Tasnif Style Guide

Tasnif Style Guide — Page 91

CHAPTER 7: CAPITALIZATION 91 Specific vs. General Usage Capitalization is used to identify and distinguish proper nouns. These have a specific or unique identity in contrast to general terms which have universal application. The latter are not capitalized. Oftentimes, proper nouns can be identified if the definite arti- cle the can be applied to them versus the indefinite article a or an, but this is not always the case: " " " " the Red Fort (in Delhi, India) vs. the red fort (a fort that was painted red) the White House (the US President's residence) or the white house (a house that happens to be white in colour) the States (referring to the United States of America) but states (for general political regions) the Roman Catholic Church (the institution of Catholicism; e. g. the Vatican) or the Roman Catholic church (a building that Catholic Christians pray in) the Dajjal (the Antichrist of the Latter Days) or a dajjāl (a deceiver or one of the thirty deceivers who would claim prophethood) the Companions of the Holy Prophet sas (always capitalise when in reference to the Ṣaḥābah) vs. generic companions the Disciples of Christ as vs. generic disciples the Sun will rise from the West (the truth of Islam and the Holy Prophet as will shine in Europe and America in the Latter Days) or the sun sets in the west (the sun always sets in the direction of the west)