SAEDNEWS: Surely, you also have questions about why the Quran is in Arabic and why it was revealed in Arabia, but you may not know the answers. Find answers to all your questions on Namnak.
According to Saednews, One of the common questions that arises in the minds of many people, and one of the criticisms sometimes raised about the Quran, concerns its being written in Arabic. Since many people have become accustomed to reciting Quranic verses in Arabic without paying attention to their meanings, only a limited number of people read the Quran while also studying its meaning and interpretation.
Why was the Quran revealed in Arabia and in Arabic instead of being revealed in different countries and in different languages, such as Chinese, English, and others, to different groups of people?
To understand the answer, we should first become familiar with the characteristics of the Arabian Peninsula, of which present-day Saudi Arabia was only part of a much larger region. We should then examine the characteristics and qualities of the Arabic language. The following points are therefore important.
1. This region was historically a place where major religions and religious laws developed and spread, including the religious traditions associated with Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus, peace be upon them.
2. The Kaaba, regarded as the most sacred structure in Islam, was built in this region by Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, by the command of God. It later became the direction of prayer for Muslims.
3. Another sacred site, Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), which served as the first direction of prayer for Muslims, is also located in this broader region.
4. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, was born in Arabia because his tribe, which traced its lineage back to Prophet Abraham, lived there. Therefore, just as the Prophet was born in that region, the Quran was also revealed to him there.
5. The geographical position of the Hijaz and Arabia had particular significance. Its access to major trade routes, including connections with the Silk Road, provided opportunities for communication and the exchange of ideas and beliefs. This subsequently helped Islam spread to other parts of the world, particularly throughout Asia.
1. Arabic has one of the richest and most sophisticated literary traditions.
2. It is a highly extensive language in terms of vocabulary, terminology, and linguistic expressions.
3. Arabic is known for its clarity and expressive power. It can convey meanings and intentions to the listener in a clear and direct manner without unnecessary ambiguity. The Quran refers to this quality in Surah Az-Zumar (39:28):
“An Arabic Quran, without any crookedness, so that they may become mindful.”
Since Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, came from the Arabian Peninsula, it was appropriate that the Quran be revealed in Arabic. God says:
“We did not send any messenger except in the language of his people so that he could make the message clear to them…”
This was also the case with earlier prophets, who spoke the language of their own people, and their revealed scriptures were likewise given in that language. Otherwise, their people would have found it difficult to understand and accept their message.
The Quran also says:
“Had We revealed it to one of the non-Arabs and he had recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.”
It is also possible that if the Quran had been revealed in a language other than Arabic, some of its deeper meanings and subtleties would have remained beyond people's understanding. Arabic possesses a rich vocabulary and highly developed expressive capabilities, making it well suited to convey the subtle meanings and details of divine revelation.
Of course, the Quran in its original Arabic form is not immediately understandable to everyone in the world. However, the same would be true if it had been revealed in any other language, since there is no single language that is universally understood by all people. This does not prevent people around the world from benefiting from translations of the Quran.
It should also be noted that in the Quran, whenever the revelation is described as “Arabic,” this can also emphasize the clarity and comprehensibility of its message—that its teachings are presented in an eloquent and accessible manner, without unnecessary complexity or obscurity.
The Quran contains broad divine teachings and principles that are not limited to one geographical region or one language. Its guidance is intended for humanity across different times and places.
Therefore, the fact that the Quran was revealed in Arabic, or that it was revealed in the region that is now known as Saudi Arabia, does not make its teachings geographically or culturally limited. The Quran presents guidance, principles, and laws intended to remain relevant for people throughout history, including future generations. Its teachings are not restricted by the passage of time.
Considering the historical characteristics of the Hijaz and the Arabian Peninsula, together with the linguistic qualities of Arabic, it can be understood why Arabia was the setting for the revelation of the Quran and why Arabic was the language through which its message was delivered.
The use of Arabic allowed the Quran's teachings to be expressed with considerable linguistic precision and eloquence, while its message could subsequently be conveyed to people throughout the world through translation.
It is also worth noting that the Quran describes itself as “Arabic” in approximately ten passages. According to this interpretation, the term does not merely refer to the modern concept of the Arabic language; rather, it can also indicate that the divine teachings are presented clearly, eloquently, and without unnecessary complexity or ambiguity.
In short, the message of these verses can be summarized as follows:
God revealed the Quran in a clear, comprehensible, eloquent, and expressive manner so that its guidance could be understood and conveyed to humanity.
