If a person can't read Arabic does that me they can not become a Muslim?

Question

i have asked many questions about the contradictions in the Koran some have been explained...and others people always come up with the same answer..."in arabic"...so does that mean if you don't understand arabic you really can't be a muslim...because you truely can't grasp the arabic language...and if that is true...why is allah so narrow minded about being understood only in one language...i don't have to read the Bible in Hebrew or Greek in order to understand what God means...i just don't get it...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmqMMJRb8DhX8ui89Zsq8frsy6IX?qid=20060830064334AAF0iV4

I am just wondering why I always get the same lame answer...because if I read the Koran in English and am not a Muslim then Muslims tend to point out I can't read Arabic...so I really can't understand...so if that is true...according the that persons explaination...then a real Muslim isn't real until they can read the Koran in Arabic...

and...why would God want me to learn a whole new language in order to communicate with Him or read the texts...isn't God more powerful than one language...can't He understand English, Japanese, Swedish, etc...in the Bible it talke about the many languages of the world and how God can understand them all...so why not in the Koran...

Answer 1

who said that??!! u know other than the arab Muslims, i think 90% of Muslims don't know Arabic. It doesnt mean that only Arab Muslims are the Only True Muslims, infact Non-Arab Muslims are just as Good & True Muslims. i know where u r comin' from? u want to know, whenever u take out a fault in The Holy Quran, the person who explains to u saying that "in Arabic" etc. etc., right? u have to understand this thing, that there can be NO fault in The Holy Quran in its Original Text in its Original Language (Arabic), and whatever fault ppl find are only due to the Translation of The Holy Quran, as translation is done by the human being, thus it can hold some mistake/faults while translating, But The Holy Quran itself is Perfect and has NO mistake in It, and Neither anything Contradicts in It. Now, when a person finds fault in The Holy Quran, its actually in the translation, and if the person would have had known Arabic, he could have had verified with The Original Text (in Arabic), and thus would have had come to know that there is no Mistake in The Holy Quran, as the mistake comes from the translation.
The Point is :- if anyone comes to know of a fault in The Holy Quran while reading the translation, dont jump to the conclusion that there is fault in The Holy Quran, infact ask those who either knows Arabic (so that he can make u understand better) or those who has best knowledge (a Muslim Scholar) on the matter that u r refering to, and i m 100% sure that either of the person will clear up ur mind abt the fault and u will come to realize that there is Absolutely NO fault in The Holy Quran, but there can be any in the translation (as translators are humans). also, ALLAH (GOD) knows as many language as there ever existed or still exists or even will exist, HE is beyond the bounds of a language, and HE knows what u r talking abt in any language. But, this answer was for u to correct urself and to make u understand better, NOT that GOD can't understand u if u don't know Arabic.
So, if u dont know Arabic, and having some trouble on a matter, then hold Firm to ur belief that there is NO fault/mistake in The Holy Quran, and ask those who knows on the matter u r talking abt, so that he will be able to correct u and make u understand better. Peace to All.

Answer 2

God understand all languages but the Holy Quran was given to us in Arabic. You can read it in English or any other language but you will not get the beauty of Arabic because translation doesn't bring every thin. For example no one today in English speaking countries know what exactly Bible says in Hebrew or Greek and they don't even question the translations even though it changes and comes with new version because human makes error not GOD. And if you tell me why its in Arabic the answer is simple because God wanted to be in Arabic.

http://askmuslims.com

Answer 3

Dear Turntable,

You can certainly be a Muslim if you don't understand Arabic. There are good English translations of the Qur'an (Muhammad Asad's for example), and there are also extensive English commentaries on the Qur'an, so its meaning is very accessible to non-Arabic speakers. In fact, 90% of Muslims in the world are not native Arabic speakers.

Just because someone is reading the Qur'an in Arabic does not mean he understands the meaning. The Qur'an requires interpretation, and bad translations arise primarily because the interpreter failed to understand the meaning in the original Arabic, before he even tried to translate that meaning into English.

But on the other hand, not only the meaning, but also the "form" of the Qur'an, is considered important. And although there are good translations, you do not have direct access to the Qur'an until you read it in its original language. So if you want to study the Qur'an in considerable depth, it becomes necessary to learn Arabic. But this is a decision that comes long after converting to Islam.

I hope that helps,
Imran

Answer 4

There is no contradiction in the holy Quran but misunderstandings. I will be more than happy to respond to any contradiction you may think of, but by doing simple search you will recognize that there is nothing in this world similar to the holy Quran.

"The Koran is one of the world’s classics which cannot be translated without grave loss. It has a rhythm of peculiar beauty and cadence that charms the ear. … Indeed it may be affirmed that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it.
Over a period of many months the Koran has been my constant companion, the object of my most attentive study. Though many can certainly claim to have read the Koran, indeed over and over again, and to know it well, I think it may be reasonably asserted that their understanding and appreciation of the book will always fall short of what may be attained by one who undertakes to translate it in full and with all possible fidelity. I had myself studied the Koran and perused it from end to end over many years, before I embarked upon making a version of it; assuredly the careful discipline of trying to find the best English equivalent for every meaning and every rhythm of the original Arabic has profoundly deepened my own penetration into the heart of the Koran, and has at the same time sharpened my awareness of its mysterious and compelling beauty. For this reason, if for no other, I think it is justifiable to adopt the unusual procedure of adding a separate preface to the second installment of a two volume work. I suppose I shall never again recapture the freshness and excitement of the experience just now completed; the passing months and years will inevitably blur the image; this is the moment, or never, to attempt to record the impact which a sustained and concentrated exploration of the Koran has left on my mind and my heart”. Professor Arthur J. Arberry.

Answer 5

You don't need to talk to Allah with your tong or with Arabic language only , every one can talk to Allah through their hearts and by your mind , Allah is nearest to your heart than you are , also there is a little different between religions because they came from the same source that is Allah the one God .Islam is not alot of rules only,Islam is a new way of living , thinking , behaving so you can be Muslim at any time you like if you intent to do be muslim because that is between you and Allah only and he knows you very well and he will help you for sure,I hope that will led you to the truth which you are looking for .

Answer 6

What's more important in being a Muslim is to comprehend the messages in Qur'an through whatever languages s/he understood. Reading & / speaking Arabic is just the bonus, since anyhow, the regular 5-time prayer required Arabic in practice.

Answer 7

Not true. I have converted to Islam long time before I started to read Quran and learn arabic.
I have read Quran first in my language, translation I mean.

First I have learned how to pray in Arabic as it is standard text from Quran. Later I started to try to read Quran in Arabic.

People all over the world are converting to Islam and later start to learn arabic to be able to read Holy Quran how it had been sent by God..

Even translated Quran is very clear and unerstandable in its content. By the way there are no any contradiction in Quran, but plenty of them are in Bible ( sorry forgot which version as there are many of them)

Answer 8

The Prayer in arabic is must only for people who know arabic. You can not read koran (about 30 words only they call it Fatihaa and Surah)while standing in prayers in your language because God said it in Arabic and we have to say it as he said it to make sure that we have his words not man translation. But all other parts of the prayers like SUPPLICATIONS u can say it in your language. If u can not learn these 30 words there are easy words u can use it and say it in your language here it is (Glory be to Allaah, and praise and thanks be to Allaah, and there is no god but Allaah, and Allaah is the most Exalted and Great.) for new muslim he can use and say these words in his prayers for all movements




The Muslim population of the world is around 1,2 billion. One out of five people in the world is a Muslim. They are a vast range of races, nationalities, and cultures from around the globe--from the Phillipines to Nigeria--they are united by their common Islamic faith. Only about 18% live in the Arab world and the largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. Most Muslims live east of Pakistan. Thirty percent of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, and 10% in the Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan make up 10% of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities in almost every area, including Latin America and Australia, they are most numerous in Russia and its newly independent states, India and central Africa. There are about 6 million Muslims in the United States.









http://www.al-sunnah.com/top_ten.htm

Answer 9

arabic is just language through which its speakers communicate with each other. but being a muslim has nothing to do with arabic. yes reciting quran must be in arabic but there's an equivalent translation of quran.

Answer 10

no sure it doesnt mean...i cant read arabic very well but i am a muslim..the point is islam in any kind of language...of courd\se there r so many narrow minded people thet says that u must read arabic to be muslim...but there is something..the praying in islam is arabic my mean is in just this case u have to ..but in other cases not(praying means namaz or salat)...