This position.
“Even *I* can blog!” said Moose.
You must’ve read blog posts where a fellow brother/sister complains of or advises against the notion that just about anyone and everyone can talk/write about Islam as they so please. Brother Ali illustrates this problem well in his latest video The Haram Police. I especially love how he points out (around 2:10) that copy-pasting an English translation of a ‘hadith’ found on some obscure website cannot pass off as a ruling. But as much as we laugh along at how well we can relate to such encounters, it is a serious issue - that of qualification.
What I’d like to emphasise here is the oft undermined basic requisite of knowing Arabic. Does this then mean that any Tahir, Dawud and Harith of Arab descent is qualified simply because they know the language of the Qur’an and the Sunnah? Of course not, the true mark of a scholar goes far beyond that.
What we do often find though, is the average layman when he delves into studies of the Arabic language - that is, learning, understanding and appreciating its very linguistics - his nature in approaching any matter or argument becomes refined. His perception is sharpened because now he comprehends the mechanics (if you will) of the revealed Message. And as he marvels in the beauty of it all, everything else is placed in the right perspective - the important are prioritised, and the petty, left behind.
So yes, knowledge in this core Islamic field itself makes a whole lot of difference. A mere introduction to Arabic can blow you away. What more, if we were to properly educate ourselves of it.
“Whoever recites Qur’an, his value is amplified. Whoever records hadith, his proof is strengthened. Whoever learns jurisprudence, his status is ennobled. Whoever learns Arabic, his disposition becomes gentle. Whoever learns mathematics, his opinion will be copious. And whoever fails to defend his honor will not benefit from his knowledge.”
Imam al-Shafi’i*
Spoken like a true master of knowledge, and specifically, the language. Therefore, we should strive to acquire this path to a gentle disposition. If anything, take it upon ourselves as a crucially important step towards reviving the spirit of this ummah. Bi idhnillah…
* quoted in The Heirs of the Prophets.
Jazaakillaah khayr for yet another excellent post.
One of the amazing benefits of learning arabic is that you’re truly humbled in awe to the magficence of Allaah and His choice of revealing the Qur’aan in this language. The more you learn it, the more it softens your heart until it begins to absorb the teachings of Qur’aan and whatever knowledge you acquire and as a result your character is refined, and redefined.
O btw, I totally love that lil’ moose!
Wa iyyaki khairal jazaa’, for that addition too! True that, true that. :)
I’m glad you love Moose. Perhaps you shall meet him one day. Oh btw that mug is actually Tawfeeq’s. I use no ask he permission *gig3*.
Beautiful insight.
Very nice post, very true.
“Whoever learns Arabic, his disposition becomes gentle.”
I can think of people I know who are examples of that statement. I hope I can be like them insha’Allah :h
Jazakumallahu khair!
I hope so too, maniac. I mean, insomniac. :h