274 Million Speak Arabic, Why Am I Not One of Them?
by Farida HajiMy daughter was practicing the Arabic alphabet, I sat beside her scrolling through Instagram, and chanced upon a few amazing Arabic calligraphers. I showed her the screen and we continued watching and scrolling through their mesmerizing and artistic reels.
“Mamma, I want to write like this,” she said, “What are they writing?”
“I have no idea; it just looks so beautiful,” I responded.
A blank and confused expression covered her face. “But mamma, you teach me how to write Arabic, we recite and memorize the Quran together, and you don’t understand what they’re writing?” “No,” I replied, bewildered.
Isn’t it necessary to learn the language of the Quran to be closer to Allah? It boggled my mind for a while, that I am fluent in languages that aren’t the holy ones. Not the chosen language by the Almighty!
I can only read and write Arabic; I understand nothing more than greetings. Over the next few days, I started translating simple sentences in Arabic from Google and tried to make sense of it. But unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough.
Arabic Language, Not a Barrier Between Allah and Me
As an Indian Muslim, my cultural background heavily influenced the languages I learned and spoke. Arabic isn’t my mother tongue. My linguistic capabilities include English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu. I was taught Arabic; to recite and memorize the Quran, and offer my prayers. However, growing up, I did come across a Lebanese Christian woman, who read her Bible in Arabic. Then it struck me; language is a barrier among humans, but not between Allah and me.
Explaining why I don’t know something to my child is difficult. For her, as a mother, I am supposed to have answers to everything. I told her, “Not all Muslims speak Arabic and not all Arabic-speaking people are Muslims.”
The realization got me thinking about the general assumption: All Muslims speak and understand Arabic. But the reality is, not all of those 1.8 billion Muslims speak and understand Arabic.
Finding the Origins of Arabic
A few days later, I sat with my daughter and we researched the origins of the language. The numbers were impressive. Arabic is the sixth most spoken language on the planet. Exploring regions on the map, we traced the roots of the language to the Arabian Peninsula, dating back a millennium. The language started spreading towards North Africa, the Middle East, and China as nomadic tribes married other natives and Islamic conquests began around the 7th Century CE.
The Quran is considered the oldest written text of the Arabic Language. The revelation of the Quran upon the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ spanned over 23 years — another story that was fascinating to share with my offspring — which was later compiled around 8th CE and today the oldest written Quran, the Topikapi manuscript, lies in a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
3 Types of Arabic
Stumbling upon the dialects and discovering the different types of Arabic languages spoken widely gave our interests a new depth.
- Classical Arabic:
The Language of The Quran.
- The MSA (Modern Standard Arabic):
MSA is a simplified version of Classical Arabic. It is used on news channels, in newspapers, and in general everyday life.
- Colloquial Arabic or Ammiyya:
Ammiyya encompasses the various dialects and sub-groups that have come into existence through numerous cultural influences globally.
2 Major Arabic Dialects
- Maghrebi Arabic (Western):
This is spoken widely in North Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Western Sahara.
- Mashriqi Arabic (Eastern):
This is spoken widely throughout the Middle East and a few other regional countries.
Meanwhile, Ammiyya encompasses smaller sub-dialect groups:
- Egyptian Arabic
- Levantine Arabic
- Peninsular Gulf Arabic / Khaliji
- Yemeni Arabic / San’ani or Sana’
- Peninsular Arabic
- Other varieties of Arabic, spoken in Non-Arab countries
There was too much information for the little brain to process. “Mamma, you don’t know any Arabic? I don’t know anything, will Allah listen to me?”
I helped the little one understand that one lifetime will never be enough to learn everything. But we shall try. All we need to do is give a sujood and pray to Allah with a clear heart and the language we know and He will listen.
As the excitement grew, Arabic became our new muse. We downloaded multiple apps to learn about our language and culture. To understand, that language exists to bring us closer to one another and most importantly Allah.
Informative and interesting!
Alhamdulillah..
Aameen
I want to speak Arabic And write arabic
Ma sha Allah
Informative post
Aneen????
I want to speak fluent Arabic and write fluently. 🙂
In sha Allah. I practice copying the Surah’s from noorani zuzz Ammaaa. 🙂
Now I am frustrated why not this website before! I am 72 yrs old ! How can I learn to speak in Arabic and also versions holy Quran !
Alhamdullilah
Great ????
Masha Allah after death angel questions with us in Arabic .So we learn Arabic language is Best ways…
ما شاء الله
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
I want to learn Arabic
Trynna learn Arabic
It’s true that we have to sujuud first and ask help from Allah before planning to learn Arabic language.
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An eye opener. Very well written and informative. Does make one realise the importance of knowing the Arabic language. If we can read the Arabic script, we should be able to understand and speak too.
Such a beautiful article!
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
Ilove Muslim pro alhamdulillah hasbinal lahi waniimal wakil
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I want to learn arabic to understand Holy Quran.
I want to learn arabic
That’s an awesome lovely article????????
I don’t know how to write, read or speak Arabic but I’ll love to B able to inshallah
A question that had always plagued me in madrasa was that I can read and write arabic, But why cant i understand it.
We get so caught up with the necessity to learn the language for trade, we leave behind the necessity to learn a language for the soul
I never knew that alottttt of muslims didn’t know how to speak any kind of Arabic at all. Now I feel lucky to know Maghrebi Arabic even though it’s not the Classical Arabic. I really like this article, it makes me feel special in a way some others may also feel. Alhamdulillah I know my true language and what it means. Thank you and I am Zaineb age 14 in high school
You are blessed, may Allah grant others the ability to learn and understand Arabic as well.
I really want yo learn arabic language in writting & speaking
Assalamualaikum.i want to learn and speak Arabic.
May i also b learned
Dear Zahabia, the feeling is mutual. “We’re glad you enjoyed the article. Do share the article with your friends and family.
Its summarised very well for any lay man to understand all about the language.
Maa Shaa Allah!! It’s a must read piece. Thanks
Superb article, it touched my heart and resonated maybe with many people in this category.
I’m sure modern humanity has faced similar challenges with all cross linguistic migrations which may have impacted culture, education, architecture even folk lores and re-telling of legends when retold without comprehension of the native language of origin.
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Loved your post and it is so true. Very well written. Got ne thinking too. I guess Allah understands basically the language of love and reverence.
It’s inspiring
Masha Allah, very well said and inspiring too.
Will try to learn the language In Shaa Allah.
I love how you wrote that part on no language barriers. He listens despite all.
And about the types of Arabi too. That’s so insightful!
Such a nice read.
Informative and thought-provoking. Well- written and organised. Love how your daughter ensued the quest for Arabic language.
V informativ and use ful thought.
This is very true. Never thought about it before. Eye opener.
I am excited. Can’t believe I’m getting closer to learning Arabic. In fact, I have already given up hope of learning Arabic. I remember when I performed the Holy pilgrimage, I regretted not speaking Arabic language.
Very interesting
Great content????Love your writing style
Great Writing!! Looking forward to more!! How do I subscribe to the Newsletter?!!
May Allaah reward you abundantly for this beautiful write up. BarakaAllaahu fiiha!
Please help me to learn Emarati Arabic, I really want to learn Arabic language- it’s my dream
Thanks
Please help me to learn Emarati Arabic, I really want to learn Arabic language- it’s my dream
Thanks
Cx
Alhamdulillah
Very interesting article. I was in Makkah waiting to do salah. I was reading the Quran. When I finished, the lady next to me started talking to me in Arabic. I said to her that I didn’t speak Arabic, so I don’t understand her. She we pointed at the Quran and said I was reading that. So why I didn’t understand. I didn’t know how to explain to her. Got me thinking
Great one may Allah make it easy can anyone please help with an app or group which teaches Arabic
Salaams try Islam.ca they offer Arabic language courses. They teach the Marina books which is the easiest books to get started at a very reasonable fee.
How can I learn Arabic language easily ?are there any good apps fir Arabic learning
Great one
Can you tell us which apps you used to learn the language. It will be helpful for us to learn too .
Ahumduillah. Perfectly articulated! Loved reading y’all’s journey!
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
Subhan Allah
I want to learn Arabic.
I want to learn Arabic.
Mujhe bhi, Arabic sikhna h.
i don’t understand Arabic ☹️ i want to learn Arabic
I want to learn Arabic
Mujhe arabic sikhna hai
Mujhe bhi sikhna hai arabic
I want to learn Arabic
Mujhe arabic language nahi aati isliye my bhi sikhna cahati hon arabic language
I want to speak Arabic language
Subhan Allah
Mujhe arabic language nahi aati isliye my bhi sikhna cahata hon arabic language
Very well
Thanks
Good
Good
Assalamualaikum warehmatullah
I want to speak Arabia