Do non-Arab Muslims actually read and understand the Qur'an?

Question

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I know they *recite* it, and sometimes read through the entire scripture during Ramadan. But the only authentic version is the original in Arabic, I was told (and I believe Arabic is a rich language that is hard to translate accurately).
Amongst Muslims who only read, say, English, or Farsi (not Arabic) what percentage of them actually know what the book says (beyond, say, a handful of passages)?
Even though Christians and Jews aren't reluctant to read translations of their scripture, many of them don't know their scripture very well. I'm curious if this tendency is also true in Islam.

Answer 1

نفسى فى فيلم ثقافى مصرى

Answer 2

Salam. First of all I am very glad to know that u r curious to know about Muslims around the world, I also like the way u posed ur question. There are many reasons for most non-Arab muslims for not reciting Quran with understanding.
1. First of all, Arabs have the advantage of Arabic being their mothertongue whereas others do not, so they have to take time out and look for the appropriate sources to choose their language to understand, some do, some are lazy.
2. Secondly, Islamic education in Arabia is taught as school Syllabus and much importance is given just as any other subject while in other countries hardly few schools in few places in few countries cover Islam under their subjects and that is not even made compulsory. Complete knowledge of Islam mostly comes from an Arabic teacher who goes home to home and teaches Quraan and Hadith to the young kids, and here also not much importance is given by such teachers to teach Quraan to the students with its meanings. There are ofcourse Madarsas (islamic schools) where much importance is given to make the students byheart the holy Quraan, but again, not much importance given to understanding it.
3. In bygone days, illiteracy was the major reason that hindered reading Quraan with meanings, people just learned to read the Quraan in Arabic which they continue till now, but the younger generation Alhamdulillah have the advantage of Education and they can read English translations of Quraan.
But still, there are people who read the Quraan with its meanings, and inshallah the number will increase more and more with increase in literacy and awareness.

Answer 3

Yes. I make every effort to understand the meaning of the Qur'an by examining the meaning of the Arabic words. I taught myself to pronounce and understand the Arabic script, and with textual aids and persistent quesitons to Arabic speakers, I search for the meaning of not only the Qur'an, but also classical texts of creed and current texts of religious jurisprudence.

Because of the nature of the language used in the Qur'an and some other Islamic texts, the truth is that sometimes, even Arabs do not understand the Qur'an. This is why Qur'anic commentaries exist in Arabic. Qur'anic language, as well as the style of Arabic used in other Islamic texts, is often compared to Shakespearian English. It usues a different style, and many of the words have much more complex, even altogether different, meanings than they have in ordinary speech.

Answer 4

Alhumdulillah I learned at a young age to recite the Quran in Arabic. I read it often but now I am also reading an English translation becuz even though I can read the Arabic I can't understand it.

Answer 5

I guess it depends on whether or not the person put the time to learn the language. I'm an English and French speaking Muslim, so I've learned how to read Arabic, but I don't understand it. I feel how powerful it is in Arabic, so I like to read the Arabic, but then I read the English translation to understand it.

Answer 6

Interesting question, same thing happens with Hebrew language, how do Christians know the Bible they're reading is correctly translated to their language?

I could only say that the people who translate Koran from Arab to English have to know both languages very well so the translation be accurate, peace.

Answer 7

"The language of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other languages".




The Qu'ran
Alif Laam Raa. A book which we have revealed to you (Muhammad) so that you may lead the people from out of the darknesses into the light by their Lord's leave to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy." The Holy Qur'an, Chapter 14,Verse 1

The Qur'an is a Message from Allah to humanity. It was transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself (swt) to the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This message was given to the Prophet (pbuh) in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE to 622 CE). The Prophet (pbuh) was 40 years old when the Qur'an began to be revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed. The language of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other languages.

Answer 8

I suspect any person not well versed in ancient Aramaic, is likely to misinterpret the Q'uran. Ancient Hebrew was also different from contemporary Hebrew & the meanings of words changed slightly over the years... depending on how & where they are used in a sentence. I even have a hard time understanding old English.

Answer 9

Thier are many Muslims who's first language is not Arabic but they can read the Qur'an if they want.

Answer 10

in fact more than 70% of Muslims can not read or write at all and in most of our countries like iran (non arab countries) people just do whatever "ayatollah's" said .

Answer 11

Perhaps they ask someone who knows Arabic.
I am sure that they are capable of learing Arabic as well.