Shaykh ul-Islâm ibn
Taymiyyah rahimahullaah
Iqtidaa`us-Siraatil-Mustaqeem (2/207)
As for becoming accustomed to talking to one another in a language
other than Arabic, which is the symbol of Islâm and the language of
the Qur`ân, so that this becomes a habit in the land, with one's
family and household members, with one's friends, in the marketplace,
when addressing government representatives or authority figures or
when speaking to people of knowledge, undoubtedly this is makrooh
(disliked), because it involves being like the non-Arabs, which is
makrooh, as stated previously.
Hence when the early Muslims went to live in Syria and Egypt, where
the people spoke Byzantine Greek, and in 'Iraaq and Khurasaan, where
the people spoke Persian, and North Africa (al-Maghrib) where the
people spoke Berber, they taught the people of those countries to
speak Arabic, so that Arabic became the prevalent language in those
lands, and! all the people, Muslim and kaafir alike, spoke Arabic.
Such was also the case in Khurasaan in the past, then they became lax
with regard to the language and got used to speaking Farsee until it
became prevalent and Arabic was forgotten by most of them.
Undoubtedly this is disliked.
The best way is to become accustomed to speaking Arabic so that the
young people will learn it in their homes and schools, so that the
symbol of Islâm and its people will prevail. This will make it easier
for the people of Islâm to understand the Qur`ân and Sunnah, and the
words of the Salaf, unlike a person who gets used to speaking one
language, then wants to learn another, and finds it difficult.
Know that being used to using a language has a clear and strong
effect on one's thinking, behaviour and religious commitment. It also
has an effect on making one resemble the early generations of this
Ummah, the Companions and the Taabi'een. Being like them improves
one's thinking, ! religious commitment and behaviour.
Moreover, the Arabic language itself is part of Islâm, and knowing
Arabic is an obligatory duty. If it is a duty to understand the
Qur`ân and Sunnah, and they cannot be understood without knowing
Arabic, then the means that is needed to fulfil the duty is also
obligatory.
There are things which are obligatory on all individuals (fard 'ayn),
and others which are obligatory on the community or Ummah (fard
kifaayah, i.e., if some people fulfill them the rest are relieved of
the obligation).
This is the meaning of the report narrated by Aboo Bakr Ibn Abee
Shaybah who said: 'Eesa Ibn Yoonus told us from Thawr from 'Umar Ibn
Yazeed that 'Umar wrote to Aboo Moosa al-Ash'aree radiallaahu 'anhu
and said: "Learn the Sunnah and learn Arabic; learn the Qur`ân in
Arabic for it is Arabic."
According to another hadeeth narrated from 'Umar radiyallaahu 'anhu,
he said: "Learn Arabic for it is part of your Religion, and learn how
the estate of the deceased should be divided (faraa`id) for these are
part of your Religion."
This command of 'Umar, to learn Arabic and the Sharee'ah combines the
things that are needed, for Religion involves understanding words and
actions. Understanding Arabic is the way to understand the words of
Islâm, and understanding the Sunnah is the way to understand the
actions of Islâm…" |
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