Is It Better for Me to Study in English with More Understanding or in Arabic with Less?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
I was born English as my first language, but am originally Arab and have been studying Arabic for years, especially trying to improve my Fusha.
I am in a dilemma where when I read tafsir al-sadi in Arabic or other Arabic books, the process is much slower because I encounter 5-10 words per page that I have to look up and memorize.
I feel that if I read an English translation of tafsir, ahadith, I would learn faster in the short term, but I am wondering if seeking knowledge in Arabic is superior as it would be more precise and close to the source. Unfortunately, with a full-time job, family obligations, and other studies, I am finding it difficult to have time to do both
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
The language with which you study the texts of the Islamic tradition is not as important as the medium of study.
Ideally, one would seek Sacred knowledge by sitting and studying directly with a qualified teacher. This will preserve the pristine and authentic understanding of the texts one is accessing, regardless of whether it’s in English or Arabic.
General Increase in Knowledge
As for books of general benefit, such as general exegeses of the Quran and Prophetic narrations (hadith) on virtues, one can study them in whichever language they feel most comfortable with. Again, understanding is the most important thing.
As for detailed books that go into detailed legal rulings, intricate issues of Islamic beliefs, or the like – one should not self-study them except for books on this subject written for the general public. Works that were written as reference books for Scholars must be studied with scholars.
Consider taking the courses–offered both in English and Arabic–here at SeekersGuidance.
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch teaches Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom Seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences.
He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he studied for three years in Dar al-Mustafa under some of the most outstanding scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib.
In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Quran and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Quranic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
