The Peril of Neglecting the Arabic Language and Its Impact on Destabilizing Islamic Identity

There is a common intellectual fallacy that links cultural sophistication and civilizational progress to speaking foreign languages at the expense of Arabic. Some have come to view proficiency in English as the sole criterion for culture, forgetting that language is the vessel carrying Revelation and the Holy Qur’an.

Language is Not a Criterion for Material Progress

The experiences of contemporary nations prove the invalidity of linking the abandonment of the mother tongue with economic renaissance. Countries such as Japan and China made their national languages the foundation of their development, yet they occupied the forefront of global economies, confirming that progress is contingent upon will and labor, not linguistic alienation.

The Dangers of Linguistic Westernization

The neglect of Arabic leads to dire consequences that touch the core of creed and identity, most notably:

• The emergence of generations unable to correctly articulate Arabic phonetics.

• Increasing difficulty in contemplating the verses of the Holy Qur’an and understanding Islamic heritage.

• Taking pride in reading foreign languages while remaining utterly ignorant of the foundational Arabic texts.

The Crisis of Upbringing and Loss of Identity

The crisis worsens when some parents resort to hiring foreign nannies to teach children Western languages before they have mastered their mother tongue, thereby severing the child's connection to their identity and history from early childhood. Preserving the Arabic language is the preservation of Islamic culture and the continuity of the connection to Divine Revelation.