Analysis of word “Ghaza”

Unfortunately great numbers of Iranians, either unknowingly or due to their national pride, are not ready to accept that the Arabs of 7^th century AD, after the conquest of Persia, have taken their ancestors as slaves, (Mavaaly).

The full slavery status of Iranians began right after Aboobakr invaded Persia in 631-34 AD, and Omar continued the invasion after Aboobakr’s death.

Even though partial occupation has taken close to two decades and the total occupation took over two centuries with the defeat of Maziar and fall of “Tapourstan” (Mazandaran) in 225 Taazi calendar, the slavery law was being enforced from the very beginning as areas used to gradually come under occupation.

The first 130 plus years, up to the down fall of “Bany Ommayeh”, by the hand of “Abbo Moslem” (Behzaadaan), full slavery law used to be enforced on all Iranians, even for those who converted to Islam, of course to a lesser degree. The Arabs were fully aware that all conversions were superficial, not a true belief in Islam.

After the fall of Bany Ommayeh and empowerment of Bany Abbas by Abbo Moslem Khoraasaani, the slavery rule was relaxed but still in the book. During Bany Abbas  Iranians still were considered “Mavaaly” but its meaning was changed from slave to “freed-slaves” with many restrictions still enforced such as; prohibition of weapon manufacturing profession, horseback riding, being in judiciary profession etc. etc.

Note: For more information that how Islam was introduced to our ancestors, please read داستان ابوسلیم 
http://maziaraptin.blogspot.com/2012/02/blog-post.html

Usage of word “Ghaza” by Iranians:

In order for us to picture the day to day life of Iranians in that era and why they had to accept things that do not make any sense to us today, let’s analyze why we Iranians use the Arabic word “Ghaza” for food or eating instead of “Khoraak or Khordan”.

In Arabic language the word “Teaam or Tiaam” is used for food. The word Ghaza, in Arabic means the urine of camel. Please refer to “VajehNammeh” (Persian dictionary) by Dehkhoda. 

The Arabs never used the word Ghaza for food or eating but they used to force the Iranians to say; “I am eating or drinking the urine of camel”.

Why Iranians had submitted to such an insult and humiliations on a daily basis! The answer is to avoid slashes, rape of their women, jail time, and confiscation of all their belongings, and in some cases loss of life, the same technique that the Arabs had used to impose their religion, change of names from Persian to Arabic and more.

There was a historical reason that why the Arabs of 7^th and 8^th century AD used to deeply hate the Persians and wanted to humiliate them in every which-way that they could; prior to the Arab invasion, for centuries, Persia was either the only superpower of the world or shared that status with one, sometimes with two, other nations. For that reason the Persians used to take pride of their superior status and with that pride came the arrogance and put-down of other nations and ethnic groups, especially the neighboring Arabs.

The Persians, for centuries were considering their Arab neighbors to the south as an inferior race, desert-dweller barbarians, rat and snake eaters and so forth. Now that the Arabs were in-charge and had absolute power over this “superior people”, it was time for retaliation and daily humiliations which was the best method to kill that arrogance and accept humiliation.

Unfortunately adaptation is a built-in characteristic of all living organism including us the human animal. Adaptation to environment, to type of food available, to the weather where we live and also to way of life, even if that way of life has been imposed upon us several generations before.

 We Iranians, every day from early in the morning, without realizing, are insulting ourselves by saying; I am eating or drinking the urine of camel and never tried to do a research and find out what the real meaning of the word is and why we use such a humiliating word! Where did it started and why!

By the same token we still, after over 1300 years, have Arabic names such as: “GhlaamHossein”, “KalbAli”, Abol-this, and Abdol-that and from early in the morning we face Saudi Arabia and pray to allah not even knowing who allah really is or was or who the real Muhammad, the real Ali, and the real Hussein were. To learn more about Islam and its foundation, please refer to “Tavallody Digar” by Shojaldin Shafa.

One needs to ask him/herself If the Arabs could force a grown person to insult himself/herself on daily basis by saying “I eat, drink urine of camel”, wouldn't it be possible that the religion and the Arabic names were imposed upon our ancestors through force as well! Would a rational person accept the name and the religion after such a humiliating acts were imposed upon him? Think about it.    

In conclusion I would like to ask my fellow Iranians who after observing three decades of  the real Islam and Islamic laws at work in Iran, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and still stayed Muslims and still kept their Arabic names isn't it time for an in-depth analysis of what you have inherited from your parents before transferring it to your beloved children?

Thank you Maziar Aptin