Hadeel Abuhamda
April 29, 2019
English 1101
In the Muslim community, if you would like to know if someone is lying or telling the truth, all you have to do is ask them to say “wallah”. Wallah is an Arabic word and expression which is used to make a promise by god. It holds such great credibility in the Islamic religion. Whether you speak Arabic or not, if you are in an Arabic household, the word wallah will come up quite a bit in just one day or even one sentence. Arabic speakers most commonly use this phrase to swear by something. Arabic speaking Muslims consider it as the most divine way to confirm something without the need of actual proof. Despite this, Arab Muslims use it quite often, even if the matter is true or not. Non-Muslim Arabs also use it often, even though they lack the belief in Allah (god). Every Arab knows that feeling when a Muslim says “Wallah” after every sentence and the more they say “Wallah” the more you DONT trust them. Depending on the Arabic dialect you use in your daily life, it is also pronounced “wallahee”, but for the sake of this essay, I will be using “wallah”.
Despite it being considered disrespectful to use the word “wallah” and not be truthful, it is used quite a lot. This is where religion and culture come into play. In the Islamic religion the word “wallah” has such a strong powerful meaning behind it. Misuse of this expression will be considered profane. It is as if you are lying in the name of god. Religiously, this word is only used when it absolutely has to be used, to let the other person know that you are telling the truth and not lying. It is a way to make a point of yours, valid. It is a sin to use the phrase and follow it up with a lie. Sometimes this word can be intensified by using it on yourself or even someone you love. For example, “wallah on my soul” or “wallah on my mother’s life.” When using it on yourself or someone you love it makes the word have more meaning and the person you are saying it to is more likely to believe you. Religiously, saying wallah and lying means that you have to fast 3 days in a row. (fasting: you cannot eat from sunrise to sunset.)
Now, using the word culturally is a different story. The word “wallah” will be in almost every single sentence when speaking to another Arabic speaker. Even non-Arabic speakers use this word. Like, my former basketball team, my coaches, even my high school teachers. Sometimes it could be used in the beginning of a sentence to start it off and also at the end of a sentence to end it. Such as, “Wallah this movie sucks” or “oh my god Wallah you’re annoying” or my favorite, “Wallah shut up.” It can also be used in different ways depending on the tone you say it in. People nowadays can use wallah and mean, “I promise.” or “are you serious!?” And of course, “I swear to god”. It’s more like a cultural term rather than religious now a days. It’s crazy how much times this word will pop up in a conversation between friends or family… more times than you’ll be able to count. And this word can be used in any part of a sentence, for example you can say: “Wallah you won’t believe what happened to me, wallah even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe it wallah!”
When I was younger I took the word “wallah” seriously. Don’t get me wrong I still do but overtime I guess one could say that it lost its meaning a little. I would pronounce it as “vallah” and that’s how you knew that I was lying. But I would say it in a low and fast tone so the person I am speaking to doesn’t catch on. I literally use the word “wallah” in mostly every single sentence I say, wallah. My brother would always tell me that every time I say wallah to him he doesn’t trust me because I am always saying it. So, I guess I have to intensify it and add my mother’s life next time. Maybe he’ll believe me then. I even got my best friend using the word now. Sometimes I think she takes It more seriously than I should.
