Response to those who say: It is not permissible to call non-Muslims to Islam in any language other than Arabic
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I heard one of the sheikhs say: He says that it is not permissible to call non-Muslims to Islam in any language other than Arabic, and he cited as evidence the book *Al-Risalah* by Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him),that he said (may Allah have mercy on him): that the Arabic language is not a follower but is itself followed, and that it is not permissible to speak in the call to Islam in any language other than Arabic, not even a single letter. So what do you say about this? May Allah bless you.
We say: His citation of al-Shafi'i’s statement is out of place; because al-Shafi'i’s statement is not used as evidence against others, but rather evidence is cited in support of him. This is assuming we accept that al-Shafi'i actually said it, and I do not know if he did.But if we assume that this man is certain, we say: Al-Shafi'i’s statement is not used as evidence against others, but rather evidence is cited in support of him. Al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) and other imams say: If you find our words contradicting the words of Allah and the words of His Messenger, cast them aside.
Second: It is not possible to call those who do not understand the Arabic language to Islam except in their own language, by the explicit text of the Qur'an,Allah the Exalted said: [Ibrahim: 4] And it is well known that Arabic is ancient, having existed since the time of Isma'il, and yet Allah sends messengers in the language of their people; because a person cannot understand the Arabic language unless he is from its people or has learned it.
So the correct view is that it is obligatory for a person to learn the language of those he wants to call to Islam if no other means exists. Learning the language in which the call to Islam is made, if we wish to call those who do not know Arabic, is a collective obligation, just as the call to Islam itself is a collective obligation. We do not call those who know Arabic in any other language, and one who speaks Arabic does not speak in any language other than Arabic. For this reason, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to strike people when they spoke in the gibberish of non-Arabs. The scholars disliked communication in a language other than Arabic for those who know Arabic. And so, with great regret, we now find here in Saudi Arabia, which is the mother of Arabic, some of them speaking in a language other than Arabic with their Arab brother. In fact, some of them teach their children a language other than Arabic. In fact, some of them teach them the Islamic greeting in a language other than Arabic. We have heard someone say to his child when he wants to leave or when the child comes to him,He says: "Bye bye." What does "bye bye" mean?Its meaning: "Goodbye" in English. How do we come to this? Then we see now, with great regret, that there are signs on some stores in a language other than Arabic,Meaning: in our Arab lands. An Arab comes from the country, stands at this shop, and does not know what it means, or what is inside, or what this store is. And a European comes who does not know the country, stands there, and knows what is in the shop. Why? Because the sign is written in his language, whereas we do not know it. This is undoubtedly a deficiency in our perception of our own affairs in reality. From among you, who understands the English language,Meaning: and not (1%) of the population, and yet you put the sign on your shop in this language! This is the least one can expect in terms of respect for the people of the country. But the truth is that hearts are dead; otherwise, this person who made his shop in a language other than Arabic would be boycotted. What should have happened is that we, being Arabs, and by Allah, you did not open your shop for us, but for the people of that language, and we would cut off dealings with him. If we had cut off dealings with him, he would have written it in large letters in Arabic tomorrow. But the truth is that people’s hearts are dead, except for whom Allah wills. And I see that it is obligatory for the authorities, though I would prefer not to say it this way, to go around these shops and stores and say: The least we can say to you is: If there are many non-Arabs among you, the least you must do is write it in Arabic on top, and in the non-Arabic language below.Then we say: If this country has more foreigners who are non-Arabs, and most of them are Pakistanis, is it appropriate to write it in English or in the Pakistani language? If we want to form a non-Arabic language, it is the Pakistani language.
Now, these people write, if most of the workers in the country are, for example, Pakistanis, and they write in English and leave out Arabic and the Pakistani language, then now neither the Arabs nor the Pakistanis know what it is. All of this is to destroy the identity of many people. They have been dazzled by this civilization in the global powers, so they thought it was the starting point of progress.
In any case, this was an aside. The point is that whoever calls a non-Arab people to Islam must call them in their language, otherwise they will not benefit.
The questioner: Is the call to Islam based on divine prescription?The Shaykh: The call to Islam is based on divine prescription, but what about the means? And is it possible now for me to sit among ten non-Arabs and speak in the most eloquent and clear Arabic? What would they understand? Nothing.So is it said: Is this a call to Allah? Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) to learn the language of the Jews in order to respond to their writings and read their writings. He ordered him to learn that.Then he said to Umm Khalid: "Sunnah, sunnah," when it came to Abyssinia and he found a garment on it, which I think was new, he said: "Sunnah, sunnah,"Meaning: "Good, good." The Messenger spoke in a language other than Arabic, even though he was not in the position of calling to Islam, but some people speak out of ignorance.And here I ask: Which is more dangerous for Islam, simple ignorance or complex ignorance? Complex ignorance; because the person who is ignorant in a complex way thinks he is a scholar, while he is ignorant, so he speaks of what he does not know. And the person who is ignorant in a simple way does not speak; he is aware of himself.He says: I do not know. So my advice to this brother is to convey my greetings to him and tell him: He should reflect on the evidence and fear Allah.And he does not speak of what he does not know, for he is accountable: [Al-Isra: 36] .
We say: His citation of al-Shafi'i’s statement is out of place; because al-Shafi'i’s statement is not used as evidence against others, but rather evidence is cited in support of him. This is assuming we accept that al-Shafi'i actually said it, and I do not know if he did.But if we assume that this man is certain, we say: Al-Shafi'i’s statement is not used as evidence against others, but rather evidence is cited in support of him. Al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) and other imams say: If you find our words contradicting the words of Allah and the words of His Messenger, cast them aside.
Second: It is not possible to call those who do not understand the Arabic language to Islam except in their own language, by the explicit text of the Qur'an,Allah the Exalted said:
And We did not send any messenger except [speaking] in the language of his people to state clearly for them
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْSo the correct view is that it is obligatory for a person to learn the language of those he wants to call to Islam if no other means exists. Learning the language in which the call to Islam is made, if we wish to call those who do not know Arabic, is a collective obligation, just as the call to Islam itself is a collective obligation. We do not call those who know Arabic in any other language, and one who speaks Arabic does not speak in any language other than Arabic. For this reason, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab used to strike people when they spoke in the gibberish of non-Arabs. The scholars disliked communication in a language other than Arabic for those who know Arabic. And so, with great regret, we now find here in Saudi Arabia, which is the mother of Arabic, some of them speaking in a language other than Arabic with their Arab brother. In fact, some of them teach their children a language other than Arabic. In fact, some of them teach them the Islamic greeting in a language other than Arabic. We have heard someone say to his child when he wants to leave or when the child comes to him,He says: "Bye bye." What does "bye bye" mean?Its meaning: "Goodbye" in English. How do we come to this? Then we see now, with great regret, that there are signs on some stores in a language other than Arabic,Meaning: in our Arab lands. An Arab comes from the country, stands at this shop, and does not know what it means, or what is inside, or what this store is. And a European comes who does not know the country, stands there, and knows what is in the shop. Why? Because the sign is written in his language, whereas we do not know it. This is undoubtedly a deficiency in our perception of our own affairs in reality. From among you, who understands the English language,Meaning: and not (1%) of the population, and yet you put the sign on your shop in this language! This is the least one can expect in terms of respect for the people of the country. But the truth is that hearts are dead; otherwise, this person who made his shop in a language other than Arabic would be boycotted. What should have happened is that we, being Arabs, and by Allah, you did not open your shop for us, but for the people of that language, and we would cut off dealings with him. If we had cut off dealings with him, he would have written it in large letters in Arabic tomorrow. But the truth is that people’s hearts are dead, except for whom Allah wills. And I see that it is obligatory for the authorities, though I would prefer not to say it this way, to go around these shops and stores and say: The least we can say to you is: If there are many non-Arabs among you, the least you must do is write it in Arabic on top, and in the non-Arabic language below.Then we say: If this country has more foreigners who are non-Arabs, and most of them are Pakistanis, is it appropriate to write it in English or in the Pakistani language? If we want to form a non-Arabic language, it is the Pakistani language.
Now, these people write, if most of the workers in the country are, for example, Pakistanis, and they write in English and leave out Arabic and the Pakistani language, then now neither the Arabs nor the Pakistanis know what it is. All of this is to destroy the identity of many people. They have been dazzled by this civilization in the global powers, so they thought it was the starting point of progress.
In any case, this was an aside. The point is that whoever calls a non-Arab people to Islam must call them in their language, otherwise they will not benefit.
The questioner: Is the call to Islam based on divine prescription?The Shaykh: The call to Islam is based on divine prescription, but what about the means? And is it possible now for me to sit among ten non-Arabs and speak in the most eloquent and clear Arabic? What would they understand? Nothing.So is it said: Is this a call to Allah? Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) to learn the language of the Jews in order to respond to their writings and read their writings. He ordered him to learn that.Then he said to Umm Khalid: "Sunnah, sunnah," when it came to Abyssinia and he found a garment on it, which I think was new, he said: "Sunnah, sunnah,"Meaning: "Good, good." The Messenger spoke in a language other than Arabic, even though he was not in the position of calling to Islam, but some people speak out of ignorance.And here I ask: Which is more dangerous for Islam, simple ignorance or complex ignorance? Complex ignorance; because the person who is ignorant in a complex way thinks he is a scholar, while he is ignorant, so he speaks of what he does not know. And the person who is ignorant in a simple way does not speak; he is aware of himself.He says: I do not know. So my advice to this brother is to convey my greetings to him and tell him: He should reflect on the evidence and fear Allah.And he does not speak of what he does not know, for he is accountable: