Alhamdulillah… infinite thanks and praise are due to the Almighty Allah, who descended and revealed the Qur’an in the Arabic Language. Complete peace and salutations are to the Arab Prophet, upon whom the Qur’an was descended, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path.
The Qur’an was revealed in the Arabic Language. While there are close to 1.8 billion Muslims around the world today, probably those who understand the Arabic Language among them do not exceed 25% of the 1.8 billion. How do they make use of a book they don’t speak and understand its language? How does the Qur’an impact them? More importantly, why was the Scripture not revealed in a language other than Arabic?
This article is a reflection, that tries to understand the revelation of the Qur’an in the Arabic Language. It also highlights the most important objective, for which the Qur’an was revealed.
The article is outlined according to the following sections:
- The Language of Revelation of the Qur’an
- The Most Important Dimension of the Qur’an
- Other Scriptures that Allah Has Revealed
- Related Articles
- The Takeaway…
The Language of Revelation of the Qur’an
Some people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike constantly argue why the Qur’an was revealed in the Arabic Language. Such arguments may not necessarily be a wish if the Qur’an was descended in their native languages, though.
However, unsurprisingly, this is the same argument some Arabs, those who lived the era of the revelation of the Qur’an would have made if the Qur’an was revealed in non-Arabic language (and for that matter if The Prophet Muḥammad ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam was not an Arab).
Allah tells us about that in Sūrah Fuṣṣilat, 41:44:
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَانًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥٓ ءَا۬عْجَمِىٌّ وَعَرَبِىٌّ
“Had We sent this as a Quran other than [in the] Arabic [language], they would have said, “Why are its verses not clearly explained? What! An Arab Prophet, and a scripture in a foreign tongue?”
Even if one bases on the basics of the Arabic Language, he will appreciate the beauty and the richness of the language. In other words, the richness of the language that has been discovered and derived after the Qur’an was descended in it are abundant. However, it can also be argued, that this same level of richness could be derived from, and appreciated in any other language, had Allah chosen to descend the Qur’an in that language. Especially, if we take into consideration the fact, that some other divinely revealed scriptures were revealed in languages other than the Arabic Language. If this is understood, then we’re ought to seek to appreciate the most important dimension of the Book.
The Most Important Dimension of the Qur’an
While the Book has indicated on various occasions the clarity and the richness of the Arabic Language, it does not stress that, nor does it entertain questions pertaining to that.
In other words, the language of the revelation of the Book is one dimension of many to look at, to understand, and to develop a better appreciation of the Qur’an. Thus, instead of entertaining questions pertaining to the logic behind revealing the Qur’an in the Arabic Language, Allah tells us about the most significant dimension pertaining to the Qur’an. That significant dimension is the objective of the Qur’an itself. It’s after understanding this objective, that one would establish a proper and effective bonding with it. Allah tells the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam to: “Say…
هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
“It is a guide and a healing to those who believe; but for those who do not believe, there is a deafness in their ears, and a covering over their eyes: they would be called from a very distant place” (Sūrah Fuṣṣilat, 41:44).
Do note that, the verse above and the one that preceded it are together in one verse (āyah). Now try to read them combined and see how it expands your perception about the Qur’an.
Other Scriptures that Allah Has Revealed
It’s an essential pillar in the Islamic faith system to believe in all scriptures that Allah has descended upon His Prophets and Messengers. This is regardless, whether or not we know some or all of these scriptures. These scriptures were descended in various languages. And the Arabic Language is one of such languages in which Allah chose to reveal His scriptures.
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ ﴿٣﴾ـ
“He has sent down the Book to you with truth, which fulfils [the predictions] in the Scriptures that preceded it: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.” (Sūrah Āl-‘Imrān, 3:3).
It’s worth adding, that while it’s not known what specific language of communication in the Paradise will be, we are certain that the Qur’an will be read in Paradise. And the companions of the Qur’an who spend their lives in reading and practicing it will be honoured to read it in Paradise. May we all be among them.
Related Articles
If you have read to this point, I’m sure you’ll be interested in the following articles from GSalam.Net:
- Magnitude of the Qur’an Every Muslim Parent Should Teach His Children
- 8 Reasons You Should Read the Qur’an Everyday Even If You Don’t Understand It
- 5 Reasons and 4 Steps to Establish a Strong Bonding with the Qur’an
- Q&A: Reading the Transliteration Version of the Qur’an
- The Significance of Arabic Language in the Life of the Muslim
The Takeaway…
The takeaway is that the Muslim should read and learn the Qur’an for guidance. He should never read it to find faults, or debate and challenge.
This is because the one who’s truly looking for guidance, and for that matter, he chooses to truly believe, the Qur’an will certainly guide him to Allah. On top of that, it will heal his various illnesses; physical and spiritual.
But for the one who defies it, or chooses to find faults in it, he can only accumulate deafness and blindness.
May Allah guide us to the Qur’an. May He guide us with His Book to that which pleases Him and earns us His Pleasure. Allāhumma āmīn!
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
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