Muslims, would you take offense if someone referred to you as 'Saracens'?

Question

It's an old word used since way back in the roman days to describe arab peoples on the syrian border and had grown ever since.  Would you find it offensive?

Zorax · Accepted Answer

There were no Muslims during the Roman empire. Furthermore, original Syrian and Mesopotamian population were Assyrians and Arameans, not Arabs. Basically, Arabs originated on the Arabian peninsula, but Islam as a religious system was founded in the beginning of the 7th century.
Romans used the term Saracen for the population of Jordan (former Nabataean Kingdom). Nabateans were bedouin tribes of Arabian descent, they inhabited the north-west parts of Arabian peninsula.
Arabs shouldn't be offended by the term Saracen, because there is nothing offensive about it.
However, Muslims should be offended because not all the Muslims are Arabs. For example, Turks, Persians, Albanians and Indonesians are mostly Muslims, but they are not Arabs.

AleDeEurope · Accepted Answer

Most people really don't know what that term means. Unless you're into history, and especially around the Medieval/Crusades, you won't know it. I don't think school actually teaches you that they were referred to as the Saracens.

I don't see what's offensive by it, it's a word not used anymore, but still, why is it offensive?

springocelot · Accepted Answer

yes, i have
there's a guy on here that uses it
it's an archaic word

muslims do get offended though if you call them by another archaic word - Mohammadan - because they foolishly believe it means they worship Mohammad.

in reality, calling a muslim a Mohammadan is like calling a follower of Buddha a Buddhist, even though they don't worship Buddha. It just accurately reflects and better captures who they follow as their moral example.

MuffinHead · Accepted Answer

I'm not Arab so if someone called me that, my first reaction would be, to be confused. Because I'm not Arabic.

I would not be offended by it since it's a word that describes an Arab person during the Middle Ages who was against the Christian crusades.

Schrodingerscat · Accepted Answer

I am not Muslim but I have heard this term here on GaG. By a user

TripleAce · Answer

I doubt anyone would really know what it means on the top of their head lol But I figure it would be a rather strange reference to give someone as the word is like ancient... maybe

Omar5881 · Answer

Yeah because " an old term by the Romans " I don't freaking calling you ignorant as Europe was freaking ignorant during the Islamic caliphate

Chrysis · Answer

I'm no Muslim, but I've heard the term before. In Age of Empires 2. xD I chose them sometimes, their elite unit is fun.

karahiri · Answer

Someone on this site. called me that. Never heard of the term before that.

dylanthe13 · Answer

i heard the term but I don't know whether it's negative or positive.

jman46241 · Answer

I'm not muslim but i am totally offended by the first half of that word!

TacosRAwesome · Answer

In my country that refers to people from a particular village. Never got why though.

honeydrops · Answer

never heard of this before

dragonfly6516 · Answer

I don't think I've heard of this.

vishna · Answer

I've never heard this term before :o

Messofanego · Answer

Muslim here, never heard the term before.

Whatthefluff · Answer

I have never heard this term before.

herminipper · Answer

5% offended 95% confused

jacquesvol · Answer

It was used till the late middle ages

moonpie89 · Answer

I'm Muslim not Arab. Wouldn't be bothered

Decentguy · Answer

nope.

RicanEyes · Answer

Never heard of it

Marinepilot · Answer

Never heard it.

Muslims, would you take offense if someone referred to you as 'Saracens'?

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Muslims, would you take offense if someone referred to you as 'Saracens'?

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