Do you have a palpable interest in learning Arabic, but tittering on the edge of indecision?
And, you’re wondering, hesitantly, what’s the point of learning the language of Ishmael?
Because, yes…
You feel this quivering desire to learn Arabic, but you do not feel this burning desire which takes to you the depths, and transports you to meet the East, this wonderful world of Arabian Nights, and the bewitching Scheherazade with an infinite imagination.
Do you see it?
The motivation just isn’t there yet.
Because, yes…
There are so many delightful languages to discover, and so little time in a lifetime. So, why not learn Arabic?
It’s crazy…
Yet, it is so important.
Look…
Knowing precisely your reasons for learning Arabic is one of the magical secrets of having flamboyant motivation and reaching your goal.
So, without further ado…
Let yourself be transported by this article which takes you on a discovery of 3 precious advantages of the Arabic language, and all the riches you can benefit from.
Come on…
Let’s go!
1- You will dive into the beautiful depths of the Qur’an, and revel in its dazzling treasures
The Qur’an is one of the main reasons Muslims learn Arabic.
The “why” is simple:
Arabic is the key to accessing, meditating on, understanding and learning the Qur’an, but also to perfect its recitation, and to revel in the beauty of its style, its rhythm and its words which pierce, nourish and soothe the heart.
God made the Qur’an a Light for the believer who wishes to walk towards Him. It’s a wonderful source of spiritual upliftment.
Now you may say:
“Yes but…. translations exist, right? Certainly, but they are incomparable to the original version. And that’s putting it mildly!
By reading a translation, you lose an awful lot of the meaning and depth of the verses and surahs, and you miss out on the sublime and unique beauty of the word of God.
Here’s an example that will surprise you:
Did you know that when a Muslim says “ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ “(Alhamdu lil-Lah), they are saying two things at the same time?
Yes, the Arabic word « alhamdu » includes two notions: that of thanks and that of praise.
In other words:
- When a Muslim says “alhamdu liLlah”, they are saying that if there is one being in this universe who deserves all thanks and gratitude, it is God.
- They are also expressing the fact that if there is one person who deserves all praise and praise, it is Alalh and no one else.
And that’s not all…
The preposition “li” of “alhamdu li-Llah” also expresses two notions!
- The first is to say that all thanks and praise goes to God.
- And the second expresses the fact that all thanks and praise are intrinsic to God, whether the human recognises it or not. This formulation is interesting because it is independent of who we are. It is “alhamdu” which belongs to Allah.
That’s deep and rich, isn’t it? Yes, but there is one problem.
Here it is:
The English translation of “alhamdu li-Llah” is “Praise God”.
Certainly, this formulation is honorable, alhamdu-liLah, but as you can see it does not reflect the full depth of the word of God.
God wanted the language of revelation to be in the Arabic language. It is not a coincidence.
2- You will touch the voluptuous beauty of Arabic writing, and making it your own
Arabic writing is an art in its own right.
And learning to write Arabic is a fantastic artistic exercise that will give you a lot of pleasure.
Imagine the light sound of your pen sliding across your paper. Before your eyes, characters follow one another, from right to left letters with full and deep curves, soft loops with rounded shapes and angular lines dominated by horizontality.
So now…
Here”s the secret:
By learning Arabic, you will learn what some consider to be the most beautiful written language. That’s neat; isn’t it?
But wait…
There’s also Arabic calligraphy.
It’s an ancestral art that lies between writing and drawing. By learning Arabic, you’re choosing to learn a language that has a real aesthetic richness that few other languages can claim.
By the way…
Did you know that Arabic calligraphic writing comes in different styles? For example, there is the Kourique, the Naskhi, the Riqa and the Mohaqqaq! IT’s a whole world to explore!
In the meantime, let yourself be transported by the beauty of the calligraphic letters…
3- You will taste the delights of communicating with a group of more than 400 million people around the world
Arabic is one of the most spoken languages in the world.
Here are 3 impressive stats:
- 400 million people speak Arabic as a native language,
- 6 billion Muslims around the world have Arabic as their liturgical language,
- 25 countries have Arabic as an official language.
Do you know a language in the world spoken by 25 countries that have so much in common, from their religion to their history?
The answer is simple: obviously not! This characteristic is unique to the Arabic language.
So, in practical terms, why learn Arabic?
Because…
You’ll be able to communicate with over 400 million people around the world and be a part of this huge family which has a rich and ancient language in common.
You will also speak one of the 6 most influential languages in the world. And yes, Arabic is in 5th place in the ranking of the 10 most influential world languages! This was demonstrated by Kan Chan in a study he conducted in May 2016 for INSEAD.
You will also be able to travel to 25 countries while being able to understand and be understood by the locals. The experience and the emotions you will experience during your stays will be unmatched to those you would experience if you did not speak the language of the country.
So, go discover Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, but also Syria, Lebanon and Palestine!
And that’s not all – the wonders of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq will be at your fingertips.
And we could go on with the treasures of Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
By the way…
Did you know that Arabic is one of the 6 official languages of the UN along with English, French, Russian, Chinese and Spanish?
That means that Arabic, along with the 5 other languages, is used for the dissemination of official documents; it also means that a representative can speak in Arabic, and that their words will be translated into all 5 other languages.
What you should remember:
In this article, you have discovered 3 motivating reasons for reaching your goal of learning Arabic.
Of course, learning Arabic is not an easy task. Let’s face it, it won’t happen overnight.
But that’s the point…
As you start by developing a strong purpose, you are laying the foundations for your Arabic learning adventure.
By being clear on why you want to learn Arabic, you will fuel your flame and spring yourself into action.
Soon, you’ll find yourself on the banks of the Nil conversing in Arabic with a local passerby. And in your hands, a book by the famous Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, which you were enjoying reading.
Now, it’s your turn!
- What motivates you most to learn Arabic?
Let us know in the comments! Your testimony will surely motivate others who want to learn Arabic, but who have not yet taken the plunge.
Enfin, if you want to know more, don’t hesitate to check out our children’s programme for learning the Arabic language as well as the one made specifically for adults.