I recently converted to Islam and I wanted to know how much Arabic do I need
to know to be a Muslim. I had trouble just to learn Hebrew when I was
Jewish and now I am confused because English is my primary language. I
was born in beautiful Southern California. I only know how to speak the
Salat prayer in Arabic that's all I have at the moment. My language skills
aren't good and I wonder how much Arabic I can get away with.
I got a tape from www.soundvision.com called Al-Qari and it teaches
you how to read the Qur'an in Arabic. Is it easy to learn how to speak the
Arabic language? If yes, I will certainly try. However, are there lot of
Muslims who live in the Middle East and do not speak Arabic? I am reading
the Qur'an in English. My best friend also converted along with me last year
and she just read the Glorious Qur'an twice in English. Is that enough?
- Fogler, 14 March 2001
Answer
I hope this letter reaches you in good health and happiness. My apology,
first of all, for not being able to reply earlier due to some pre-occupations.
I will now insha Allah ("God willing") address your questions you made in
your first and second emails.
>> How much Arabic do I need to know to be Muslim?
In order to be a Muslim, it is not necessary that one know any Arabic at all
other than being able to make salat in Arabic, which requires that one
memorize 2 or 3 small suras (chapter) from the Qur'an and a few other Arabic
sentences. This can be done do in a day to two. Although it is not required,
it is highly recommended that one also know the meaning of the suras (or verses)
that one memorizes. If you have not done that already, then you can memorize
suras Fatiha (which everyone must read in every prayer), Ikhlas, and Asr.
Please keep in mind that just because one embraced Islam he/she will not have
lose his or her identity. In other words, one does not have to adopt
Middle-Eastern customs and traditions in order to be accepted as a Muslim.
Islam is the religion for the entire humanity and it is not identified with
one specific geographical boundary. All Islam requires is that one maintain
the five pillars of Islam and remain conscious of God Almighty in his or her
daily life, doing what is good and approved and avoiding what is not. As a
matter of fact, this is what the definition of "worship" is in Islam. For
example, when one buys grocery for his or her family with the awareness that
he is doing that as Allah expects him to do, then such act becomes a worship of
Allah. Hence, the entire life of a Muslim can be spent worshiping Allah, even
when one is in sleep. That is the essence of submission to the will of Allah,
which is what "Islam" literary means. And it is in this respect that the
religion of all prophets and messengers was "Islam".
Arabs are only a minority among the Muslims; the vast majority of the Muslims
are non-Arabs, and except for the scholars virtually all of them do not know
the Arabic language. But they know enough to fulfill the basic requirements,
such as making salat.
If one can, then it is certainly commendable to learn the Arabic language. The
Qur'an in translation comes out beautifully, but it is no where close to the
beauty of the Arabic original. Therefore, if one knows Arabic then he/she will
benefit much more from the Qur'an than by just reading the translation. And it
is the original Qur'an in Arabic that is God's word, and not any translation. It
is interesting to note here the difference between Judeo-Christian and Islamic
understanding of "word of God". By word of God, Muslims understand the actual
words spoken by God in the original language, and not third-party historical
narrations that are compiled over many hundreds of years, as in the case of OT
and NT.
>> Is it easy to learn how to speak the Arabic language? If
yes, I will certainly try. However, are there lot of Muslims who live in the
Middle East and do not speak Arabic?
I do not know Arabic language myself and I am planning now to take a course
to learn it. Therefore, I am not in a position to say how easy or difficult
it is to learn Arabic. But from my familiarity with many Arabic expressions
and vocabulary and also from statements of others, it is not difficult to
learn. But of course one has to put necessary efforts into it.
Arabic is the mother tongue in the Middle Eastern countries. Therefore,
Muslims in those countries know Arabic by birth. However, there is a
slight distinction between the Arabic spoken by the Middle-Eastern people
and the Arabic used in the Qur'an.
>> Have you ever gone to the Middle East?
No, except for brief stops in the airports. But I plan to make the Hajj
insha Allah sometime, which will be an opportunity for me to see Arabia.
I have seen ads, but never used Al-Qari. I do not know if it will be easy for
you to learn to recite Arabic using software or tape. To learn the Arabic
letters with proper pronunciations and to recite the Qur'an may need more
effort than just to use a software or a tape. Some Islamic centers offer
free classes for that - you may want to check with your's.
If you would like to memorize some basic suras so that you can make your
prayers, then it might be better to work with a mentor. One of the books
that we provide to new Muslims is a book of some short suras. If you think
that will be helpful for you, then I will be happy to mail it to you.
Finally, I would like to recommend to any new Muslim to take the time and
take things easy. A new Muslim should not over burden himself or herself.
You can be a practicing Muslima with some basic essential requirements. Then
you can gradually enrich you knowledge in Islam as you grow into it.
- Mushfiqur Rahman, 18 March 2001
(Congratulations to Ms. Fogler. Her husband and best girlfriend also accepted Islam.)
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