Talk:Muad'Dib

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please reference the term "Mahdi" here on wikipedia in realation to Herbert's character. The wealth of arabic cultural significane in Dune, obviously, cannot be overstated. I've still never seen any satisfactory discussions of what, if any, commentaries Herbert was making in his writings. Spice=Petroleum? CHOAM=OPEC?? Fremen=fundamentalist muslims? Did anyone read Chapterhouse???? what the F???

Contents 1 Separation of subjects 2 Meaning of Muad'dib 3 original research 4 meaning of Usul?

[edit] Separation of subjects

Shouldn't the part about the band called Muad Dib be on its own page ("Muad Dib (band)")? I'd do it myself if I were certain about it.
-- 83.134.86.187 14:47, 15 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Meaning of Muad'dib

First of all I must say that a large amount of the language of Dune has clearly arabic/muslim origin, as an arab reading this book I must say it certainly was interesting to draw parallels and at the same time understand the book in a different way. Knowing arabic really helps understand the book , an example would be Arrakis=Ar'raqis, the dancer. Though it may not mean much, it can hint at how it is every man's desire or something appealing yet unattainable. Or it could also refer to how it dances between one House and another , the polical dance.

Now, just wanted to say that in arabic Muad'dib means "He who disciplines/teaches manners". Ad'dab or A'adaab are manners. Usul also has a meaning, if pronounced Ous-ul, it means "origins/source". This can tie to "strength of the base of the pillar", if you interpret base as start of a pillar, the first stone, origin, usul of the pillar. So the author didn't go too far with the meaning.

Mahdi also has an arabic origin , hes a religious figure in Islam (mainly to Shi'ites, a sect of islam) who will save mankind before judgement day. He will save mankind from evil, pretty much exactly what Paul is viewed as by the Fremen, supposedly after Mahdi comes the earth will become a better place, green , lush , etc. Same thing with Arrakis after Muad'dib.

Didn't add this to the article since I was unsure if it would help.--Karimi 02:14, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] original research

i deleted the section on etymology because it is original research, which is disallowed. text appears below. Benwing 23:46, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

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Muad'dib is derived from Arabic. The word is a participle active. This fictional word could be derived two from probable Arabic-Semitic roots. The root ’db is frequently suggested, meaning as participle active mu’addib, a teacher,in particular a kindergartden teacher who brings cultivated manners and might be the author of fine literature. Herbert might especially be attracted by the combination of both meanings.

For the Fremen language meaning of 'jumping mouse' muad'dib, the Near Eastern jerboa might have been used as model, although Frank Herbert wants to direct the immediate attention to the Northern American jumping mouse. F. Herbert's style likes to direct readers in his universe into different directions. The jerboa is at home in the Arabian desert. It has a strong meaning in Arab mythology. One of the most important is that in pre-Islamic times the jerboa, a small animal, destroyed the centuries old monumental stone-built dam of Marib in Yemen. The stream (sail al-arim) tamed by the dam watered the two desert gardens (oases) of Marib and was its vital life stream. The jumping mouse, jerboa dug a hole underneath until it collapsed. After the historical destruction of the dam about 580 AD, life was not anymore possible in Marib. It became deserted.In the context of Herbert's Arabic-Islamic symbolism, this connection - 'the small destroys the monumental', water, desert, changing of ecology by Muad'dib - offers a further meaning.

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[edit] meaning of Usul?

Isn't Usul Fremen for "the strength of the base of the pillar", and not just "the base of the pillar"? Goanm 14:55, 25 May 2007 (UTC)

Search results seem divided, but apparently the 'strength' part was added in the film adaptation. — Feezo (Talk) 21:37, 25 May 2007 (UTC)