WikiIslam:Writing Style Guide: Difference between revisions

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WikiIslam:Writing Style Guide (view source)

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[[WikiIslam]]'s aim is to be the internet's most definitive, scholarly and neutral source for information of the religion of Islam. As such this page expands on the site's [[WikiIslam:Policies and Guidelines|policies and guidelines]] concerning style, tone and content of its articles by providing a visual guide for editors. Its goal is both to provide practical guides to the editor on questions such as orthography as well as to facilitate the creation of articles which are neutral and encyclopedic in nature.  
[[WikiIslam]]'s aim is to be the internet's most definitive, scholarly and neutral source for information of the religion of Islam. As such this page expands on the site's [[WikiIslam:Policies and Guidelines|policies and guidelines]] concerning style, tone and content of its articles by providing a visual guide for editors. Its goal is both to provide practical guides to the editor on questions such as orthography as well as to facilitate the creation of articles which are neutral and encyclopedic in nature.  


==Standardized Spellings==
==Standardized spellings==
There are many acceptable phonetic spellings for different words that are translated or transliterated into English. However, WikiIslam editors should standardize spelling to use throughout the wiki. The following is a list of required spelling standardizations. Note: You should not standardize spelling in quotations, leave the quoted text as originally written. This table is subject to change to accommodate new words.
There are many acceptable phonetic spellings for different words that are translated or transliterated into English. However, WikiIslam editors should standardize spelling to use throughout the wiki. The following is a list of required spelling standardizations. Note: You should not standardize spelling in quotations, leave the quoted text as originally written. This table is subject to change to accommodate new words.
<br />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Table of Standardized Spellings
|+Table of Standardized Spellings
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|God of the Quran
|God of the Quran
|-
|-
|'''Qur'an'''
|'''Quran'''
|Yes
|Yes
|Central religious text (Holy book) of Islam
|Central religious text (Holy book) of Islam
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|Heaven
|Heaven
|-
|-
|'''Jahanam'''
|'''Jahannam'''
|No
|No
|Hell
|Hell
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|Lesser holy pilgrimage in Islam
|Lesser holy pilgrimage in Islam
|-
|-
|'''Kaaba'''
|'''Ka'bah'''
|Yes
|Yes
|Building at the center of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Direction of Muslim prayers and destination of pilgrimage
|Building at the center of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. Direction of Muslim prayers and destination of pilgrimage
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|Circumcision
|Circumcision
|-
|-
|'''Najis'''
|'''Najs'''
|No
|No
|Ritually unclean or impure physically or spiritually
|Ritually unclean or impure physically or spiritually
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|Non-Mutawatir hadith, usually narrated by one narrator
|Non-Mutawatir hadith, usually narrated by one narrator
|-
|-
|'''Sharia'''
|'''Shari'ah'''
|No
|No
|Islamic canonical law based on Islamic scriptures
|Islamic canonical law based on Islamic scriptures
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|Obligatory charity based on % wealth
|Obligatory charity based on % wealth
|-
|-
|'''Dawah'''
|'''Da'wah'''
|No
|No
|Islamic proselytizing
|Islamic proselytizing
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Overall, the tone should be encyclopedic and neutral. The facts should be presented "as is" with only as much commentary is needed to elucidate any given point or give relevant background information, and the tone of the writing should be that of an encyclopedia entry describing a fact about the world we live in, not a polemic trying to convince the reader of a given point or conversational banter with a familiar second party. Articles must adhere to the encyclopedia format and should address the topic at hand directly and neutrally; articles engaged in a particular argument (whether states explicitly or left implicit) and attempting to persuade the reader of one side will not be permitted. Speaking directly to the reader should be avoided if at all possible, and the use of the 1st person "we" should likewise be avoided if at all possible. Although the wiki covers some controversial topics the goal of its language should be to keep anyone reading as long as possible without causing any offense. This does NOT mean that the content of the article should "pull punches" or avoid controversial topics that might hurt the feelings of Muslims or any other group of people, however the word choice should not be such that a reasonable person from any given group might immediately stop reading due to the diction or word choice alone.
Overall, the tone should be encyclopedic and neutral. The facts should be presented "as is" with only as much commentary is needed to elucidate any given point or give relevant background information, and the tone of the writing should be that of an encyclopedia entry describing a fact about the world we live in, not a polemic trying to convince the reader of a given point or conversational banter with a familiar second party. Articles must adhere to the encyclopedia format and should address the topic at hand directly and neutrally; articles engaged in a particular argument (whether stated explicitly or left implicit) and attempting to persuade a reader (as opposed to neutrally assessing the argument on its merits) the reader of one side will not be permitted. Speaking directly to the reader should be avoided if at all possible, and the use of the 1st person "we" should likewise be avoided if at all possible. Although the wiki covers some controversial topics the goal of its language should be to keep anyone reading as long as possible without causing any offense. This does NOT mean that the content of the article should "pull punches" or avoid controversial topics that might hurt the feelings of Muslims or any other group of people, however the word choice should not be such that a reasonable person from any given group might immediately stop reading due to the diction or word choice alone.


==Analysis==
==Analysis==
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|}
|}


==Lead vs Body==
===Modern views on traditional Islamic topics===
Islam, as with any storied tradition, has and continues to change with the times. What a Muslim scholar wrote in a book in 10th century Baghdad is not going to perfectly reflect the beliefs and practices of Muslims living on the West Coast of the United States in the current year. The beliefs of both and in fact all other Muslims fall within the scope and purview of WikiIslam, and it is the wiki's job to document both.
When it comes to the arguments of modern Islamic du'aah (preachers) and apologists however special care is needed. The wiki shall concern itself with documenting such arguments as reach a critical mass of recognition in the Muslim community at large, and will present them clearly and in an unbiased fashion. Where these arguments contradict obvious readings of the original texts, contradict published and accepted science, or generally err in regards to the facts these errors shall be enumerated and commented upon, but the wiki will not concern itself with making persuasive arguments as to the merits of these apologetic claims, one way or another. Likewise, when a commonly held modern view in the contemporary Muslim community contradicts a plain reading of the text or provable history, these discrepancies too shall be catalogued, but it is once again not the wiki's job to make a persuasive argument for or against such views. For more information on which apologetic claims can be included for discussion on the wiki, please see [[WikiIslam:Scope and Article Relevance]]. For more on how the analysis of these modern views should be incorporated into the article, please see [[WikiIslam:Structure]]
 
==Lead vs. body==


===Lead===
===Lead===
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Where a source is open to interpretation or is disputed, editors should not assume a particular meaning. Interpretations can be discussed by reference to scholars. The editor should only seek to summarize and collect sources that accurately reflect the positions and dialogue concerning the article’s subject.  Articles should ''never'' end with an evaluation of the editor’s impression, as this constitutes original research. They should, however, summarize the conclusions of the scholarly works and the plain readings of the primary sources cited.
Where a source is open to interpretation or is disputed, editors should not assume a particular meaning. Interpretations can be discussed by reference to scholars. The editor should only seek to summarize and collect sources that accurately reflect the positions and dialogue concerning the article’s subject.  Articles should ''never'' end with an evaluation of the editor’s impression, as this constitutes original research. They should, however, summarize the conclusions of the scholarly works and the plain readings of the primary sources cited.
==Modern Views of Traditional Islamic Topics==
Islam, as any great tradition, has and continues to change with the times. What a Muslim scholar wrote in a book in 10th century Baghdad is not going to perfectly reflect the beliefs and practices of Muslims living on the West Coast of the United States in the current year. The beliefs of both and in fact all other Muslims fall within the scope and purview of WikiIslam, and it is the wiki's job to document both. When it comes to the arguments of modern Islamic du'aah (preachers) and apologists however special care is needed. The wiki shall concern itself with documenting such arguments as reach a critical mass of recognition in the Muslim community at large, and will present them clearly and in an unbiased fashion. Where these arguments contradict obvious readings of the original texts, contradict published and accepted science, or generally err in regards to the facts these errors shall be enumerated and commented upon, but the wiki will not concern itself with making persuasive arguments as to the merits of these apologetic claims, one way or another. Likewise, when a commonly held modern view in the contemporary Muslim community contradicts a plain reading of the text or provable history, these discrepancies too shall be catalogued, but it is once again not the wiki's job to make a persuasive argument for or against such views. For more information on which apologetic claims can be included for discussion on the wiki, please see [[WikiIslam:Scope and Article Relevance]].


==Transliteration==
==Transliteration==
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===Title===
===Title===
For titles of transliterated words use the standardized transliteration as the title with the English translation in brackets next to it. Example: Jannah (Heaven)
For titles of transliterated words use the standardized transliteration as the title with the English translation in brackets next to it. Example: Jannah (Heaven) For more info, please see [[WikiIslam:Titles]]


===Article===
===Article===
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===SAW, SWT, He, Him or Her===
===SAW, SWT, He, Him or Her===
WikiIslam aims to be an objective platform, therefore additional religious honorifics such as "Muhammad (saw)" or "Allah (swt)" are not permitted in articles, unless quoting from a text which has them. The same applies to using an uppercase "H" in words such as "he", "him" or "her" in reference to deities of any religion. An exception to this rule would be the talk pages where users are free to use whatever form they feel comfortable with.
WikiIslam aims to be an objective platform, therefore additional religious honorifics such as "Muhammad (saw)" or "Allah (swt)" are not permitted in articles, unless quoting from a text which has them. The same applies to using an uppercase "H" in words such as "he", "him" or "her" in reference to deities of any religion. An exception to this rule would be the talk pages where users are free to use whatever form they feel comfortable with.
==See Also==
==See also==


*[[WikiIslam:Arguments Not To Use]]
*[[WikiIslam:Policies and Guidelines]]
*[[WikiIslam:Policies and Guidelines]]


==External Links==
==External links==


*{{external link| url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc063| title = Guidelines for Effective Professional and Academic Writing| publisher = University of Florida| author = | date =  Reviewed January 2013| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fedis.ifas.ufl.edu%2Fwc063&date=2014-01-18| deadurl = no}}
*{{external link| url = http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc063| title = Guidelines for Effective Professional and Academic Writing| publisher = University of Florida| author = | date =  Reviewed January 2013| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fedis.ifas.ufl.edu%2Fwc063&date=2014-01-18| deadurl = no}}


[[Category:Policies and Guidelines]]
[[Category:Policies and Guidelines]]
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