Week 1, Module 8 – The Divine Speech: A Linguistic Study of The Quran

Bismilahir rahmaanir raheem.

I am really excited to finally share notes from Alqudwah classes in a more formal tone. I realised that I have been writing bits and pieces and/or just summaries of how I felt about these classes. For example: “Awesome class” or “Awesome people met” = #notesdone

My main motivation kicked in as a sister recently shared with me her notes from School of Aqidah, Modern Ideologies and Movements. I am inspired by the concise language used and how she sieves out her thoughts from the notes, thus, making it easier to understand. I write differently (my blog is mainly a platform to pen down short reflections, captured in a personal narrative) but such is a good practice – to be able to write clearly and to the point. But no pressure to self! Just try your best haha

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Introduction: The Arabic Quran

Learning objectives:

a. Why was the Quran revealed in Arabic, a critical study.

b. The history of lingusitic inimitability. (still on my OneNote sorry!)

Ustaz began the class with this video of “Why is The Quran in Arabic?” By  Ustaz Nouman Ali Khan (5 minutes +)

This video sets the stage for the class. It highlights the Concept of Submission. The main reason why Al-Quran is in Arabic is because of how Allah has ordained it to be.

We live in a consumerist world where customers are entitled to the saying “customers are always right”. A customer who has the “right” to demand how things should be. Everything is customized to be palatable FOR the customer.

In contrast, the attitude humans should uphold when dealing with Al-Quran is one with humility. As humans, we need to acknowledge that Al-Quran is the words of The Master. One should not ask why Allah did not cater to each language, why did the Prophet is unable to speak in a different language, why did the Creator not personalise the Quran for me, and so on – when it is said that Islam is for the entire mankind?

We should not have a consumerist mindset in the context of Al-Quran. We are first and foremost in the position of a slave. Not a customer.

Allah knows best why it is in Arabic. We need to establish this premise as some things might not make sense to us when one delves deeper into Al-Quran.

a. Why was the Quran revealed in Arabic?

1. Preservation of the Quran – It cannot be imitated and must be preserved verbatim. 
2. Arabic language is diverse – dynamics of root words.

Arabic is built upon root words. These root words then form other words. By understanding the meaning of the root word, it makes Arabic easy. For example: 

كتب (write) –>  مكتبة (library) –> مكتب (table)

        3. The usage of Synonyms – when used in different context will elicit slightly different meanings. For example: Sit 

 اِسْتَوَى/ قَعَدَ / جَلَسَ

Istawa (اِسْتَوَى ) is mainly used in the context of how Allah “sits” on His throne. Whereas jalasa (جَلَسَ)  and qa’ada (قَعَدَ ) are more general terms for sit. Clearly, it is a great skill in literature – usage of words to suit each sentence and context. To think that Rasulullah s.a.w had to sit down and think through and choose the most accurate word to use in each verse of Al-Quran dispels the notion that he is the author of the Holy Book. How was it him if he could not read nor write? 

        4. Results in unity – One language allows the ummah to unite under a same language

        5. Acoustics – How the Arabic Language sounds
 Ustaz touched upon tajwid. Tajwid is essentially a set of rulings one abides by when reading Al-Quran. It is fardhu ain (individual obligation) to study this area of knowledge. Some thoughts about tajwid that should be reflected on are:

• What is the meaning of ghunnah in a particular recitation? 
   (Psycholinguistics – what is the effect of ghunnah on the meaning of the word and on the psychological state)
• Naar vs jaNNah – How Naar (hellfire) is pronounced so easily as compared to jannah (heaven), which has syaddah in it, hence a longer recitation
• The rhythm of the language and the effect on the person

          6. It is not influenced by any other language
e.g: Malay is from Sanskrit
        English from Latin

           7. Brevity in spelling and pronunciation – eejaz. For example:

قيل – Qiila 

A simple arabic word is translated to “as it was said to be”. 

Personal thoughts: Took me a week to edit my notes. Sought the help of Syafiqah and Muneeroah as I revisited their notes because I could not understand my own notes. Haha help.

#FirstAttempt  #NotesDone