A song in Arabic called “Haq Allah” is being dedicated by me to Monique Agius, a journalist with the Bishops’ media centre
Monique Agius, in her journalistic drive, attempted to ridicule me for arguing that the Maltese expression “Ħaqq Alla” is not blasphemy. I am uploading the song “Haq Allah” which can be heard here:
As can be observed in this video, this song is sung by a boy from an Islamic locality. This goes to confirm that this expression is still in use in Islam today without any negative connotation. This is one of the many videos that can be found on Youtube on this subject.
I hope that Monique Agius will not write that this boy is blaspheming. If one listens carefully to the singer, he is singing in praise of the Lord. Therefore, one should ask why did this expression take such a negative meaning in Maltese? Beyond doubt, this song confirms that the Maltese expression is not derived from the Arabic word “aħraq” as argued by Ms. Agius. Agius, or whoever gave her this information, does not know our Maltese history. Is this why her informer has remained anonymous?
Her article substantiates my long-held theory that it was the Church, of which Agius is now an indefatigable mouthpiece of the worst type, to perpetrate myths and falsehoods about our history. Most probably, Italian and Sicilian clerics on the island, who did not understand Arabic started to consider the phrase a blasphemy and convinced the Christians accordingly.
What is more interesting, however, is whether this phrase is also used by Arab Christians? This video confirms that it is still in use among Arab Muslims. Which areas of the Arab world still use this phrase?
The answer to this last question could help explain who were the Arabs who introduced this phrase to our island. Did it derive from Islam or was it also used by Arab Christians? Should its usage be linked to North Africa or to other parts of the Arab world? If it entered Maltese via Arab Christians, then it came from the Levant. If it derives from Arab Muslims, then its introduction to Maltese should be linked to North Africa.
A geographical identification in which areas such a phrase is used, can offer a clue to the identity of the Arab immigrants who introduced this phrase to the Maltese. In other words, if it was mostly in use in North Africa, then in came into Maltese with the Arab Muslims who began migrating to Malta after the year 1048 A.D. If it came from the Levant, this should be linked to the migration of Arab Christians who started arriving in our island around 981 A.D. The other possibility is that the phrase was used by both Arab Christians as well as Arab Muslims. After all both lived here on our archipelago.
At the moment, this is a subject of research that I am carrying out through the use of Medieval Arab texts, with the help of Frans X. Cassar. If any reader has some clue or information about this topic or phrase, I would gladly hear from him/her and thanks in advance.