Importance of Arabic Language أهمية اللغة العربية
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Praise is for Allah, the one who has honoured us with the Qur’ân, and chosen for us the noblest of languages, and the peace and the blessings be upon the best one of the ones who articulated themselves in Arabic, and the most-preferred from the servants of Allâh, Our Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and his family and his distinguished companions.
Umar bin al-Khattaab (رضي الله عنه) said, "Learn the Arabic (language) because it is from your religion, and learn the laws of inheritance because it is from your religion."
(Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah 6/118).
Arabic is a symbol of Islam and the language of the Qur’an. Knowing Arabic is an obligatory duty. If it is a duty to understand the Qur'an and Sunnah which cannot be understood without knowing Arabic, thereby the means needed to fulfil the duty also becomes obligatory.
Shaykh ul slam Ibn Taymiyah (رحمه الله) said: “The Arabic Language is from the Religion, and the knowledge of it is an obligation. For surely the understanding of the Qur’ân and the Sunnah is an obligation, and these two are not understood except with the understanding of the Arabic Language, and whatever obligation is not fulfilled except by certain steps then those steps themselves become obligatory (to fulfil the initial obligation)”.
[The Necessity Of The Straight Path by Ibn Taymiyyah ( 1/470)]
Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee (رحمه الله) said: ‘The language which Allaah favoured was the Arabic language as he revealed his Noble Book in this (Arabic) and he made this the language of the seal of the prophets Muhammad. And that is why we say that it is befitting for everyone who has the ability to learn Arabic – that they learn it, as it is the best language.’
(Iqtidaa Siraatil-Mustaqeem – Volume 1, Page 521.)
If someone wishes to seek knowledge and he is not a native speaker of Arabic, he needs to
specialise on the language and acquire a concrete and sound understanding of it.
And what greater means to seeking knowledge can there be than to humble ourselves and sit at the feet of the inheritors of the Prophets – the Scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah – and take directly fom them!
It is reported that Ubay b. Ka’b (رضي الله عنه) said, “Learn Arabic just as you learn to memorize the Qur'an.”
[Ibn Abī Shaybah, Al-Muṣannaf Vol.7 p150]
It is reported that Shu’bah (رحمه الله) said: “Learn Arabic, for it increases the intelligence.”
[Tahdhīb Al-Tahdhīb Vol.4 p303]
Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله was asked: "What do you think about a people who learn the Arabic language? He replied: "They've done well. They're learning the language of their prophet."
[تفسير القرطبي ٢٣/١]
The misguidance of the people of Bida’h (innovation) is mainly for this reason; they attribute to the words of Allah and his Messenger what they claim is authentic, but is not”.
Al-Ṣuyūtī: “The cause of innovation is ignorance of the Arabic language.”
[صون المنطيق صفات: ٢٢]
Imām Shāfi‘ī: “People only became arrogant when they left Arabic for the language of Aristotle.”
[صون المنطيق صفات: ١٥]
Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله said: ❝They [i.e. innovators] were destroyed due to their inability in ‘Arabic.❞
[التاريخ الكبير ٩٩/٥]
Shaykh Muqbil (رحمه الله) also mentioned:
The sciences of the Arabic language (nahw) are from the important forms of knowledge that are incumbent upon the Muslims to focus on. This is because the enemies of Islam seek to divert the Muslims away from the language of their religion and busy them with what has less importance in their religion. And Allah is the Helper.
(source: Ershad Thawil Fitan pg.65)
And there are 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, Let it not be the case with any student of knowledge. Allah's aid is sought!
It is befitting for a person upon the Sunnah to learn the sciences of the Arabic language in order not to make grammatical mistakes.
Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) said:
The Salaf would admonish their children for making Arabic grammatical mistakes. Due to this, we are ordered, whether it be an obligation or a recommendation, to preserve the Arabic (grammatical) laws, and to correct the tongues that have deviated from the correct speech. By doing so, we preserve the methodology of understanding the Quran and the Sunnah. We also preserve the following of the Arab in their manner of (correct) speech. If people were left with their grammatical mistakes, this would be considered a great deficiency and despicable mistake.
(source: Majmoo’ Al Fatawa 32/252)
It is reported that Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) used to hit his children for making language errors. [Tahdhīb Al-Tahdhīb Vol.9 p292]
Khalaf ibn Hisham said: “I found some parts of Arabic grammar difficult. So I spent 80,000 dinars until I mastered it.”
[سير أعلام النبلاء ١٠:٥٧٨]
Shaykh Muqbil (رحمه الله) said:
If a student becomes strong in the Arabic language, this will make learning other subjects easy for him.
(source: Intro. to Al Hilal Adh Dhahabiya pg.8)
So may Allah reward with all good to those that have stood up with concern for the Arabic language. Learning the Arabic language is from the best ways of seeking knowledge. Every seeker of knowledge, every salafee should have a great concern towards Arabic knowledge for Arabic language is your religion. The Muslims are commanded to follow and emulate the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in his life and characteristics. And from the good following of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of every Muslim is to learn and teach the Arabic language because the Prophetic Sunnah is in this language. There is no power or might except by Allah.
May Allah guide us to what is good in this life and the hereafter. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon the last messenger Muhammad, his family members and companions.
- محبة اللغة العربية
ام عبد الله