Discordia >> <eris.discordia <at> gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Do me a favor. Fire up your beloved upas, use mail, and relay one email >>> through upas/smtpd to smtp.gmail.com:587 with the words "שָׁלוֹם >>> עֲלֵיכֶם" (Hebrew, Shalom aleichem) or "سلام علیکم" >>> (Arabic, Salam-on alaikom) to my address. Let's see if "the mail goes >>> through." > >