I agree it is a waste to see such things in our own Muslim countries, the constant drift away from our origins.

May Allah swt protect us all, and use us as means to spread this beautiful Deen.

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So if we have the means and ability to learn it and understand it from a young age, why waste such a blessed gift from Allah (swt)? But you’re definitely right that those who are motivated to learn their deen will ultimately try to gain the tools that will help them on their journey towards knowledge.

JazakAllahu khayran for your comments.

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Though this observation and comment maybe some months late, I only bumped into this blog from Sheikh Suhail’s website. May Allah swt bless the founders and contributors.

The essence of Arabic as a language is not our essence, or part of our essence or an essence we aspire to keep. Many Coptic Christians also speak Arabic. The essence we aspire to keep is Islam and the focus on Arabic should be from that respect.

You make a very valid point with regards the core issue in this picture, and that is, the mother’s neglect towards her child. I wonder if the maid spoke Punjabi to Salma whether the mother would adopt that language. What has become a huge cancer in the Arab world is this race to become westernized, the same thing Ataturk pushed for as a leader, the Arab masses are pushing for collectively.

This brings us to another important point you raise, about a practice and this practice has become common in the Gulf and is now spreading to other Arab countries. Bringing maids to the house and forgetting the rules of Islamic engagement with them. The husband forgets that the maid is not mahram to him. The wife forgets that her travel in the car alone with the driver is Haram.

Forgetting Arabic, is only a sub problem to forgetting our Islamic Essence.

Finally in the example you gave about us Muslims born in the west and how we go around the world in search of Arabic. Our thirst for Arabic is because we want to know our deen. In the same manner if Salma is taught deen, her quest for more knowledge in deen will take her somewhere to learn Arabic.

Allahuma ahdeena wa ahdeebinaa wa ja’alna sababan limanihtada

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JazakAllahu Khayran Sameh. Insha’Allah I’m planning to teach my own children Arabic if Allah blesses me with them in the future. Each family has its own circumstances, and may Allah help and support those parents who strive to the best of their ability to raise children who are grounded in the Islamic sciences, and who have the best of character. Amin.

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I think you’ve raised a very important topic. But I wonder why your niece is NOT speaking Arabic although both of her parents are from Egyptian Origins..I hope to practice what we’re preaching

Best Wishes…

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This reminds me of Bayyinah Institute’s vision– mashaAllah they are doing a great job of promoting Arabic learning within the average masses of the Ummah (myself being one of them – and I can say I have greatly benefited from their efforts mashaAllah )– http://bayyinah.com/dream/

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