Why Is Learning Arabic Important?

Amidst the growing hatred towards the Arabs—even though the Arabs never colonized this country or "plundered" it—and at a time when Arabs are scapegoated by some circles for all the problems in this country, whereas in reality, the problems are caused by the behavior of its own officials and apparatus. When Arabs are always identified with various negative matters in this country, even though the Arabs know nothing of it. When Arabs are insulted and harassed by people who actually hate Islam and its teachings. Then, Muslims with upright faith and sound minds will not be influenced by any of this whatsoever. However, Arabs and Islam cannot be separated, although this does not mean that Islamic teachings originate from Arab culture. This is because Allah chose the Prophet of the end times from among the Arabs and willed that the revelation He sent down as a guide for all mankind be in the Arabic language. With that revelation, Allah improved the condition of the Arabs until they were finally able to leave their backwardness behind. Then, as time went on, the glory of that revelation was carried by various nations from age to age, without shedding the treasures of the Arabs as its identity. Among those treasures is the Arabic language.

In reality, the motivation to learn Arabic has already been implicitly conveyed by Allah in several of His verses. That is, when Allah explains the identity of the Quran as a revelation that He sent down in Arabic, not in any other language, alongside the motivation to understand the Quran and contemplate it, which is commonly found in many verses of the Quran. Allah says regarding the 'Arabic' nature of the Quran:

"Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand." (QS. Yusuf: 2)

Allah also says,

"...And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good." (QS. Al-Ahqaf: 12)

Allah says,

"And We certainly know that they say, 'It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet.' The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur'an is [in] a clear Arabic tongue." (QS. An-Nahl: 103)

His Word:

"And indeed, the Qur'an is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down Upon your heart, [O Muhammad] - that you may be of the warners - In a clear Arabic tongue." (QS. Ash-Shu'ara: 192-195)

On the other hand, Allah also motivates His servants to understand and comprehend the Quran. If the Quran was revealed in Arabic while there is motivation to understand and delve into the meanings of the Quran, then it is impossible for someone to understand the meanings of the Quran's content before they understand Arabic and its grammar. This means that the content of the Quranic verses can only be understood by those who understand Arabic. If so, then it is commanded for every believer to learn and understand Arabic so that they can understand the content of the revelation contained in the Quran. Because every believer must realize that they are required by Allah to understand His various messages to them contained in the Quran. Following are some Quranic verses that contain motivation to study the Quran.

"[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." (QS. Sad: 29)

Allah says,

"Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?" (QS. Muhammad: 24)

His Word,

"It is not for a human [prophet] that Allah should give him the Scripture and authority and prophethood and then he would say to the people, 'Be servants to me rather than Allah,' but [instead, he would say], 'Be pious scholars (Rabbaniyyun) because of what you have taught of the Scripture and because of what you have studied.'" (QS. Ali 'Imran: 79)

"Indeed, the Arabic language itself is part of the religion, and knowing it is an obligatory duty. Because understanding the Book and the Sunnah is obligatory, and they cannot be understood except by understanding the Arabic language. And whatever an obligation cannot be fulfilled without is itself obligatory. Then from it (learning Arabic), there is that which is an individual obligation (fardhu 'ain) and that which is a communal obligation (fardhu kifayah)." (Iqtidha As-Shirath Al-Mustaqim, 1/527)

Imam Ash-Shafi'i said,

"So it is obligatory upon every Muslim to learn from the Arabic tongue to the utmost of his ability, until he can testify with it that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, recite with it the Book of Allah, and utter the remembrance (dhikr) in what is obligated upon him such as the Takbir, and what is commanded of him such as the Tasbih, Tashahhud, and other than that." (Ar-Risalah, 1/47)

All of this shows how important the Arabic language is and that learning Arabic is a demand upon a believer. So there is no excuse for any believer with upright faith to run away and be reluctant to learn Arabic. Even the early Salaf strongly emphasized learning Arabic. This is famous from the Companions. Among them, Caliph Umar bin Al-Khattab once wrote a letter to the Companion Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari which contained,

"Amma ba'du. You should study the Sunnah and study Arabic." (Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf: 25651)

The Companion Ubay bin Ka'ab said,

"Learn Arabic as you learn the memorization of the Quran." (Narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in Al-Musannaf: 29915)

The Companion Ibn Umar used to beat his child if his child spoke Arabic incorrectly (1). It is narrated that Umar once said, "Learn Arabic because it is part of your religion. (2)" The Tabi'in Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak said,

"If you hear a hadith from me, present it to the experts of Arabic, then judge it." (Al-Kifayah fi 'Ilm Ar-Riwayah, 1/255)

There are many narrations explaining how great the attention of the Salaf was towards the Arabic language. There are many statements from scholars emphasizing the importance of learning Arabic. All of this is enough for us to always be diligent in learning Arabic. Be patient in learning it and strive to understand it. Every letter a believer learns from Arabic will be of value as worship and bear the fruit of reward as long as he intends it sincerely for the sake of Allah. Because learning Arabic is part of this religion. It is not much different from learning Tafsir, Fiqh, Aqidah, Tajweed, or Qira'at, where all these disciplines are part of this religion and are valuable as worship when learning them. So it is a great pity if this symbol of Islam is just abandoned. No one will lose when this symbol is abandoned other than the generation of Muslims themselves due to being far from their religious identity.