Quran Pronunciation: The miraculous language

• Allah سبحانه وتعالى provided some of His prophets with miracles usually for one or two purposes:  
  To help them during times of danger or trouble (Prophet Ibraheem, Yunus, Nouh)  
• Or as proof of Allah’s greatness and that the prophet is a true prophet. (Prophet Musa, Isa, Muhammad, etc.) 

Prophets and Miracles

Prophet Ibraheem عليه السلام was saved from the huge fire that was lit to burn him عليه السلام. Prophet Nuh عليه السلام was miraculously saved with his family and believed followers from the flood. Allah سبحانه وتعالى knew that people would be most impressed by miracles that accomplished valued tasks in society. So, he chose miracles that would be relevant to the society of His messengers. For example: “Moses’عليه السلام contemporaries were excellent at magic. His major miracle was to defeat the best magicians of the day in Egypt. Jesus’ عليه السلام contemporaries were recognized as skillful physicians. Therefore, his miracles were to raise the dead and cure incurable diseases. What about the contemporaries of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم? They were known for their eloquence and magnificent poetry. So, prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم major miracle was “The Quran”.  

Why the Quran was revealed in the Arabic language?

“Indeed, we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.” Surah Yusuf: 2 

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم will announce his Dawa (call) in an Arab nation. He needs a miracle that proves he is truly conveying the message of Allah. The miracle itself has conditions; that it doesn’t challenge people except in a field they have already excelled at. During that time, Arab gatherings were bustling with eloquent speech, poems, Mu’allaqat (Pre-Islamic poems), and literature. Every tribe was showing off its product in that field establishing exhibitions as well as we see in industrial technological competitions nowadays.  

The Quran was a challenge for the Arab 

The people of Arabia were impressed by the eloquence of the Quran and Arab poets and orators could not make even a few verses like it. In Surah Al-Isra verse: 88 Allah says: 

“Say, “If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.”  

Surah Al-Isra verse

Literature competitions in the Arab days 

Arabic eloquence was then an industry, verbally spread, publicized, and judged before the public in established exhibitions, and these exhibitions are universal within the Arab peninsula. Then the Arabs were considered a nation of eloquence. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم came with miracles in his people’s fields. Allah sent the Quran in Arabic to establish the proof. But why establish the proof against Arabs especially? Allah says: “a reminder to the worlds.” Surah Al-Anbiya‘

Allah سبحانه وتعالى chose the Arab to be the ones who will face the mission first, and after believing and embracing it they will carry it all over the world. The principles of Islam overshine the principles of other civilizations: Rome and Persia. Although the Arabs at that time were illiterate and Bedouin nations, as well as they, didn’t have a unified law and no residence, they established laws that astonished the people of Rome and Persia. People from other nations said how possible that illiterate Bedouin people come up with this system of laws they did not have in the past. The reason for choosing Arabs then is for people to know that it’s a mission from Heaven.  

Why is the Quran in the Arabic tongue, if it is sent to all people of different languages?  

The Quran was revealed in Arabic because the intention was to challenge who will receive the prophet’s call first, in their own tongue (Arabs), and after they believe in him, they cross the earth carrying a miracle of a different type. That miracle is to challenge all civilizations in the laws that they established to achieve happiness and stability in their life.  

Why Quran was not revealed in English?

The first thing is the message sent from God to humanity was not delivered in Arabic, previously prophets came and sent to every single nation and sent in their own languages.

“And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them, and Allah sends astray [thereby] whom He wills [those who refuse His guidance.] and guides whom He wills. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”  

surah Ibrahim: 4

The message of the oneness of God was given to all nations in all languages. The main role of the messenger is to convey the message of Allah to his people. Allah says:

“مَّا عَلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ إِلَّا ٱلۡبَلَٰغُۗ” 
“The messenger’s duty is but to convey (the Message) …”  

Surah Al-Ma’idah: 99

Allah also says:

“O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.”  

Surah Al-Ma’idah: 67

Messengers of Allah were given the responsibility of teaching their people Islam. Each messenger was only responsible for conveying Allah’s message to his people. They were not responsible for bringing the message to people outside of their area unless Allah سبحانه وتعالى ordered them to do so. The responsibility of prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was different. He was sent as a messenger and guide for his people and for all humankind. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says:

“We have not sent you but as a universal messenger to mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin).”

Surah Saba: 28 

Prophet Muhammad during his 23 years of prophecy, taught the people of Arabia the message of Islam, and all of Arabia became a Muslim nation. Before he died صلى الله عليه وسلم he sent his ambassadors with messages of Islam to the Roman Empire, Persia, Egypt, and other nations outside Arabia inviting them to Islam.  

Can I learn the Arabic Quran even if I’m not a native speaker?  

The child initially learns the mother tongue so he can communicate with the family members, later on, he may learn the language of the society so that he can communicate with the people around him. Almost all human beings at least know 2 or 3 different languages. Isn’t it a requirement that we should know the language in which our creator Allah سبحانه وتعالى has revealed His last and final message the Glorious Quran? 

Is it a must that we Muslims should learn Arabic as a language to understand the Quran?  

Fortunately, Learning the Arabic language is easier now because online Quran classes are available at Hamil Alquran Academy. You can learn Arabic online from home. Learning Arabic with our teachers is often split into three categories: 

1. Reading phonetically outside of understanding (Learning Quran) 

2. Verbal (Typically dialect of the country) 

3. Complete comprehension of classic Arabic (Fus-ha), reading, writing, and speaking.  
   All categories take time to learn, as with anything. Learning the Quran is the easiest for all people.

“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?”

(Quran 54:40).