Are There Non-Arabic Words in the Quran?
Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
Are there non Arabic words in The Quran?
What is the meaning of the verse “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand.” (Quran, 12:2)
Answer
I pray you are well.
The Words in the Quran
No. All of the words in the Quran are Arabic. However, some of those words did originate from other languages, but the Arabs integrated them into their
own language, thereby making them Arabic words.
An example of this would be the word ‘Pundit’ in English. It was originally a Sanskrit word, but it is now an English word used to refer to an authority on a matter.
An Arabic Quran
The verse above means that the Quran is clear, and revealed in the language of the Arabs. This alone should ensure that they understand it and follow it. Not being in another language made it accessible to the Arabs who could then see its miraculous nature. (Abu al Su’ud, Irshad al ‘Aql al Salim)
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.
