Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Chajjal (Dajjal?)
English translation:
Anti-Christ/infidel
Added to glossary by
Frauke Schroeder
Jan 30, 2008 21:08
16 yrs ago
German term
high standard academic English
Native in: German 
, English
Works in: English, German to English, English to German, and 5 more.
Chajjal (Dajjal?)
German to English
Art/Literary
History
Religion, Archaeology, Mythology
Dear colleagues,
I would greatly appreciate your assistance in this case.
I am currently working on a translation of a Karl May book set in late 19th-early 20th century Egypt. The title is 'Im Lande des Mahdi' [engl: In the Kingdom of Mahdi; The Kingdom of Mahdi]. Karl May is well-known for his precise research in the socio-cultural science of his century which made him an unpopular man among his fellow (post-)colonial citizens. In this case however, whether or not he 'got it right'.
I am looking for the following term: Chajjal .... my research has not brought any results. My Jordanian colleague suggested he might have confused Chajjal with Dajjal which would make perfect sense within the concept of Mahdi.
My question to you is, has anyone heard of Chajjal and knows what he is?
Unfortunately, I am only able to provide you with a sample of the source text in German:
Ein Chajjal.
Die Siegreiche, »El Káhira« und »Bauwaabe el bilad esch schark«, das Thor des Orientes, so nennt der Aegypter die Hauptstadt seines Landes. Wenn die erstere Bezeichnung längst nicht mehr am Platze ist, so besteht die zweite doch zu vollem Recht. Kairo ist wirklich die Pforte des Ostens.
I am grateful for any suggestions.
Best wishes, Frauke
I would greatly appreciate your assistance in this case.
I am currently working on a translation of a Karl May book set in late 19th-early 20th century Egypt. The title is 'Im Lande des Mahdi' [engl: In the Kingdom of Mahdi; The Kingdom of Mahdi]. Karl May is well-known for his precise research in the socio-cultural science of his century which made him an unpopular man among his fellow (post-)colonial citizens. In this case however, whether or not he 'got it right'.
I am looking for the following term: Chajjal .... my research has not brought any results. My Jordanian colleague suggested he might have confused Chajjal with Dajjal which would make perfect sense within the concept of Mahdi.
My question to you is, has anyone heard of Chajjal and knows what he is?
Unfortunately, I am only able to provide you with a sample of the source text in German:
Ein Chajjal.
Die Siegreiche, »El Káhira« und »Bauwaabe el bilad esch schark«, das Thor des Orientes, so nennt der Aegypter die Hauptstadt seines Landes. Wenn die erstere Bezeichnung längst nicht mehr am Platze ist, so besteht die zweite doch zu vollem Recht. Kairo ist wirklich die Pforte des Ostens.
I am grateful for any suggestions.
Best wishes, Frauke
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | Anti-Christ/infidel |
Gad Kohenov
|
| 4 | Antichrist |
Maureen Millington-Brodie
|
| 3 | Anti-Christ |
Frosty
|
| 1 | Ghost, Fantasy or Horseman |
Olaf (X)
|
Proposed translations
1 hr
Gad Kohenov
Israel
Israel
Specializes in field
Israel
30 years of experience+satisfied clients
Native in: French , Hebrew
Works in: English to Hebrew, Hebrew to English, French to Hebrew, and 8 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Anti-Christ/infidel
Ein Giaour is mentioned in the first Kapitel. An infidel. That's Turkish. In Arabic it's Kafr. The Dutch colonizers of South Africa called the black Kafrs (as they saw themselves as new Israelites conquering Palestine. First time I hear of Chajjal. In Hebrew it means a soldier. But here I would go for Anti-Christ as I found in Google. Only thing is in those times every religion called the adherents of the other religions "infidels".
Nothing to do with an Oasis called Ein Dakhla (between Farfara and Kharga. Ein means a oasis or spring, but here it's ein (1) in German, which confused me at first.
I found in Google a reisburo that says: "Ein Chajjal in lande des Mahadi" in it's website. Can be an Infidel in the land of the Mahadi.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:20:24 GMT)
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What a timing. 1 hours for the 3 of us!
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:22:51 GMT)
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Karl Mai wrote Chartum and not Khartum. It must sound like the Spanish "jota", or Hebrew "Jeth"
(ח).
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:33:43 GMT)
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Wikipedia says it's the false messiah, which is what the Mahdi was. "The impostor/Deceiver" in Arabic its Ad-Dajjal (sometimes spelled Dajal.. "False prophet" is the best translation they came up (Dajjal). The other explanation: deceiver of the end of time, comes with the article (Ad-Dajjal). Al masih al Dajjal means the 'False Messiah".
I would go for false prophet.
All this reminds me of der wusten Fuchs (the old dersertfox) in Africa with the DAKS).
Nothing to do with an Oasis called Ein Dakhla (between Farfara and Kharga. Ein means a oasis or spring, but here it's ein (1) in German, which confused me at first.
I found in Google a reisburo that says: "Ein Chajjal in lande des Mahadi" in it's website. Can be an Infidel in the land of the Mahadi.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:20:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
What a timing. 1 hours for the 3 of us!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:22:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Karl Mai wrote Chartum and not Khartum. It must sound like the Spanish "jota", or Hebrew "Jeth"
(ח).
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-01-30 22:33:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Wikipedia says it's the false messiah, which is what the Mahdi was. "The impostor/Deceiver" in Arabic its Ad-Dajjal (sometimes spelled Dajal.. "False prophet" is the best translation they came up (Dajjal). The other explanation: deceiver of the end of time, comes with the article (Ad-Dajjal). Al masih al Dajjal means the 'False Messiah".
I would go for false prophet.
All this reminds me of der wusten Fuchs (the old dersertfox) in Africa with the DAKS).
Note from asker:
| Hello Desertfox :) thank you ever so much for your explanation. It turns out that a Dutch colleague of mine actually knows this term referring to a one eyed devil - so, your explanation is most helpful as it supports his suggestion. :):) |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you! You are the only one to have replied to my actual question as to what Chajjal could be/mean. I greatly appreciate your help! :) Frauke"
1 hr
Anti-Christ
It would appear Dajjal is the term, I too didn`t find anything conclusive about a Chajjal:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armilus
and
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist
and
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddschal
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armilus
and
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist
and
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddschal
1 hr
Maureen Millington-Brodie
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
33 years of experience
Native in: English
Works in: Arabic to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Antichrist
If Dajjal is meant then this is the Arabic for Antichrist, I've checked my Arabic dictionary & can't find a shajjal. This question should be Ar-Eng?
Note from asker:
| the source text is actually in German and the term was taken from the Arabic language, so I placed it here and I am glad I did. I have even posted it on the Berber, Coptic and Hebrew site in case anyone there would know the term. Turns out there are only 10 Hebrew editors and none for the other two. But I have been most successful on this site :) |
1 hr
Ghost, Fantasy or Horseman
As Matthew already pointed out the German transliteration of Arabic differs from the English one.
Words translated with "J" in German are usually transliterated with "Y" in English and German "CH" usually becomes "KH" in English. Thus Chajjal would most likely be written as Khayyāl in English.
Khayyāl (خيال) has two different meanings: ghost/phantasy or horseman.
Dajjāl (دجال) would most likely have been transliterated as Da(d)dschal in German and is therefore not very likely, unless Karl May made a mistake.
By the way "Ein" ('Ayn) could also be considered as the Arabic word for eye and is used in several fixed expressions. E.g. Ayn Shams (=eye of the son=Heliopolis). And Heliopolis was one of names of Cairo. If you want to go this route: Ayn Khayyāl might be yet another name for Cairo, but it's not very likely.
Words translated with "J" in German are usually transliterated with "Y" in English and German "CH" usually becomes "KH" in English. Thus Chajjal would most likely be written as Khayyāl in English.
Khayyāl (خيال) has two different meanings: ghost/phantasy or horseman.
Dajjāl (دجال) would most likely have been transliterated as Da(d)dschal in German and is therefore not very likely, unless Karl May made a mistake.
By the way "Ein" ('Ayn) could also be considered as the Arabic word for eye and is used in several fixed expressions. E.g. Ayn Shams (=eye of the son=Heliopolis). And Heliopolis was one of names of Cairo. If you want to go this route: Ayn Khayyāl might be yet another name for Cairo, but it's not very likely.
Note from asker:
| Thank you :) so much interesting information to take in at once. It's fascinating how many possibilities there are. By the end of the chapter I'll have to decide on one hmm |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Barbara Wiebking
2 hrs
|
| disagree |
Gad Kohenov
: Son? You meant Sun. Helios in Greek, Shams in Arabic and Shemesh in Hebrew. The Druzes in the Golan Heights live in the town of Madjdal Shams.
15 hrs
|
Discussion