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🇬🇭 Ghana /Culture & Society

The founder of Ahmadiyyat urges his followers to study the Arabic language

From Ghanaian Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Sources not specified Context piece
  • The founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, strongly urged followers to study Arabic.
  • He argued that understanding Arabic is essential for comprehending the Quran and defending the faith.
  • Ahmad claimed Arabic is the mother of all languages and presented his proficiency as a miracle supporting his claims.

Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the worldwide Ahmadiyya movement in Islam, placed significant emphasis on his followers studying the Arabic language. Born in Qadian, India, in 1830, Ahmad later claimed to be the awaited Messiah and Imam Al-Mahdi. He received divine revelations and established the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, passing away in 1908.

Ahmad asserted that Arabic is the mother of all languages and challenged Muslim scholars to compose works in classical Arabic, a feat he claimed no one had matched. He presented his own extensive writings in Arabic as an irrefutable miracle supporting his claims to be the expected Mahdi. His fifth successor, Hadrat Masroor Ahmad, currently leads the community from London.

I used to admonish members of my community that they should learn Arabic, for without the study of Arabic they can derive no benefit from the Holy Quran.

— Hadrat Mirza Ghulam AhmadExplaining the necessity of learning Arabic for Quranic understanding.

Before his death, Ahmad urged his followers to learn Arabic primarily to understand the Holy Quran. He stated, "I used to admonish members of my community that they should learn Arabic, for without the study of Arabic they can derive no benefit from the Holy Quran." He stressed the importance of this study, noting the availability of learning facilities and contrasting it with an over-devotion to learning English and other languages.

"It is the duty of every Muslim to study the Holy Quran. It is not right, therefore, that no attention should be paid to the learning of Arabic and that one’s whole life should be devoted to the learning of English and other languages," Ahmad declared. His exhortations aimed to equip followers with the linguistic tools necessary for a deeper engagement with their scripture and for the defense of their faith.

It is the duty of every Muslim to study the Holy Quran. It is not right, therefore, that no attention should be paid to the learning of Arabic and that one’s whole life should be devoted to the learning of English and other languages.

— Hadrat Mirza Ghulam AhmadEmphasizing the importance of Arabic study over other languages for Muslims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ghanaian Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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