Role of Mother Language in Islam

Author: Muhammad Abdul Munim Khan

Source: http://theindependentbd.com/faith/34637-role-of-mother-language-in-islam.html

Mother Language which is a divine gift of Almighty Allah. It is very important that the people of a country express their ideas, thoughts, feeling emotions etc. distinctly through mother tongue. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.”
( Surah Ar-Rum, Ayat: 22)
So, mother language plays a pivotal role in any given society.  Language to most people  is a means of communicating their thoughts and ideas. Not only is it a means by which individuals communicate with each other, but it is also the medium through which a s0ciety’s core beliefs and values are expressed. Mankind depend on their language skills for their living, relationships and other activities. The extent of influence of language  on our lives may be far reaching. In fact, beliefs, values and thought process are intimately connected with language.  It is these beliefs and values from which subsequently solutions are derived for problems that arise in human life.

Today, approximately 6000 languages are spoken around the world. Languages are not only an essential part of humanity’s cultural heritage, but also the irreducible expression of human creativity and its great diversity. Favoring the promotion of linguistic diversity and the development of multilingual education from an early age helps preserve cultural diversity and the conditions for international understanding, tolerance and mutual respect. Ability of human beings to use mother language is an inborn right of human beings.

The International Mother Language Day is the recognition of people’s right to their mother language around the globe. This recognition comes through a long arduous process. Back in 1952, on the 21st of February, the valiant sons of Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) sacrificed their life for establishing their right to mother tongue Bengali. We pay heartiest tributes to our great Language Martyrs on this special day!

It was in November 1999 that UNESCO proclaimed 21st February as International Mother Language Day in its General Conference. The inspiration to commemorate International Mother Language Day comes from the struggle of the Bengali nation to get their Mother tongue recognized as their national language. Language movement was strong in East Pakistan - now Bangladesh - since the birth of Pakistan in 1947. Pakistan’s education minister Fazlur Rahman called a Pakistan Educational Conference in Karachi in November 1947 and the representative of East Pakistan at the conference, opposed Urdu as the only national language. Pakistani leadership never understood the aspiration of the people for their Mother Language and continued to pursue its policy to force Urdu upon all as the only national language of Pakistan. On January 26, 1952, The Basic Principles Committee of the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan announced its recommendation that Urdu should be the only state language. In a public meeting at Paltan Maidan, Dhaka, Prime Minister Nazimuddin declared that Urdu alone would be the state language of Pakistan. Both the developments sparked off the second language agitation in East Bengal.

The situation got worse on 21st February 1952 when police fired upon the students of Dhaka University who wanted to protest against the decision in front of the Provincial Assembly, which was in its budget session. Students defying a ban took out a procession from Dhaka University and marched towards the Provincial Assembly. The police opened fire on the students in front of the Medical College hostel; five students, Abdus Salam,  Abul Barkat, Rafiquddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar and Mohammad Shafiuddin were martyred. The next day the area around the Dhaka University, Medical College and Engineering College were crowded with thousands of men and women who came to offer prayers for the victims of the police firing. After the prayer, they took out a procession, which was again fired upon, killing four people. On 23rd February despite the resolution passed unanimously by the Provincial Assembly, recommending to the Constituent Assembly that Bengali should be one of the state languages of Pakistan, a complete general strike was observed in Dhaka, paralyzing the city. On the same day, the students from Medical Collage erected a Shahid Minar (Martyr’s Memorial) overnight on the spot where the students laid down their lives, to commemorate the ultimate sacrifices of the students and others  for mother language. 

We are Bangalees and Bangla is our mother tongue. Of course, Islamically we have no rulings or restrictions as to what languages we must or must not use. But it is only natural that we teach our children our mother tongue. At the same time,  we can also examine this issue mother tongue from an Islamic perspective. An examination of the intimate relations between Islam and Arabic language will not be out of place on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day.

From an Islamic perspective, we are encouraged to learn as many languages as possible, and especially those that will help us gain better understanding of our religion. Certain Islamic terms simply cannot be translated accurately into languages such as English. For example, the word Najasah as we know has a deeper connotation than what may be generally thought of as `uncleanliness’. The essence of the term is not maintained when deciphered into English or other languages.

Let us discuss the importance of Arabic in Islam. Although known as the language of Islam, the Arabic language predates the advent of Islam. It is because the Holy Quran is written in Arabic and also Arabic has been the Mother language since the times of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) the prophet of Allah. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: “And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them. Then Allah misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” ( Surah Ibrahim, Ayat: 4)

Classical Arabic is the language of the Holy Quran. Arabic is closely associated with the religion of Islam because the Holy Quran was revealed in the language, which is nevertheless also spoken by Arab Christians, Jews and Idolaters alike. Most of the world’s Muslims do not speak Arabic as their native language but many can read the Quranic script and recite the Holy Quran. Among non-Arab Muslims, translations of the Holy Quran are most often accompanied by the original text. Muslims say all of their prayers in Arabic, even Muslims in Indonesia, Iran, even in America. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “The Most Beneficent (Allah)! Has taught (you mankind) the Holy Qur’an (by His Mercy). He created man. He taught him eloquent speech.” ( Surah Ar-Rahman, Ayat: 1-4)

Any language is important to Islam so far as it is the mother language of any Muslim. There are currently translations of the Holy Quran almost in all languages of the world to allow Muslims, speaking of any language, to understand the Holy Quran.

Arabic language is language of revelation  of God’s words to the last Prophet Hazrat       Muhammad (SAW)  through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). The Holy Qur’an is the word of Allah; a direct message from Allah to us His creation and Allah chose the Arabic language as the language of this message. Indeed Allah tells us this in the Holy Qur’an emphasizing to us the need to understand the message in its fuller form: “Indeed we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an, in order that you may understand.” (Surah Yusuf, Ayat: 2) “And thus We have sent it down as a Qur’an in Arabic, and have explained therein in detail the warnings, in order that they may fear Allah, or that it may cause them to have a lesson from it (or to have the honor for believing and acting on its teachings).” (Surah Ta-ha, Ayat: 113) “An Arabic Qur’an, without any crookedness (therein) in order that they may avoid all evil which Allah has ordered them to avoid, fear Him and keep their duty to Him.” (Surah Az-Zumar, Ayat: 28)

Arabic language is original language of the text of Holy Quran. It is mother language of  Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) and the language of all  his sayings. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Al-Quran: “Certainly, We have made this (Qur’an) easy in your tongue, in order that they may remember.” (Surah Ad-Dukhan, Ayat: 58) “So We have made this (the Qur’an) easy in your own tongue (O Muhammad!), only that you may give glad tidings to the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons), and warn with it the Ludda (most quarrelsome) people.”(Surah Maryam, Ayat: 97)

And Arabic language is language of praying. It is reported that ‘Umar ibn Yazid wrote to Abu Musa al-Ash’ari and said: “Learn the Sunnah and learn Arabic; learn the Qur’an in Arabic for it is Arabic.”

Arabic, the classical form of the language, is the language of the Holy Qur’an. When Muslims from all over the world recite the Holy Qur’an, they do it in Arabic. Scholars throughout the ages, from the Companions to the present day, encouraged the Muslim Ummah to learn the Arabic language. Hazrat Ubay ibn Ka’b (RA.) said: “Teach Arabic like you teach the memorization of the Holy Qur’an!”

The revelation of the Holy Qur’an in Arabic set the scene for a unique and lasting relationship between the language and Islam. On the one hand, Arabic provided a very effective medium for communicating the message of the religion. Hazrat Imam Shafi’ee also said: “It is compulsory for every responsible Muslim to learn what they can of the Arabic language.” The great 8th century scholar Shaykul Islam Hazrat Ibn Taymiyyah (Rh.) even went so far as to say that, “The Arabic language is part of the Religion and knowing it is an obligation.”

How many people who study Arabic now realize its importance in the Muslim worldview and the complexity of the language situation in the Muslim community worldwide? It is the language of more than 300 millions of world population. Before the coming of Islam, the Arabs took great pride in their linguistic skills. The huge amount of literature that exists from the pre-Islamic era is a testimony to the significant role the Arabic language played at that time. However, Arabic is a rich and expressive language and has played an important role in the cultural preservation of the Arabic-speaking people. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Al-Quran: “And thus We have inspired unto you (O Muhammad!) a Qur’an (in Arabic) that you may warn the Mother of the Towns (Makkah) and all around it. And warn of the Day of Assembling, of which there is no doubt.” (Surah Ash-Shura, Ayat: 7)

The Arabic language has without doubt served as a very effective medium for the communication of the message of Islam, and as the Prophet’s strongest argument against the challenges of his articulate and eloquent contemporaries. It has also served as a means for preserving the cultural and religious heritage of Arabic-speaking and Muslim peoples. In this sense, the Mother language of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) has been extremely useful to the religion. However, in its role as the language of the Holy Qur’an, Arabic has benefited enormously.

The issue abuse of language or bad language may be raised in this context. A person who uses good mother language and avoids from abusing others is not only liked by other people but he is also doing a great virtue according to Islam. Not using bad language and avoiding abusive language against others is an important part of Islam. Allah Almighty loves those people who not only do well but also speaks well. There are several verses of Holy Quran and Hadiths of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Saw)  that are strictly against abusing and using bad language against other humans. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Invite (mankind, O Muhammad!) to the way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Holy Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the best aware of those who are guided.” (Surah An-Nahl, Ayat: 125)

According to a Sahih Hadith, Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said: `Allah Almighty not like those who uses bad language.’ According to another Hadith, a person who abuses others and speaks dirty language cannot be a Mumin. A Muslim that has Blessing of Iman in his heart cannot be a abuser and hate language user and if someone does it he does not have Iman in his heart and this is not I am saying but Hadiths. A Mumin having Iman in his heart hates abusing and always speaks well or remains silent. Life of our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) is in front of us. Prophet of Islam never ever used such language which can hurt others feelings or contains bad words. It was habit of our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) to speak politely with others.

According to the custom of Arabia, early life of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) the charge of the child’s upbringing was entrusted to Biwi Halima, a women of the Banu Sad. Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) began to grow up in the lap of Halima. For five years He had live with her among the Banu Sad. During these five years His speech was formed upon one of the purest models of the beautiful language of the peninsula. As such, it is His pride in after days to say: “Verily, I am the most perfect Arab amongst you; my descent is from the Quraysh and my tongue is the tongue of the Banu Sad.”

According to Hadith, a person who abuses others in this life, his virtues will be given to person whom he abused on the day of Judgment. In another Hadith, Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) said: “A person should speak good or remain silent.’ above Hadiths clearly shows how bad it is to use bad language against others. May Allah Almighty save us from abusing others.

In the discussion above, the importance of language in context religion has been highlighted. Bengali is our state language and the language of our heart. It is our duty to learn this language so that we can read and write it correctly. We should take every care for the improvement of this language. It is a sacred duty for all of us to love this mother language. We are supposed to use our mother language with our native people. But those who want to get higher education or want to keep communication with the people of other countries must learn English and other languages. We should learn English and Arabic with a view to enriching our mother language Bengali. Mother language is for making life beautiful and successful.

The more a nation is expert in language, the more it is developed in all respects. There is no country in the world where languages are not taught. To speak the truth, it has no alternative. If any one wants to know the unknown, he must have to learn languages. A man who loves his country is regarded as a patriot. A true patriot loves his country more than his own life. So we should consider it a sacred duty to devote our lives for the well-fare and prosperity of our mother language as well as our motherland. Those who have laid down their lives for our mother language are immortal. Thus the 21st February, `International Mother Language Day’ is a memorable day in our national life and also a source of prestige for Bangalees all over the world. Every year we remember this day with due respect and great honor.

Dr. Muhammad Abdul Munim Khan: Assistant Professor of Islamic Academy and Head of the Dept. of Islamic Studies & Da’wah, Darul Ihsan University, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. E-mail : dr.munimkhan@yahoo.com