How Can Non-Arabic Speakers Engage with and Understand the Quran?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
How can non-Arabic speakers interact with and understand the Quran?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
There are many ways and resources for non-Arabic speakers to engage with the Quran and understand its message:
Using Translations of Quranic Meanings
There are numerous translations of the meanings of the Quran available in different languages, which allow non-Arabic speakers to understand the Quran’s message.
It is crucial to select a reliable translation that is endorsed by knowledgeable scholars.
Accessing Translated Tafsir (Exegesis) and Non-Arabic Commentaries
Non-Arabic speakers can benefit from translated Quranic commentaries, which provide a deeper understanding and help them engage with Allah’s words in a meaningful way.
Learning Arabic
By learning the basics of Arabic grammar, morphology, and rhetoric, non-Arabic speakers can remove many of the barriers to understanding and engaging with the Quran directly.
Studying the Quran with Qualified Teachers
Learning with knowledgeable teachers who speak the student’s language and have a deep understanding of the Quran is invaluable. Such teachers can clarify meanings and guide students in understanding and interacting with the Quran.
Listening to Quranic Recitation with Translations
Listening to the recitation of the Quran while viewing translated meanings helps listeners experience the Quran’s profound effect and understand its message simultaneously.
Conclusion
Allah has made the Quran accessible in Arabic to be understood deeply, as He says,
“Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.” [Quran, 12:2]
And,
“Certainly, We have made it a Quran in Arabic so perhaps you will understand.” [Quran, 43:3]
As the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.” [Bukhari]
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
