Arabic in Islam

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In Islam , the Arabic language is given more importance than any other language because the primary religious sources of Islam, the Quran and Hadith, are in Arabic, [1] [2] which is referred to as Quranic Arabic. [3]

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Arabic is considered the ideal theological language of Islam and holds a special role in education and worship. Many Muslims view the Quran as divine revelation — it is believed to be the direct word of Allah (God) as it was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic. [4] Almost all Muslims believe that the Quran in Arabic is an accurate copy of the original version received by Muhammad from Allah through the angelic messenger Gabriel during the ascension to heaven (Mi'raj). [5] [6]

However, this belief is not universal among all Muslims and only emerged with the development of Islam over time. [7] [8] Therefore, translations of the Quran into other languages are not considered the original Quran; rather, they are seen as interpretive texts that attempt to convey the message of the Quran. [9] Despite being invalid for religious practices, these translations are generally accepted by Islamic religious authorities as interpretive guides for non-Arabic speakers. [10] [11]

In Quran and Hadith

In Quran, it is clearly mentioned that it was revealed in Arabic so that its initial audience, who were predominantly Arabic-speaking, could fully comprehend its meanings and messages.

Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an so that you might understand.

—  12:2

Also similar messages are given in 26:195, 43:3 and 20:113. The Qur'an also mentions that if it had not been revealed in Arabic, the non-believers of Islam would have doubted the Qur'an and the Prophet.

And if We had made it a non-Arabic Qur'an, they would have said, 'Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?' Say, 'It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure.

—  41:44

The Prophet of Islam Muhammad commanded to love the Arabs and the Arabic language.

Love the Arabs for three reasons: because I am an Arab, the Qur’an is in Arabic, and the language of the people of Paradise is Arabic.

—  Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, Hadith no. 4175

In Islamic practices

Arabic holds a central role in Islamic rituals, especially in the daily prayers (Salah), which are performed five times a day by Muslims worldwide. Salah is obligatory for practicing Muslims, and the recitation of Quranic verses in Arabic is a fundamental part of this practice. Regardless of a Muslim’s native language, the prescribed prayers must be recited in Arabic, maintaining a direct connection to the language in which the Quran was revealed. The most frequently recited chapter during prayers is Surah Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran. This practice ensures uniformity and a sense of unity among Muslims globally, regardless of linguistic and cultural differences. [12]

Beyond Salah, Arabic is also essential in other Islamic rituals. For instance, the call to prayer (Adhan) is always delivered in Arabic, starting with the declaration "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great). The Adhan serves as an invitation to prayer and is heard in communities around the world. [13] Arabic phrases are used in a variety of other rituals and religious acts, such as during the performance of Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Pilgrims recite prayers and phrases in Arabic, including the Talbiyah: "Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk" (Here I am, O Allah, here I am). [14]

Arabic also plays a key role in the recitation of Du'a (supplications), which, while not obligatory, are strongly encouraged in a Muslim’s daily life. Many Muslims prefer to recite traditional Arabic Du’as that were said by Prophet Muhammad, although they can be made in any language. [15]

The significance of Arabic in Islamic rituals is not merely linguistic but deeply spiritual. Reciting Quranic verses in their original Arabic form is considered essential for preserving the divine message as revealed to Prophet Muhammad. This is why, for centuries, Muslims have learned Arabic to correctly recite the Quran and perform religious duties. The act of reciting the Qur'an with proper rules of pronunciation (Tajweed) in its Arabic form is seen as an act of worship itself. Many Muslims around the world, regardless of their mother tongue, strive to memorize the Qur'an, known as Hifz, entirely in Arabic. [16]

Despite the availability of numerous translations of the Quran, the Arabic text is regarded as the only authentic version, with translations considered interpretations. This view emphasizes that only the original Arabic captures the full depth, meaning, and beauty of the divine revelation, as intended. For this reason, Arabic serves as a medium not just for communication, but for maintaining a direct link between Muslims and the divine message of Islam, transcending national, linguistic, and cultural boundaries. [14]

Related Research Articles

In Islam, sunnah, also spelled sunna, is the body of traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time supposedly saw and followed and passed on to the next generations. According to classical Islamic theories, the sunnah are documented by hadith, and alongside the Quran are the divine revelation (wahy) delivered through Muhammad that make up the primary sources of Islamic law and belief/theology. Differing from Sunni classical Islamic theories are those of Shia Muslims, who hold that Imams interpret the sunnah, and Sufi who hold that Muhammad transmitted the values of sunnah "through a series of Sufi teachers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quran</span> Central religious text of Islam

The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God (Allāh). It is organized in 114 chapters which consist of individual verses. Besides its religious significance, it is widely regarded as the finest work in Arabic literature, and has significantly influenced the Arabic language. It is the object of a modern field of academic research known as Quranic studies.

The following list consists of notable concepts that are derived from Islamic and associated cultural traditions, which are expressed as words in Arabic or Persian language. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Islam all in one place.

The athan is the first Islamic call to prayer, usually recited by a muezzin at five times of the day in a mosque, traditionally from a minaret. The adhan is also the first phrase said in the ear of a newborn baby, and often the first thing recited in a new home.

The Pen, or Nūn is the sixty-eighth chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 52 verses (āyāt). Quran 68 describes God's justice and the judgment day. Three notable themes of this Surah are its response to the opponents' objections, warning and admonition to the disbelievers, and exhortation of patience to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Chronologically, this was the first appearance of any of the "disjointed" [i.e., single] letters (muqattaat) which precede a number of the surahs of the Qur'an, while in Quranic order this is the last surah to have the appearance of muqattaat.

Al-Ikhlāṣ, also known as the Declaration of God's Unity and al-Tawhid, is the 112th chapter (sūrah) of the Quran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friday prayer</span> Islamic ritual and confirmed obligatory act

In Islam, Friday prayer, or Congregational prayer is a community prayer service held once a week on Fridays. All Muslim men are expected to participate at a mosque with certain exceptions due to distance and situation. Women and children can also participate but do not fall under the same obligation that men do. The service consists of several parts including ritual washing, chants, recitation of scripture and prayer, and sermons.

Naskh is an Arabic word usually translated as "abrogation". In tafsir, or Islamic legal exegesis, naskh recognizes that one rule might not always be suitable for every situation. In the widely recognized and "classic" form of naskh, one ḥukm "ruling" is abrogated to introduce an exception to the general rule, but the text the ḥukm is based on is not repealed.

Al-Maʻārij is the seventieth chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, with 44 verses (āyāt). The Surah takes its name from the word dhil Ma'arij in the third ayah. The word appears twice in the Quran. Abdullah Yusuf Ali, an Indian Islamic scholar, introduces the surah as “... another Islamic eschatology Surah closely connected in subject matter with the last one. Patience and the mystery of Time will show the ways that climb the Heaven. Sin and Goodness must each eventually come to its own.” It is narrated from the Prophet that whoever recites Surah al-Ma'ārij, Allah will give him the rewards of those who keep their trusts and promises and those who observe upon performing their daily prayers.[6]

Al-Muzzammil is the seventy-third chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, containing 20 verses (āyāt), which are recognized by Muslims as the word of God (Allah). The last Ruku of this surah contains only one ayāt making it possibly the smallest Ruku according to the number of verses or ayāt.

Ash-Shams is the 91st surah of the Qur'an, with 15 ayat or verses. It opens with a series of solemn oaths sworn on various astronomical phenomena, the first of which, "by the sun", gives the sura its name, then on the human soul itself. It then describes the fate of Thamud, a formerly prosperous but now extinct Arab tribe. The prophet Saleh urged them to worship God alone, and commanded them in God's name to preserve a certain she-camel; they disobeyed and continued to reject his message; they killed the she-camel and nine of them plotted to kill Saleh and his followers, so God destroyed those who had wronged the people of Thamud and saved Saleh and the righteous believers who had followed him.

<i>Dhikr</i> Remembrance of God in Islam

Dhikr is a form of Islamic worship in which phrases or prayers are repeatedly recited for the purpose of remembering God. It plays a central role in Sufism, and each Sufi order typically adopts a specific dhikr, accompanied by specific posture, breathing, and movement. In Sufism, dhikr refers to both the act of this remembrance as well as the prayers used in these acts of remembrance. Dhikr usually includes the names of God or supplication from the Quran or hadith. It may be counted with either one's fingers or prayer beads, and may be performed alone or with a collective group. A person who recites dhikr is called a dhākir.

Occasions or circumstances of revelation, in Arabic( أسباب النزول -asbābal-nuzūl,) names the historical context in which Quranic verses were revealed from the perspective of traditional Islam. Though of some use in reconstructing the Qur'an's historicity, asbāb is by nature an exegetical rather than a historiographical genre, and as such usually associates the verses it explicates with general situations rather than specific events. The study of asbāb al-nuzūl is part of the study of Tafsir.

Tawassul is an Arabic word originated from 'wasilat'. The wasilah is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Arabic word that comes from a verbal noun, wasilah, which according to Ibn Manzur in Lisān al-'Arab means "a station of King, a rank, or act of devotion". In other words, it refers to a position of power due to one's proximity to the king or sovereign. While the tawassul or tawassulan is the use of wasilah for this purpose. In religious contexts, the tawassul is the use of a wasilah to arrive at or obtain favour of Allah.

In Islam, qirāʼa refers to the ways or fashions that the Quran, the holy book of Islam, is recited. More technically, the term designates the different linguistic, lexical, phonetic, morphological and syntactical forms permitted with reciting the Quran. Differences between qiraʼat include varying rules regarding the prolongation, intonation, and pronunciation of words, but also differences in stops, vowels, consonants, entire words and even different meanings.. However, the variations don't change the overall message or doctrinal meanings of the Qur'an, as the differences are often subtle and contextually equivalent.Qiraʼat also refers to the branch of Islamic studies that deals with these modes of recitation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic holy books</span> Religious scriptures seen by Muslims as holy

Islamic holy books are certain religious scriptures that are viewed by Muslims as having valid divine significance, in that they were authored by God (Allah) through a variety of prophets and messengers, including those who predate the Quran. Among the group of religious texts considered to be valid revelations, the three that are mentioned by name in the Quran are the Tawrat, received by prophets and messengers amongst the Israelites; the Zabur (Psalms), received by David; and the Injeel, received by Jesus. Additionally, the Quran mentions God's revealing of the Scrolls of Abraham and the Scrolls of Moses.

Prophets in Islam are individuals in Islam who are believed to spread God's message on Earth and serve as models of ideal human behaviour. Some prophets are categorized as messengers, those who transmit divine revelation, most of them through the interaction of an angel. Muslims believe that many prophets existed, including many not mentioned in the Quran. The Quran states: "And for every community there is a messenger." Belief in the Islamic prophets is one of the six articles of the Islamic faith.

<i>Salah</i> Form of daily obligatory prayer in Islam

Salah is the principal form of worship in Islam. Facing the Kaaba in Mecca, it consists of units called rak'ah, during which the Quran is recited, and prayers from the Sunnah are typically said. The number of rak'ah varies from prayer to prayer. Minor details of performing salah may differ according to the madhhab of the person performing it.

Kala Kato is a Quranist movement whose adherents reside mostly in northern Nigeria, with some adherents residing in Niger. Kala Kato means a "man says" in the Hausa language, in reference to the sayings, or hadiths, posthumously attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Kala Kato accepts only the Quran as authoritative and believe that anything that is not Kala Allah, which means what "God says" in the Hausa language, is Kala Kato.

According to Islamic tradition, the Quran was revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel (Jibril) in seven ahruf, translated variously as "styles", "ways", "forms" and "modes". Islamic scholars agree that the ahruf were styles used by the early Muslims to recite the Quran.

References

  1. ↑ "The Importance of the Arabic Language in Islam". 2021-11-07. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  2. ↑ "Why the Arabic Language Is So Important in the Muslim World". The Superprof Blog - UK. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  3. ↑ Mohamed, Eman (2017-02-13). "Quranic Arabic Versus Modern Standard Arabic". Arab Academy. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  4. ↑ "The Quran is the Speech of Allah". Islamweb. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  5. ↑ "How Do We Know the Quran is Unchanged? - IslamiCity". www.islamicity.org. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  6. ↑ "Jibreel (AS) and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ". Quran Academy. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  7. ↑ Brown, Daniel W. (2009). A New Introduction to Islam. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 43–44. ISBN   9781405158077.
  8. ↑ Rippin, Andrew (2005). Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge. pp. 89–91. ISBN   978-0415348881.
  9. ↑ Rahman, Fazlur (2009). Major Themes of the Quran. University of Chicago Press. pp. 34–36. ISBN   9780226702865.
  10. ↑ "Reciting the Qur'an in other languages during Prayer - Fiqh". IslamOnline. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  11. ↑ "Translation of the Quran - 7 conditions for translation". quranteacheracademy.com. 2023-08-12. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  12. ↑ Denny, Frederick M. (1994). Islam and the Muslim Community. Waveland Press. ISBN   978-1577660071.
  13. ↑ Esposito, John L. (1998). Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195112344.
  14. 1 2 Nasr, Seyyed Hossein (2002). The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity. HarperOne. ISBN   978-0060730642.
  15. ↑ Denny, Frederick M. (1994). Islam and the Muslim Community. Waveland Press. ISBN   978-0-88133-802-4.{{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  16. ↑ Graham, William A. (1989). Beyond the Written Word: Oral Aspects of Scripture in the History of Religion. Cambridge University Press.
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