Muslim feminism: CNN, the oxymoron

What is pointedly stupid? An oxy(sharp) moron (fool). Witness CNN being poignantly so. David Wood shows us how good CNN is at sharpening our understanding of Islam.


In the name of Hashem (God), does “Samuel” mean “God heard?” No.

A popular belief among “people of the Book” (as the Quran describes Jews and Christians) is that the name Samuel means “God heard.” explains the meaning of Samuel: “Samuel is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Samuel is “God heard”. Also possibly as “requested of God”, “God’s heart” or “God’s name.”

They derive the meaning of “God heard” from Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel: ‘Go, lie down; and it shall be, if thou be called, that thou shalt say: Speak, LORD; for Thy servant heareth.’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. (“Thy servant heareth” also appears in 3:10)

שֹׁמֵעַ עַבְדֶּךָ “your servant heareth”. Hebrew word order – “hears your servant”

[SHOMEIA שֹׁמֵעַ – HEARS] [AVDEKHA עַבְדֶּךָ – YOUR SERVANT].

But who heard whom? God didn’t hear Samuel. It was the other way round; Samuel heard God. What is more, Samuel was given his name at birth by his mother Hannah. So, did Samuel get his name at birth in anticipation of God hearing him about three-four years later in the house of Eli, more accurately, Samuel hearing God?

Actually, the Bible is very clear about how Samuel got his name:

Samuel 1: 20 And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel: ‘because I have asked him of the LORD.’

Name – Hebrew SHEM

Samuel means “Name of (SHMU) God [EL)” – Samuel SHMU-EL.

So, Samuel means “Name of God.” When Jews talk about God, they often use the term HaShem “the Name.” Here is a remarkable thing, of which there are many – my remarks excluded. Recall SHOMEIA שֹׁמֵעַ HEARS in Samuel 3:9. The letters are similar to SHEM (Name). And that is how Samuel came to mean “God hears” (in passing, it was Samuel who heard, God who spoke ).

How “Thinkbabynames” got hold of “God’s heart” beats me. “Heart” in Hebrew is LEV. I LEaVe it there.