The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saw) over the period of 23 years. The language of revelation was in Arabic. As Islam spread outside the regions of where Arabic was not the native language, the need for translations of the Quran arose.
Today, millions of Muslims whose mother tongue is not Arabic can read the Quran in their language. This then begs the question, is it important for a Muslim to learn Arabic and understand the Quran in its original language?
To help answer this question, Quran Academy has interviewed Nihal Khan, an Arabic teacher from New Jersey. Below are highlights of our conversation with him.
Why would a Muslim need to understand the Quran in Arabic if there are many translations available?
Nihal Khan (NK): Although there is a lot that we can learn from the translation of the Quran, there will come a point where your learning will eventually plateau. Arabic is a language with many nuances. Understanding and mastering the nuances of Quranic Arabic will unlock another level of understanding that would otherwise remain lost in translation.
Another advantage of understanding the Quran in Arabic is it gives you the flexibility to study and explore the Quran. Relying on translations or relying on excerpts of translations often give us soundbites. But soundbites expire. The human mind wants more as we grow older.
For anyone who is a serious student of the Quran, for anyone who has become hungry to reach their next level of iman, learning how to understand the Quran in Arabic is the next step. It can unlock a path to deeper understanding and spirituality.
