Is this Ayah (verse) contrary to Islam being universal?

Question

And never did We destroy a town but it had a term made known.
(Surah Ibrahim 15:4)

There was no Prophet from any community who did not stand up and did not talk in their own language. And the heavenly book also used to be in the language of those people. Therefore if the apostleship of a Prophet is specially for that community, then that system would have been very much likeable, but if his apostleship is universal and for the people of the whole world, then why it is necessary that his book should be in the language of those people say for example, the book brought by the Prophet of Islam (‘s) is in the Arabic language?

Those Prophets who were sent for the guidance of the people since their very first concern was with their own people, therefore it was necessary that the heavenly book which they brought should be in the language of their people and then he should do propagation of his message and in other communities in different other ways.

Nowadays the knowledgeable personalities of every country are trying that their books be written in the language of the people of that country. However what is entered into those books is never solely especially for the people of those areas.

Since the Prophet of Islam (‘s) came from the Arab community and in the initial stage he had to deal with Arab clans and tribes therefore, his book is in one of the world’s comprehensive and living language; that is Arabic. Whereas its laws and commands are connected to all the human beings.

If at the time of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (‘s) a universal and international language had existed and if all the people were knowing and understanding that language and spoke in that language, then in that case it would have been most appropriate that the Prophet’s heavenly book was also in that language. There was no such language in those days, nor is to this date, and there is no further progress till now in this regard.

On the basis of whatever is stated above the Holy Quran being in Arabic language, is not at all negating that Islam is a universal religion. In more clear words it should be said that the above-mentioned verse says that Allah has sent every Prophet to his community with the message in their own language, but that does not mean that, the apostleship of the Prophet and guidance was limited specifically for that community only.

Any Prophet or his book being in the language of his people is never the proof that his Prophethood was limited to this people only. But, his religion being specific or general should be decided by other means.

It is also evident that Islam is above race and language and it takes the whole world as its home and the Holy Quran is in Arabic because there is no international language. Therefore the allegation that Islam is a religion of a particular race is not a correct stand.

That Islam is a universal is known through many ways, but here it is not possible to give all the details. For details refer to Din-e-Hikmat published by Jamea-e-Ta’alimate Islami.

Answer 1

This is an advanced spiritual Islamic question! I have your answer. Allah is All-Knowing correct? Is the message of the Quran inside the Arabic or with Allah? Does Arabic contain the word of God, or is the word of God uncontainable and reaches beyond classes, languages, races and lands? Is the guidance in the Arabic Quran, or is it with Allah? Isn't is clear in any language and with any human being who seeks guidance? Of course a language can't contain Allah's word, its guidance is with him.
This is why a Arab can read the Quran and not believe in it, and an English or German speaking person can read it in their language and submit to Allah with tears in their eyes. The Quran transcends beyond languages and cultures. Don't take the miracle of the Quran for granted. Its not restrained to the Arabic language. Its guidance is with Allah and he guides whom he chooses.


The Quran Must Be Translated

[26:198] If we revealed this to people who do not know Arabic.

[26:199] And had him recite it (in Arabic), they could not possibly believe in it.

Answer 2

God has promised that the last prophet is the Prophet Muhammad.

Why would u wanna question it? u already answer the question...
The books Allah reveal will be based on the language of the prophets such as Injil in hebrew, Al-Quran in Arab.

In terms of universal is that, Islam religion cover all aspect of lives and its rules that have been thought by Allah trhough Quran is the rules that can be used universally in any time of century... Thats the meaning of universal.

Well, as we know.. there are thousands type of language in this world which many has extinct and some are still available but perhaps have modern structure in their language.

But as Allah has promissed he will kept his last words (Al-Quran) untill the end of the world without any changes and without any corruption. Thus u can see that for more than 1400 years, Al-quran is still in Arab and yet the Arab language was the only language that are still known and understandable by all arabs untill this days.. this is to maintain that everyone knows the meaning of the Quran.

Its in Arab.. cos can a prophet who talk in arabic language make books in English? make book in Hebrew? in other language than his own people language? thats even nonsens

Al-Quran in Arabic is the true Al-Quran and in other translation is just a mere translation.. it is because.. to make sure that Al-Quran will not be changes in the meaning, in its phrases and its words due to different kind of grammer and meanings in other language. Just like what had happened to the Bible. Bible with many translation, with differents kind of structure and its meaning due to translation from hebreww.. and yet people will say.. just choose any versions of Bible that u can understand. What is that?

So, universal means is Islam itself.

Answer 3

It is stated in the Holy Quran that Allah made humans vary, including their language.

what do you think ?

I think that the language doesn't matter. The only thing matter is that the language used in Holy Quran has a small chance of ambiguity, so that transliteration become much easier and have less misinterpretation. In any case, law should be easier to understand by everybody subject to the law, right ?

As in surah Ibrahim 15:4, I think the verse told us about the past, that every town destroyed was already have someone to remind them about Allah, of course in their own language...

Answer 4

Does your theory then not apply to all the holy scriptures?
The Quraan is widely available in all languages, although it was revealed in Arabic. The verse that you have quoted needs to be interpreted in context of the whole chapter (Surah Ibrahim) and not just that verse.

Answer 5

you'd better to know that the international language of islam is arabic,but even all of the arab people cant understand quran.
you have to read in arabic & tarnslate it to your own language