Arabic and Islam

[PakistaniAbroad]

Re: Arabic and Islam

@Lajawab

The actions may be different according to interpretations, but the language is universal... There is no doubt about that...

it's naive to believe all current interpretations of the Arabic in the Qur'an are 'universal' and 'unchanged'. Just the inserting of Aa'raabs in the Qur'an could have been the source of the most egregious distortion. 95% of today's Islam comes not from the Qur'an or it's Arabic but scholarly opinion of it's interpretation which in turn varies with the scholar's domicile.

[Ibn_Sadique]

Re: Arabic and Islam

@ravage

Ibn Sadique bhai! AoA.

I guess I cannot argue with the ahadis, you can understand that they would not convince me. But the verses you cite are very relevant, thank you.

Aside from this

Each of the quranic verses are about nuzool e Quran on the Prophet in arabic, which doesnt necessarily mean that the broader public in general must know arabic to use it (with the intended meaning) in their prayers.

However, this verse does suggest that to me. I’ll agree that this verse does tie in meaning of verses with arabic in context of “people who know”. So I will accept that reading in arabic has more meaning.

Can you comment on the questions I raise throughout this thread though. How do average Muslims who do not have the means to learn arabic in order to understand the Quran find meaning in their prayer when there are a lot of occasions when that prayer is completely unintelligible for them? (congregational prayers, aamaal, tarawih are three instances i can think of immediately).How can we claim that Islam is a universal religion revealed for all of humanity when we restrict the meaning of prayer (in its entirety) to those who know arabic?

I am not arguing for the sake of arguing, I do feel perturbed about this.

How do average Muslims who do not have the means to learn arabic in order to understand the Quran find meaning in their prayer when there are a lot of occasions when that prayer is completely unintelligible for them? (congregational prayers, aamaal, tarawih are three instances i can think of immediately).

Brother ravage - AoA

The average Muslim who does not have the means to learn Arabic must at least make an effort to ask those who know. It is not really that much effort to learn the meanings of Surah Fatiha and at least ten other Surahs. Similarly he (the average Muslim) can learn the meanings of well known duas so that he is aware of the meanings thus performing the dua with his heart rather than just parroting it out.

It is general practice in Ramadan that after the Taraweeh prayers the Imam gives the general talk explaining the part of the Quran that had been recited during the Taraweeh. So that people do get gist of what had been recited.

How can we claim that Islam is a universal religion revealed for all of humanity when we restrict the meaning of prayer (in its entirety) to those who know arabic?

**Brother ravage ** – Knowing Arabic doesn’t make one a better Muslim. It is the belief and acting upon it which makes a better Muslim.

One does not have to know Arabic:

1. to know about and believe in Tawheed

2. to know that Prophet Muhammad (saw) is the Last messenger of Allah (swt)

3. to fast for the month of Ramadan

4. how to calculate Zakat and give in Charity

5. to know what is Halal and Haraam not only in eating but in action too.

6. to be a pious decent Muslim

It is only for prayers and performing of Hajj rituals does one have to learn very few verses in Arabic. And I think that you will agree that it is really not asking for much effort to learn those few verses of the Quran.

I think Imam ash-Shaafi’ee (rahimullah) and Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (rahimullah) have really answered the gist of your questions. [Quoting it here again for you – Please do not see who is saying it but what is been said)]

Imam ash-Shaafi’ee (rahimullah) said, "Therefore it is imperative that every Muslim should strive to learn Arabic as hard as he can, so that he can testify the shahada, and recite the Book of Allah and say the invocations that are mandatory upon him, such as the takbeer, tasbeeh, tashahud and other prayers. And the more he learns the language that Allah Himself chose to be the language of him who sealed the Prophets (saw), and to be the language of His final revelation, the better it is for him!”

Imam ash-Shaafi’ee (rahimullah) also said : “It is compulsory for every responsible Muslim to learn what they can of the Arabic language.”

Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “The Arabic Language is from the Religion, and the knowledge of it is an obligation. For surely the understanding of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah is an obligation, and these two are not understood except with the understanding of the Arabic Language, and whatever obligation is not fulfilled except by certain steps then those steps themselves become obligatory (to fulfil the initial obligation)” [The Necessity Of The Straight Path by Ibn Taymiyyah ( 1/470)]

Just to pose a question to you, suppose Allah (swt) had chosen English language for Quran, don’t you think then questions will be raised; Why English? Is Islam only for the English-speaking people? What of those who do not speak English?

All other Prophets (Peace be upon them all), those mentioned in the Quran and those not mentioned, none of them spoke Arabic but the language of the people they were sent to.

Allah (swt) chose to honour Arabic language for Quran so let’s be content with what Allah (swt) chosen as the language of His final message.

[USResident]

Re: Arabic and Islam

@Ibn Sadique

Allah (swt) chose to honour Arabic language for Quran so let’s be content with what Allah (swt) chosen as the language of His final message.

Very well said. Nice thought.

[Ahmad_G]

Re: Arabic and Islam

Allah said in al-Qur'an that [Bilisanin ^arabiyin Mubeen] and also Allah ta^ala said for Prophet Muhammad [bilisani qawmik].

The Qur'an came down in the Arabic language.
It came down with toungue language of your people.

Arabic is easy to learn. It's very powerful and rich language.
I teach Arabic language for Qur'an and Islamic studies. Many of the ones I teach, they learnt Arabic easilyif they practice.

Understanding Qur'an does not necessitates learning the Arabic language.
Becoming a Muslim does not require knowing the language, or even reciting Qur’an except for Surat al-Fatiha.

Millions of Mulims don’t know Arabic, yet subhanallah they love this religion and this language, more than anything else in this world.