The Importance of Learning the Arabic Language

Heidi Mahmoud Kheyamy

04 Feb 2018

It goes without saying that the Arabic language is indispensable for all Muslims whether it is their mother tongue or not. It is distinguished for being the language of the Holy Quran. As Allah Says: “And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds.”, “The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down.”, “Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners –“, “In a clear Arabic tongue.” [Ash-Shu’ara, 192,193,194, 195]  

Moreover, it is imperative to learn the Arabic language so a Muslim can worship Allah properly. When it comes to performing prayers, the daily obligatory prayers in particular, the Muslim should recite the Quran while praying in Arabic, according to the majority of the Muslim Sunni theologians. If they recite Quran while they are praying in any other language, their prayers will not be accepted. The verse of the Holy Quran that the majority of Muslim Sunni theologians cited is: “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.”[Yusuf, 2]

In addition to this, Muslims are supposed to read the Quran in Arabic if they mean to worship Allah. On the other hand, reading the Holy Quran in any other language means that Muslims read the translation and not the true words which Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  Furthermore, Muslims can only hope to grasp the meaning of the Quran if they learn the Arabic language, as the linguistic inimitability of the Holy Quran is one of its many prominent characteristics. As Allah Says: “And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, "Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?" Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure." And those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place.” [Fussilat, 44] 

In conclusion, it is a duty of non-Arab Muslims to learn Arabic, and the Arab Muslims should pay more attention to their native language, because it is the way to be a better Muslim by following Islam’s instructions and performing rituals accurately as stated in the Holy Quran and the Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  As Allah Says: “And thus We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an and have diversified therein the warnings that perhaps they will avoid [sin] or it would cause them remembrance.” [Taha,113]