2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

The Relation Between Quran and Arabic Language

I.

What was the value of Arabic language during the ancient time? Arabic language is the oldest language that has the same character, letters, vocabulary strength, and roots from ancient time to today. Arabic language has combined other small languages since the sixth century. Five prophets were sent to their tribes using the Arabic language: Hud, Salih, Shuab, Ismail(Ishmael), and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). The language of Adam according to Quran was also Arabic, Chapter 2 Verse 31: "And He taught Adam the names all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." Allah mentioned this sentence in direct quotation in Arabic language. Why Quran was revealed in Arabic? Allah says in Chapter 41 Verse 44: "And if We had made it a non-Arabic Quran, they would have said, Why are the verses not explained in detail in our language? Is it a foreign recitation and an Arab messenger? Say, It is a guidance and cure for those who believe. And those who do not believe in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place." Arab nation was a nation that expresses itself by language, and this is why the language was more important than anything else in their life. It was strong, big, fully completed with all the meanings and phrases demanded for the communications. Arabic language was the tool which carried the Arabic culture since the old era until the approach of Islam, when Arabic became the most important language in the Islamic world.

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2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

III.

What are the specialties of Arabic language? The first specialty is that this language is protected forever from being changed or extinct, and this is what Allah says in Chapter 15 Verse 9: "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." Arabic has all what is needed for a language to command in grammar, rhetoric, syntax and morphology; it is flexible with various forms in which a slight change can convey a completely different yet more accurate meaning. Arabs started to spread Islam in all over the world using the Arabic language the language of Quran. Consequently, the main languages of many tribes and nations were changed from their mother tongues into Arabic language in order to understand Quran and follow the rules of Islam. When many of the non-Arabs became Muslims, they learned Arabic language and started to teach this language to others. Thus all of their sciences were recorded in Arabic; in a period of time, Arabic language was the biggest in the world. According to Quran and Hadith, Arabic language is the language that will be used on judgment day and in paradise as well. Why not? And it is the language that Allah chose to be the language of His last, protected, and eternal holly bookQuran.

2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

The Approaches of Reading, Understanding, and Memorizing Quran

I. The revelation of Quran A. Muhammad in the cave The prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) used to go to one cave in Mecca and spend long time there. It was few years before the approaching of Islam, and the name of that cave is Hiraa. B. The reaction of Muhammad to the revelation One day while the prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) was in the cave, one angel came to him, hugged him tightly, and said, "Read!" But the prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) replied, "I can't read." The angel asked three times and the prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) replied all the same, as he was illiterate. C. The first verses revealed Therefore the angel[Gabriel] said, "Recite in the name of your Lord, who created everything. He created man from a micro creature. Recite, and remember your Lord is the most generous, who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not." (Quran, Chapter 96 Verses 1~5) II. The characteristics of Quran When people ask, What is Quran? Is it poetry, prose or something else? The answer is that it is completely different from any literary genre or written form. Quran is the words of Allah, revealed to His prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) via the archangel Gabriel(peace be upon him), to which nothing similar can be made by anyone in the world. It serves the purpose of worshiping, starting with the chapter of al-Fatihah and ended by the chapter of al-Nas. Allah says in Chapter 17 Verse 88, "Say, If all mankind and jinn gather together in order to produce the like of this Quran, they can never make anything alike, even if they assist each other." III. How to read Quran? A. To read Quran, we should make ourselves ready for it. First, we should be physically clean. Allah says in Chapter 56 Verses 77~80, "Indeed, it is a noble Quran. It is registered, confirmed, and protected; no one should touch it except the purified. It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds."

2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

B. To read Quran, we should start by saying uthu Billahi Minashaytani Arragim, which means "Im asking Allah to protect me from Satan, the devil whos got stoned." Allah says in Chapter 16 Verse 98, "So when you recite Quran, first seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled from His mercy. C. When we read Quran, we should always remember that Quran is from Allah and that He revealed it to His messenger to teach all of us how to worship, live, depend on Him, and reach His satisfaction and paradise. IV. How to understand Quran? A. Academically Learn Arabic > Study the reason of the revelation of each verse of Quran > Study the explanation of Quran from Hadith and the books of explanation B. Generally To understand Quran, we need to have a clear mind, heart, and feeling, in order to be able to feel Quran at the same time while we are reading. We should feel that this Quran is revealed to us same as it was to the prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him). V. How to memorize Quran? The first step to memorize Quran is to read with concentration, submission, feeling, and faith. We should keep in mind, while we are trying to memorize Quran, that this is our manual for a perfect life now and the hereafter. We should keep in mind that memorizing Quran means understanding and following what we are memorizing. We should follow all the commands in Quran and keep ourselves away from the things Allah forbids us. We should ask Allah always to keep the Quran in our hearts, brains, and actions in our daily life. We should keep reading Quran and rememorizing it regularly all the time. The prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) said, "The one who memorizes Quran by heart is same as a person who has a camel. As long as he is taking care of this camel and keep an eye on it, it will remain there; once he stops watching it, it will run away." We should recite more Quran during our prayers, so we will keep what we memorize.
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2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

Better read Quran from one book only. It is better to have your own Quran and always recite from the same one. As the brain and the eyes will work on keeping this shape, the memorization will be easier. Better keep on listening to a clear recitation of Quran by a knowledgeable Imam, so the ear will help as well in memorizing better and faster. VI. Conclusion If we listen to Quran, understand it well, use it in our daily life for everything, and follow what is written on it whether we like it or not, we are following the perfect method of living, because it is the method of our Creator, Allah. And it is enough for us to know that following Quran and living according to it will make us safe, happy, and peaceful in this life and the hereafter. Allah says in Chapter 17 Verse 9, "Indeed, this Quran guides everyone to reach his best in this life and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward in the hereafter."

2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

The opening chapter of the Quran (al-Fatihah)

I. Introduction Al-Fatihah consists of seven verses. Our prayer will not be accepted if we dont recite Al-Fatihah in each Rakt. The meaning of Al-Fatihah is the starter, the first step, or the opener. AlFatihah also has other names such as the mother of Qurn and so on. If we understand, practice, feel, and work according to Al-Fatihah, we will find that life is only a station on the way to our terminal. Bismi llahi lramani lraiym * lamdulilahi Rabbi llamiyn * lramani lraiym * Maliki Yawmi lddiyn * yaka Nabudu Wa yaka Nastayn * hdina liraa lmustaqiym * iraa lahiyna nmta layhim * Gayri lmaguwbi layhim Wala lalliyn * II. Bismi llahi lramani lraiym In the name of llah, the only mercy sender in this life no matter upon which nation, color, belief, or race, and the only mercy sender in the hereafter upon only those who believe in Him and follow His religion in this life. When we mention the name of llah before we start doing anything, this makes us remember: llah is watching us in everything we do, supporting us in all things we do, and He will accept and bless the things we are doing. We should understand that everything we do in this life should be under the intention that we are doing it totally for llah, not for any benefits in this life. III. lamdulilahi Rabbi llamiyn We start the first step of asking by thanking llah, and we have to know we are thanking the one who is giving without asking for any reward, helping without waiting for any payment. llah says in one Hadith, I created you all. You have to worship Me, and I have to provide you with the needs to live. If you dont obey or worship Me, I will not stop providing the needs for you to live. llah has taught us in Al-Fatihah the way to thank Him; it is by saying lamdulilahi. This way of thanking is only for llah, so we mustnt use it towards anyone else but Him. Subsequently we praise llah for His being the lord of everything, the one who needs nothing from us, the most powerful controlling both inside and outside of the universe Rabbi llamiyn. When we say this verse while praying, llah will reply us by saying, My worshipper is thanking me the way I like. IV. lramani lraiym llah is merciful because He is arranging all the needs to live even for those disbelieving in Him and those fighting against Him. This is why He is lramani. He is lramani because He clearly knows each single thing happening in the sky, heaven, earth, universe and everywhere and makes it in a perfect way for living, though some of His creatures insist on disbelieving in Him. He is lraiym because in the hereafter He is going to send His mercy upon believers, though they made mistakes during their lifetime. He is lraiym because
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2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

He will forgive a lot of things in the hereafter only because He loves to see all of His creatures in the paradise unless they insist on going to hell. He is lraiym because He will not be satisfied when the mankind and the jinns disbelieve in Him but pleased when we all believe in Him and win His paradise. When we say this verse in praying, llah will say, My worshipper is praising Me. V. Maliki Yawmi lddiyn The fourth thing we should appreciate from llah is His being the only judge in the hereafter, the only master who knows and controls everything. As He is omniscient and omnipresent, no need for Him to consult anyone to know what happened in our lives. And as He is omnipotent, He is able to bring justice to everyone from anyone. When we say this verse while praying, llah will reply us by saying, My worshipper is glorifying Me. VI. yaka Nabudu Wa yaka Nastayn After thanking, we move to the second step of asking llah, which is reminding ourselves and telling llah that we are worshipping Him and Him only yaka Nabudu, and that we are depending on Him and Him only Wa yaka Nastayn. llah says in one Hadith, I am the best partner of the highest level. If you share My partnership with another, I will leave My share to the other and never accept any deeds with this kind of sharing. We should work according to the commands of llah and obey Him totally. Then He will accept our deeds and arrange the best for us in this life, which will enable us to win the paradise in the hereafter. When we say this verse while praying, llah will reply us by saying, This is between Me and My worshipper, and he will get what he is asking Me for. VII. hdina liraa lmustaqiym If we earn the real guidance from llah, we get everything we need in this life to win the eternal paradise in the hereafter. We have to make sure that all we should ask of llah in this life is His guiding us till we reach His paradise hdina liraa lmustaqiym. If we know these few things, we will never ask for more than the guidance from llah to the straight way to paradise. When we say this verse while praying, llah will reply us by saying, This is for My worshipper and he will get it. VIII. iraa lahiyna nmta layhim The straight way weve been asking for is the way those who earned the real blessing from llah have choseniraa lahiyna nmta layhim. And we have to remember that the real blessing from llah is to gain His satisfaction with our deeds, which will definitely lead us to paradise. IX. Gayri lmaguwbi layhim Wala lalliyn The other feature of this straight way is that it is absolutely not the way chosen by those who caused the anger of llah, nor by those who refused the guidance of llah while having it but going astray.
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2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

Chapter 2 Verse 255: Ayat al-Kursi

. llahu La laha lla Huwa layu lqayyuwm La tauhuhu Sinaton Wala Nawm Llahu Mafiy lssamawati Wamafiy lri Man ha llahiy Yashfa ndahu Yilla Bihnih Yalamu Ma Bayna ydiyhim Wama alfahom Wala Yuiuwna Bishayn Min lmihi lla Bima Sha Wasi Kursiiyuhu lssamawati Wa lri Wala Yawduhu ifhuhuma Wahuwa lliyu lhiym

I. Introduction This verse is the basic of the monotheism in Islam. It has over ten of the names of Allah. The prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him) mentioned a lot of Hadith about the great value of this verse. II. The meaning and understanding llahu La laha lla Huwa layu lqayyuwm Allah is mentioning that He is the only real God, so he starts by saying, No God, and then He said, but Me. It means that the only real God is Allah, and that if anyone disagrees, this one should reject this fact and should go to Allah's throne to complain. Allah says in Chapter 17 Verse 42, "Say, O Muhammad, If there have been with Him other Gods, as they say, then they would have gone to the throne and taken it." Allah was never born and will never die and He is eternal. Allah is here for us anytime, He is the one taking care of everyone and everything, and He will never be away for any reason. La tauhuhu Sinaton Wala Nawm Allah never feels sleepy and never even feels He needs a nap. He is always awake.

2012 Courses of Islamic Studies Learning Arabic Language through the Quran

Llahu Mafiy lssamawati Wamafiy lri He is the owner of all what is on the earth, in the sky, and between them. Man ha llahiy Yashfa ndahu Yilla Bihnih Allah allows all His creatures to live in this life and gain according to their work no matter they believe or disbelieve in Him. But on the judgment day, the disbelievers will never be safe because they didnt believe in Allah during their lifetime. And no one will be able to protect them there, nor will anyone be able to ask the forgiveness of Allah for them, unless Allah allows this one to talk. Yalamu Ma Bayna ydiyhim Wama alfahom Allah knows the past and the future, the present and the hidden things. Wala Yuiuwna Bishayn Min lmihi lla Bima Sha Allah knows everything, and all the knowledge we have here is only a small part of His knowledge. All the knowledge we have been gaining is from Allah since He is the one who is offering knowledge to everyone. This is why we should always seek the knowledge from Allah only. Wasi Kursiiyuhu lssamawati Wa lri The meaning of Kursi is chair, but when we are talking about the Kursi in this verse, it means Allah's ability, and power. Wala Yawduhu ifhuhuma Wahuwa lliyu lhiym Allah is taking care of all the earth and all the sky; all what is between them, under them, and above them will never make Allah tired, as He is the highest and the greatest. III. Conclusion The God who deserves being worshipped must have this ability and must be able to do all of these things. And Allah is telling us that He is the One, and no one is able to challenge Him in any of these things. It is fair enough to worship the God who possesses the things mentioned here in this verse.