Every Muslim, especially Muslims of the West, must make Arabic his first language. Arabic is the connection between Muslims and Islam. Islam can only be fully understood if one master the Arabic language. Arabic is the language of the Quran and the Sunnah. Translations to other languages, however good they may be, cannot capture the full meaning of the Quran and the Sunnah. Arabic is the symbol of Islam, the Muslim nation and Islamic sciences.

Muslim youth can benefit greatly if the key to understanding Islam (Arabic) is given to them. They will know Islamic laws and become valid members of the Ummah (nation). If Arabic is not learned, then a barrier between one and the true knowledge of Islam will always exist. If Muslim youth are given the chance to learn Arabic, then Islam will be the culture that they learn and practice. All other languages are not Islamic in essence. The culture you are exposed to will be your language and your way of thought. If one’s education is Islamic, then a great deal of his life will be formed according to the Islamic way of thinking. Likewise if one’s culture is English, then it will be formed according to English culture and traditions.

In short, Arabic is the first step towards learning and implementing Islam. It is a vital way of showing and being loyal to everything Islamic. It is a means of pride to whoever masters it. All Muslims must use Arabic as their first language, and make second their national or adopted languages.

As for Arabs who emigrated to the West and ignored their mother tongue, their action is like shunning Islam. Whoever ignores and disrespects Arabic while loving other languages is like the one who left Islam to other religions. If one shuns Arabic because of conversion to another religion, he is the true Kafir. Many Arabs have shunned their language in disrespect.

In the book “Those Who Speak in Al-Dhad (Arabic) in South America” one reads: “As a result of Muslim emigrants, to the country of their residence, being associated and taught in these countries’ educational system and culture, they spoke Spanish and Portuguese. Their children do not know their ancestors’ language, culture or history. This is in contrast with emigrants from other countries. They force their children to speak their language first and in their own schools. After that, they allow them to speak the language of the land. Arabs do the opposite. Arab children barley speak any Arabic, and if they do, they speak with accent.”

Here we mention a story about one such emigrant who used to live with a Jewish family. One day he returned home to find the father disciplining his son and forcing him to stand facing the wall on one foot. He asked him about the reason. The Jewish father said: “ He (his son) is a dog who deserves punishment. He is a rebellious and hardheaded boy. Many times I told him not to speak to his brothers but in Hebrew, but he insists on speaking Portuguese to them. And for fear of losing Hebrew as his first language, I punished him!”