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We all feel touched when we open up a good translation of the meaning
of the Qur'an and we ponder and wonder at the beauty of the words and the
deep meanings within. But in reality we are just seeing a glimpse of the
real treasure of the Qur'an.
Imagine how you'd feel if you could understand the words of Allah in
the form in which they were sent down and not just rely on a translation
of the meaning.
Qur'an is a direct message from Allah. Allah chose the Arabic language
as the language of this message. Allah says,
"Indeed we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that you may
understand" (Holy Qur'an, 12:2)
Arabic and the message of the Qur'an cannot be separated. Translators
throughout the ages have tried to convey to the non-Arabic speaking people
the beauty of the meaning of the Qur'an but have always called it 'The
translation of the meaning of the Qur'an,' emphasizing the fact that the
Qur'an's direct translation is not possible, because so much of the
potency and splendor of the words and their meanings, which are
inextricably linked to the Arabic language, are lost in other languages.
For the Arabs in the time of the Prophet (SAWS) who were masters of
eloquence and poetry, the words of the Qur'an were so unique compared to
the poetry of the most eloquent of them!
Allah challenges mankind: "And if you are in
doubt about what we have sent down to our servant, then produce a chapter
like it and call your witnesses besides Allah if you are truthful. But if
you do not do it, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire whose fuel
is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers" (Holy Qur'an, 2:
23-24)
The Preservation of the Arabic Language
Languages usually evolve. Just look at the difference between
Shakespearean English and modern day English. In many ways they seem like
two totally different languages.
The Arabic language is not just 'a language.' This is why the early
generations of Muslims strove to preserve the classical Arabic language.
It was Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) who noticed on the tongues of
some of the Arabs a slight change in dialect and ordered for the grammar
rules of Arabic to be recorded in a universal form. Arabic unified the
Muslim countries as it spread to every land that embraced Islam.
The enemies of Islam know this and have worked hard to tear the Muslims
from the Arabic language and the Qur'an. During the French occupation of
Algeria, the French government was advised, "We will never be able to
overpower the Algerians as long as they read the Qur'an and speak Arabic.
Therefore we must remove the Arabic Qur'an from their midst and abolish
the Arabic language from their tongues."
A Priority for all of us
Scholars throughout the ages, from the Companions to the present day,
encouraged the Muslims to learn the Arabic language. Ubay ibn Ka'b (may
Allah be pleased with him) said, "Teach Arabic like you teach the
memorization of the Qur'an!"
Imam ash-Shaafi'ee 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 (declaration of faith,) and recite the Book of Allah and say
the invocations that are mandatory upon him. And the more he learns the
language that Allah Himself chose to be the language of the one who sealed
the prophets (SAWS), the better it is for him."
The great 8th century scholar Shaikul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
(rahimahullah) even went so far as to say that, "The Arabic language is
part of the Religion, and knowing it is an obligation."
Unfortunately, we have become comfortable with simply relying on
translations and spending all of our time and efforts in studying other
things, which may not even benefit us in the hereafter and have forgotten
that the Qur'an is in a very approachable language and we all have the
ability or rather the responsibility to study and understand it.
I remember the feeling of tasting the sweetness of Allah's words in my
prayer when I first embarked upon my Arabic studies. I just repeated the
same verse of the Qur'an again and again savoring the words and suddenly
feeling a deep emotion that I'd never felt before though I had read the
same verse many times before studying Arabic.
Practical steps towards learning Arabic
Alhamdulillah, with all the teaching aids and easy access to
information that we have, learning Arabic does not necessarily mean
traveling on arduous journeys to distant lands as it once used to be. With
discipline and commitment, the student can study much in his own time.
Here are some tips to help you along the way:
1. Make Du'aa: As with everything we work towards, we should ask Allah
to help us and make learning easy for us. We should ask Allah to purify
our intentions so that we truly learn Arabic for the better understanding
of the Qur'an and Islam.
2. Discipline yourself! Put a set amount of time aside everyday or
twice a week for your Arabic studies and stick to it.
3. Know your basics well: Going step by step is the best way to master
any language, concentrating on improving your basic reading and writing is
the first step in learning Arabic, even if it is repetitive. Then you can
build on that firm foundation.
4. Invest in a good dictionary and Arabic books.
5. Enroll into a summer course: There are a few around every summer and
they are a great way to kick-start your learning.
6. Study Arabic as part of your full-time degree: If you are going to
study a degree, why not study a degree in Arabic or one with Arabic as
part of it?
7. Study under an Arab friend or tutor: Although there is a lot of
self-study involved, a friend who knows Arabic or an Arab brother or
sister who you could go to regularly for guidance would be very valuable.
8. Organize a class locally: There must be like-minded Muslims in your
area who would like to study Arabic too. Studying with friends is a good
way to stay motivated.
9. Study abroad in an Arab country: There are various good courses
running in every country which really speed up your learning and can
provide you with a nice experience.
10. Expose yourself to as much Arabic as you can: You can listen to
Arabic lecture tapes, visit Muslim countries, read some Arabic everyday.
11. Speak Arabic whenever you can: One of the biggest obstacles to
speaking Arabic is being shy about making mistakes in speech and so not
speaking at all.
12. Relate your knowledge back to the Qur'an and other worships: Don't
forget that your aim is to understand what you recite of the Qur'an. Try
to recognize Arabic words as you come across them in the Qur'an and apply
your knowledge in understanding the Qur'an.
May Allah help us all to master the language of the Qur'an.
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