بســـم اللــه الرحــمــن الـرحـــيــم
THE BASICS OF ARABIC READING AND WRITING | Introductory lesson [summary]
- This course will give you a good foundation in both Arabic reading and writing (in shā Allāh).
- Classes will be uploaded on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and each session will run for approximately 10 minutes (in shā Allāh).
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Importance of learning the Arabic language
1. The Qur'ān which is one of the greatest source of guidance given to mankind is Arabic.
Allāh ﷻ said in reference to the Qur'ān:
{یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَاۤءَتۡكُم مَّوۡعِظَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَشِفَاۤءࣱ لِّمَا فِی ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدࣰى وَرَحۡمَةࣱ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ}
“O mankind! There has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a healing for that which is in the chests - a guidance and a mercy for the believers.”
[Sūrah Yūnus 57]
❝It is only those who know the speech of the Arabs who truly appreciate the virtue of the Qur'ān.❞ ['Al-Fawā'id Al-Mushawwiq ilā ‘Ulūmil Qur'ān', Jamālud-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān Al-Balkhī (D. 698 H.)]
2. Similarly, the Sunnah -which explains the Qur'ān- is also Arabic.
And these Divine revelations (the Qur'ān & Sunnah) form the foundation of Islām.
3. Learning the Arabic language allows a person to benefit directly from the speech and works of the scholars, past and present, without an intermediary.
4. A person who is weak in the Arabic language is more vulnerable to being affected by doubts and misconceptions. This is why the enemies of Islām seek to distance the Muslims from learning and understanding the Arabic language. [Sheikh Muqbil's Forward to Al-ḥulal Adh-Dhahabiyyah (paraphrased)]
5. Learning the Arabic language is the key to understanding the rest of the Islamic sciences. [Sheikh Muqbil - same reference as previous point]
6. Although Learning and teaching the Arabic language is a communal obligation, every Muslim is required to learn from the Arabic language -in accordance to their ability- that which will enable them to bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allāh and that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger, to be able to recite the Qur’ān and say the necessary adh-kār during the Ṣalāh... [Ash-Shāfi’ē, Ar-Risālah]
[NOTE: there was a slip of the tongue when quoting Ash-Shāfi’ē's statement:
I said 'jahdahu', I should have said 'jahduhu' - fā‘il balagha:
فعلى كل مسلم أن يتعلم من لسان العرب ما بلغه جَهدُه...]
7. Allāh has chosen and favoured the Arabic language, so we should make the effort to learn it.
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How to make the most of this programme:
1. Sincerity.
{إِن یَعۡلَمِ اللهُ فِی قُلُوبِكُمۡ خَیۡرࣰا یُؤۡتِكُمۡ خَیۡرࣰا}
“If Allāh finds goodness in your hearts, He will give you that which is better.”
[Sūrah Al-Anfāl 70]
Bear in mind, the Arabic language is only a means to reaching the objective. Our objective is to gain an accurate understanding of the Qur'ān and Sunnah in order to implement it correctly.
2. Consistency in seeking knowledge, even if it's not much, will produce great fruits - with Allāh's Permission.
3. Commitment.
You should have a book and pen to hand with every class. Pause, rewind and replay as many times as you like.
4. If you have any little ones, get them involved, but please don't leave them unsupervised with these devices. Also, keep them motivated by setting them suitable tasks along the way.
5. These classes are supplementary to attending physical classes - not an alternative/replacement!
6. To conclude, our Prophet ﷺ said:
((احرص على ما ينفعك واستعن بالله ولا تعجز))
‘Be diligent in what will benefit you, seek assistance in Allāh and do not tire.’ (Muslim, narrated Abū Hurayrah)
