Why Is the Qur’an in Arabic
Question
May I ask why is the Qur’an in Arabic when the majority of Muslims all over the world speak other languages?
Answer
God has chosen to address His final message to all mankind, and that it should be one message, binding on all, and valid for the rest of time. As such, it has to have a clear text to which people may refer whenever they wish to know what God wants them to do, and what to refrain from. He sent a messenger to deliver it to mankind. It is only to be expected that the messenger should speak the language of his own people, and that the message given to him should be in that same language. He could not be expected to speak all human languages. Of course, God is able to put His message in all these languages, or to make all mankind speak Arabic or any language He wants. But this is not the way He has chosen for His creation. He has chosen that every individual should be distinct from all others, in every respect: In the language he or she speaks, just like their
fingerprints are different.
If the message were to be given in all human languages, then there would have been a very large number of translations of the Qur’an, all revealed by God, so that they would be made ready for the time when speakers of those languages become Muslims. Moreover, languages change, spread or die out. Latin, Greek, Aramaic are examples of languages that had died. Today, they are only learned or spoken by a handful of people. But there are many others that have disappeared. In contrast, many languages have risen and developed. Should the Qur’an have been revealed in these as well?
It is definitely the proper thing that the Qur’an should be in the language spoken by the messenger God chose to deliver it. That was Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was an Arab. People who wish to learn about Islam have the means to do so through Muslims, who are required to deliver God’s message to other people and call on them to accept Islam.
Islam in Perspective
AB
"For to us will be their return; then it will be for us to call them to account." (Holy Quran 88:25-26)
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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