The Importance of Learning Arabic

By Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rasheed Azhar
Transcribed by Aboo Uthmaan [1]

After praising Allaah and sending prayers upon the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Dr. Azhar said:

‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) wrote to Aboo Moosaa al-Asharee (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) and said: “Understand the Sunnah and understand the Arabic language because the Qur’aan is in Arabic.”

Brothers and sisters, our talk in this blessed evening is on the Arabic language and the importance of learning and teaching it. However, before I begin with the topic, it’s important to know who the Arabs are and what the Arabic language is.

The word “Arab” has an old and new usage. This terminology went through various periods in history in regards to its meaning with the scholars of the Arabic language.
Before Islam, it was used to mean anyone that lives in the Arabian Peninsula. This was mentioned by Shaykh-ul-Islam ibn Taymiyyah is his book, Iqtidah as-Siraat-ul-Mustaqim:

The Term “Arab” was used for the people who had three characteristics:

1) Their language was Arabic,
2) They were from the children of the Arabs,
3) Their residence was in the land of the Arabs, the Arabian Peninsula.

After the coning of Islam and its spread in the world, this term was used to mean a Muslim. If it was said that a person was an Arab it meant he was a Muslim.

Ibn Taymiyyah quoted Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn ‘Alee ibn Hussein bin ‘Alee who said: “Whoever is born in Islam is an Arab.”

It has been reported upon the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he said: “Whoever loves the Arabs, then due to my love they love them, and whoever hates the Arabs then due to my hatred, they hate them.”

Perhaps the Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) meant with the “Arabs” the Muslims. This word then acquired another meaning and was used for anyone who spoke the Arabic language.

It was narrated upon the Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that he ascended the mimbar, praised Allaah and then said: “O mankind! Surely the Lord is one Lord, the father is one father the deen is one deen. Surely Arabic is not for anyone of you due to a father or a mother, it is only a language. Whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab.”

It has been narrated upon Abu Hurayrah (radee Allaahu ‘anhu), marfu’an: “As long as you speak Arabic then you are an Arab.

So the term “Arabic” ended up referring to a language and not an ethnicity. Whoever learned and spoke Arabic, no matter from where he came or from which ethnicity he belonged to he was an Arab. If one did not learn or speak Arabic then he is a non-Arab even if his forefathers were from the pure Arabs. So being an Arab is not an inherited trait but rather an earned trait. Hence, it is a reference to the language and not to an ethnicity or lineage.

The importance of this language, the Arabic language, like other international languages, is that it has a great role in the transmission of knowledge between continents. It also has a great role in international social, academic, political and economic relations. In addition, it has great importance to a Muslim’s life in specific since Allaah has chosen it for His great Book, the lasting miracle of the Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). And He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) mentioned this language in a praiseworthy manner when He mentioned in His revelation:

“And truly, this (the Qur’aan) is a revelation from the Lord of the ‘Alameen (mankind, jinn’s and all that exists), which the trustworthy Rooh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] has brought down; Upon your heart (O Muhammad SAW) that you may be (one) of the warners, in the plain Arabic language.” [Ash-Shu'ara 26:192-195]

He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) also said:

“And indeed We have put forth for men, in this Qur’aan every kind of similitude in order that they may remember. An Arabic Qur’aan, without any crookedness (therein) in order that they may avoid all evil which Allaah has ordered them to avoid, fear Him and keep their duty to Him.” [Az-Zumar 39:27-28]

And:

“Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’aan in order that you may understand.” [Yusuf 12:2]

And:

“And indeed We know that they (polytheists and pagans) say: ‘It is only a human being who teaches him (Muhammad SAW).’ The tongue of the man they refer to is foreign, while this (the Qur’aan) is a clear Arabic tongue.” [An-Nahl 16:103]

And:

“And if We had sent this as a Qur’aan in a foreign language other than Arabic, they would have said: ‘Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?’ Say: ‘It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur’aan) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand)’.” [Fussilat 41:44]

And other verses.

Allaah revealed this blessed Book in the best language and in the best composition. He gathered in His Verses pearls of eloquence. He (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) challenged a people who were proud of their inherited eloquence and beauty in poetry composition. He challenged them to produce a chapter like the Qur’aan and to call upon witnesses besides Allaah. He challenged them with the smallest of chapters, challenged the orators from the pure Arabs. They, however, failed and were not able to produce a chapter like the Qur’aan.

The Qur’aan will remain inshaa’Allaah, the Book of Allaah, always fresh whenever the recite turns to it and ponders over its rich meanings. Its wonders never cease, as one of the scholars said, and he is Sahl ibn ‘Abdullaah: “If the slave will be given for ever letter of the Qur’aan one thousand insights, he will not reach the end of what Allaah has stored in one verse, because it is the speech of Allaah, and His speech is His attribute. As there is no end to Allaah, there is no end to the wisdom of His words. Everyone will only grasp the amount that Allaah opens his heart to. The words of Allaah are not creation.

Inclusive in the miracle of the Qur’aan is its eloquence and explanation, and this is all from the Arabic language. Therefore, it is not possible for anyone to understand its interpretation and obtain its fine meanings and comprehend its rulings except through proficiency in its base. And its base is the Arabic language along with its science: grammar, morphology and balaghah. From here, the importance of learning Arabic and its sciences is manifested since by it one can understand the Qur’aan and achieve what Allaah has intended for His slaves in this life and the next.

Let it not be the case with any student of knowledge, especially in our times that they feel that they can dispense and distance themselves from this language. Unfortunately, some reprimand others for learning this language and being busy in studying it. The eye tears and the heart grieves for those that have appeared in the field of deen, da’wah and recitation and they do not consider learning and teaching the Arabic language. They do not make amends in their use of the Arabic language and as a result they make grammatical errors while quoting the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and there is no power or might except by Allaah.

So may Allaah reward with all good those that have stood up with concern for the Arabic language. Learning the Arabic language is from the good following of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). The Muslims are commanded to follow and emulate the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in his life and characteristics. And from the good following of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), of every Muslim is to learn and teach the Arabic language because the Prophetic Sunnah is in this language. It is the second source of Islamic law cannot be disassociated from the primal source which is the Qur’aan. It is not possible to understand the meanings or actions without the Sunnah that came to explain the Book of Allaah. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) said:
“And We have revealed unto you the dhikr so you may explain to mankind what was revealed to them.” Imaam al-Hakim and others reported that the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I have been given the Qur’aan and its similarity along with it.”

The Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) excelled in eloquence and speech, as we mentioned he said: “I was sent with comprehensive yet concise speech.” As narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) and complied by al-Bukhaaree.

From the obligation of the Muslim caller is to spread and convey the Sunnah of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) amongst the people, so how can he spread the Sunnah and convey the hadeeth if he doesn’t know the language of the one who spoke the hadeeth? For this reason, the pious predecessors gave concern to learning and teaching the Arabic language in grammar, morphology, i’arab and bayan.

It was narrated upon Abu Bakr as-Sadiq (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) that he said: “Learning the i’arab of the Qur’aan is more beloved to me than learning its letters.” ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) said in his well known statement: “Learn the Arabic language because it is part of your deen, and learn the faraaid because it is part of your deen.” The noble companion ‘Ubay bin K’ab (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) said: Learn the Arabic language then you will learn how to memorise the Noble Qur’aan.” Hussein ibn ‘Alee said: “Learn the Arabic language, for it is the language of Allaah which He will address the people with on the Day of Judgement.” Although this has been narrated it is questionable as Ibn Qayyim mentioned in his Nuniyah: There has come that the best of languages is the Arabic language, but the chain of the narration is questionable.”

Imaam al-Hasan al-Basree was asked: “What do you say about a group of people learning the Arabic language?” Meaning they are busy in learning the Arabic language. He said: “They have done well. They are learning the language of their Prophet.” These scholars have seen speaking in the Arabic language as one of the symbols of Islam and the Muslims. Ibn Taymiyyah said: “The Arabic language is a symbol of Islam and its people. A language is one of the greatest symbols of nations by which they are distinguished.”

A group of people attended one of the gatherings of the famous Imaam and Muhadith Sulayman bin Mahran who is popularly known as ‘Amasah to hear ahaadeeth of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). So he asked them before anything else: “What day is it?” A man amongst them said: “Al-Ithnayn.” ‘Amash said: “Al-Ithnayn, al-Ithnayn?” Return and make i’arab of your statement. Learn the Arabic then seek the knowledge of the hadeeth.” Imaam ‘Amash intended for them to say: “Yawm-ul-Ithnayn.” The person cannot say “Al-Ithnayn” by itself, because “yawm” is the reason why “ithnayn” is majrur, so how can he make “al-ithnayn” majrur without a jaar?

It is feared that one who makes grammatical errors in reading the hadeeth of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) to be amongst those that lie upon him. The famous linguistic scholar al-Asmaee said: The greatest thing that I fear for the student of knowledge is that if he does not know grammar (nahw) that he is included in the statement of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “Whoever lies upon me intentionally then let him take his seat in the fire.” That is so because the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not make grammatical errors in hadeeth, so if you narrate upon him and make grammatical errors then you have lied upon him. Ibn Salah mentioned this in his Muqadimah. Yes, one can say if one doesn’t intend to make grammatical errors that he is not intentionally lying, The answer is that anyone who knows that they are not proficient in i’rab and then chooses to mention the Book of Allaah or a hadeeth of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and does so by making grammatical errors in either one of them, then he has intentionally chosen to lie. So those that say: “Safeguarding the principles prevents one from falling into means that lead to the prohibited”, their statement here is emphasised. No doubt that the stringent position from some of the scholars is to shut the doors for such errors, and due to people commonly committing them.

And Allaah knows best and His knowledge is more accurate and precise. I ask Allaah for tawfiq and accuracy in the deen, and an increase in knowledge of Islam and its language. And Allaah is the Grantor of success.

Footnote:

[1] I (Aboo Uthmaan) transcribed (albeit not a verbatim transcription) this text from a lecture entitled “The Importance of Learning Arabic” by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rasheed Azhar. Any mistakes in this transcription are from me, and the Shaykh is free from them.