Do you wish to teach Arabic to your children but wonder if it’s really necessary? Or perhaps, you’ve already undertaken the journey but are finding it too overwhelming to continue? In this article, I want to share 5 amazing benefits of teaching Arabic to your child.
Teaching and learning a new language is like climbing a mountain. It requires effort, patience, and perseverance. But the final view at the top makes the whole process highly rewarding. Without a clear vision of why you want to reach the summit, you may get discouraged and turn back when the path gets steep or rocky. Therefore, it is important to know and refresh your ‘why’ so you don’t stumble back.
Here are five reasons why learning Arabic can enrich your children’s lives:
- Arabic can help Your Child build a strong connection with the Quran
Imagine this: A teenager is playing with his clothes and scratching his back during taraweeh as he impatiently waits for it to be over. He can’t understand a word of what is being said. Standing next to him is another teenager with tears pouring down his cheeks as the Quran touches his heart and mends his soul. Which one of these would you want your child to be?
Learning Arabic can make all the difference!
Just as we need a shared language to make friends, our children too need Arabic to embrace the Quran. Arabic is the language handpicked by Allah for His divine book.
“In this Quran, We have put forward all kinds of illustrations for people, so that they may take heed, an Arabic Quran, free from any distortion- so that people may be mindful.” (Surah Zumar 39: 27-28)
Translations can never capture the full meaning and nuance of the original text. By learning Arabic, your children will be able to understand the words of Allah without the need for any intermediary or interpretation.
- Arabic will enrich Your Child’s bond with Allah through Salah
Learning Arabic can transform our children’s Salah. Instead of repeating a few rote-learned words, they’ll be able to connect with Allah by understanding what they are saying. For example, when they say “Show us the straight path”, it’ll become a heartfelt plea for guidance they need throughout the day, throughout their lives. Moreover, it’ll make it easier for them to memorize and recite new surahs in prayer,making it a meaningful conversation with Allah.
- Arabic can help strengthen Your Child’s Muslim Identity
Shaikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyah (RA) wrote:
“The Arabic language is the symbol of Islam and its people.” – [Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem, 1/519]
During my teenage years, I vividly recall attending a lecture where the Imam shared an intriguing insight. In the days of Muslim prominence, students from the Western world would flock to learn Arabic and emulate the ways of Muslims. The Imam highlighted an example of this cultural exchange—a shop in a non-Muslim country adorned with inscriptions that featured the name written in both Arabic and the native language, serving as a testament to the influence of Arabic beyond boundaries.
Coming from a country that was once colonized, I couldn’t help but reflect on the remarkable positions of power that Muslims held in history. It’s striking to see the pride they had in their language, culture, and identity—a stark contrast to the inferior mindset we collectively face today. This encouraged me to learn Arabic and teach it to my children too.
- Arabic can enhance The Child’s understanding of Islam
The Islamic literary tradition spans over fourteen centuries, and a significant majority of its texts, including numerous classics, were written in Arabic. Failing to grasp the Arabic language means missing out on this invaluable heritage of literature. We deprive ourselves of the wealth of knowledge and understanding stored within these books. Imagine the benefits of your child being able to directly access treasures like hadith, seerah, and fiqh without relying on translations. Let’s unlock this treasure trove for our future generations. This is why learning Arabic is a fundamental requirement for students pursuing Islamic sciences.
- Arabic can open countless doors of opportunities
As with any second language, learning Arabic comes with many other benefits. It is the sixth most spoken language in the world with over 400 million speakers across the globe. There is a high demand for Arabic speakers in various fields, which can boost your children’s business and career opportunities in the future.
Learning Arabic might be a challenge but thanks to wonderful resources, this journey can be made easier. Muslim Kids TV has tons of resources on its website to help you teach Arabic to your kids including ebooks, videos and games.
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