Why QURA’AN is in Arabic

Why is the Quran in Arabic?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.



The most important thing to do with this Glorious Book, is try to study and understand the Message that has been revealed by our Merciful Lord for our guidance.   Because, only if we understand the Message, will we be able to obey and follow its clear commandments and submit ourselves completely to the Will of our Lord!    

Allah says in Chapter 2, Surah Baqarah aayat 185:"Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down: this Book is a perfect guidance for mankind and consists of CLEAR teachings which show the right way and are a Criterion of the Truth and falsehood."

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verse 1-2:These are the verses of the Book that makes its object perfectly clear. We have sent it down as a Quran in Arabic, so that you may understand it well.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 16 Surah Nahl verse 89:We have sent down to you this Book, which makes everything plain, and is a guidance, blessing and good news to those who have surrendered themselves entirely.


Your comment: What is the difference if one reads the Quran in Arabic as it was delivered or read the translation of Quran? Is there a just reason to read Quran in Arabic only?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.459        Narrated by Aisha

The Prophet (saws) said, "Such a person as recites the Qur'an and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven).   And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur'an by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137        Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim are one letter, but alif is a letter, lam is a letter and mim is a letter."

In light of the above noble words of the Messenger of Allah (saws), there is obviously a huge reward for the people who recite the Quran.   And it is said in another narration of the Messenger of Allah (saws), that anyone who does not know how to read, but tries hard and reads it with great difficulty, Allah will give him a reward twice of what he gives to those who know how to read, or know the Arabic language fluently.

But what is more important, is that one understands what he reads!   It would avail little, if a person, who does not understand the Arabic language, to read the Glorious Quran a million times …. But all his deeds are against the guidance and teachings of the Holy Quran! Thus, if one does not understand the Arabic language, it is imperitive that he read the translation of the Holy Quran in a language which he understands best; so that he may know, obey, and follow the commands and teachings that His Lord has revealed for his guidance.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.545        Narrated by Uthman

The Prophet (saws) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an, and teach it."


Your comment: There could be many Muslims who may not be that much familiar with Arabic, should they read the transliteration of Quran or the translation would suffice?

If a believer does not know how to read the Arabic language at all, then there is no harm if he reads the transliteration of the Quran; Allah will, Insha Allah, give him a double reward for his sincere efforts.   The believer should also make an effort to learn the Arabic language, as much as his time and schedule may permit, to facilitate his recitation and understanding of the Glorious Quran.


Your comment: Why do we all Muslims offer namaaz in Arabic? If namaaz is our dues to Allah subhanahu, than should not this come into our natural language of thoughts?

The deen of Islam is a way of life and belief in the One Lord, that binds all the believers of different nationalities, different languages, different regions, different colors, different walks of life into the One Ummah and Brotherhood of Islam!   Just imagine the chaos and confusion it would create if everyone prayed the prescribed ‘salaah’ in his own language!   A believer from Malaysia would never be able to pray in congregation in Japan, etc.!   The unity of the muslims would be in absolutely shambles and disarray!   But by choosing one language, a believer is at home in any mosque in the world and this salaah in one language unifies and sanctifies the believers as One Brotherhood and One Ummah; all united in the worship of the One Lord.

Allah Subhanah, in His Perfect Wisdom and Knowledge, chose the Last Messenger to be an Arab and chose the Arabic language for his Final Message as a guidance for all mankind.   It had to be one language, and Allah, in His Perfect Wisdom, chose the Arabic language.

Indeed, we may make dua and supplication, and call upon our Merciful Lord wherever we may be and in whatever language we speak and understand best…. He indeed, is the All Knowing, All Wise.   

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 186:And if My servants ask you, O Prophet, concerning Me, tell them that I am quite near to them.   I hear and answer the prayer of the suppliant, when he calls on Me. So let them respond to My call and believe in Me. (Convey this to them), perhaps they may be guided aright!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chater 40 Surah Mumin verse 60:And Your Lord says, “Call upon Me. I will answer your prayers.   Those who disdain My worship on account of arrogance, shall certainly enter Hell in disgrace!”


Your comment: Had Quran been delivered any place other than Arabia, would it still be in Arabic? This is an hypothetical question but it abounds the whole reason for lack of understanding of Islam within and outside the Muslim world.

True brother, your question is hypothetical, but the question has a lot of weight!   And it is also true, that if Allah chose to reveal his Message to any other people other than Arabia, it would not have been in Arabic. The Sunnah or Way of Allah, is that He always sends His Message in the language of the people, so that they may understand it well. All the previous Prophets and all the Previous Divine Books were sent to the people in their language.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 14 Surah Ibraheem verse 4:Whenever We sent a Messenger to convey Our Message, he delivered it in the language of his people, so that he may make it plain to them.

Allah honored the Arabs and the land of Arabia, and He, in His Divine and Perfect Wisdom, chose to reveal his Final Message in this blessed land and in this blessed language.   

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 41 Surah Ha Meem As Sajdah verse 44:Had We sent this Quran in a foreign language, the people would have said, “Why have not i