We have mentioned a few weeks ago, the arguments as to why the Quran would be revealed in Arabic. However, we did not visit this argument on the guidance aspect.
Since the Arabic language is extremely precise in its vocabulary, rich in its linguistic content, beautiful in its rhythm, detailed in its intricacies, easy to remember in its phonetics… Regardless, this medium facilitates a multitude of facets of guidance.
And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example – that they might remember.
[It is] an Arabic Qur’an, without any deviance that they might become righteous.
Surah Az-Zumar (39 – 27-28)
The fact that it is in Arabic, the language itself allows the examples to be pertinent and well explained; short and sweet; concise. There is no place for deviation in form and content.
And thus We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur’an that you may warn the Mother of Cities [Makkah] and those around it and warn of the Day of Assembly, about which there is no doubt. A party will be in Paradise and a party in the Blaze.
Surah Ash-Shoura (42 – 7)
Since each prophet comes from within his people; therefore, he speaks their language. So the prophet received revelation in Arabic, the tongue present in that region. However, in a window of fewer than 50 years, Islam spread from the Iberian peninsula to China. The reason I bring this up is not about conquest, but about ideology and vessel. We know the Quran is a source of guidance, but its means are through the Arabic language. For hundreds of years, people have learned Arabic more than nowadays people learn English. This does not mean that other languages were abandoned, or culture was reprimanded; just that there was a common ground of faith and the best way to communicate this brotherhood was via the language Allah had decided to convey his last revelation. From Samarkand to Seville, faith and language were shared. Regardless of status, race, or origin, there was a borderless sea of land that allowed Muslims to travel freely from one end to the other.
Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43 – 3)
So, what is there to understand or reflect on? A language is a language, right? Yes and no. Arabic is a language, but not just any language; a revelation was brought down in this language. So?!? The Gospel was revealed in Aramaic (Syriac), and the Torah was in Hebrew. So?!? A major difference is that these languages went by the dodo; Hebrew almost went extinct a century ago and Aramaic… precisely! The Arabic language is still present and alive. Even if colonial rule took over practically all Arabophone countries, it is still prevalent in these regions to this day.
