The problem of Muslims’ linguistic assimilation in foreign countries

Shaykh al-Islam Ahmad ibn ‘Abd al-Haleem ibn
Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) spoke very effectively about this problem,
explaining its seriousness and effects, and the Islamic viewpoint concerning it. This is
what he said:

“As for becoming accustomed to talking to one another in a
language other than Arabic, which is the symbol of Islam and the language of the
Qur’aan, so that this becomes a habit in the land, with one’s family and
household members, with one’s friends, in the marketplace, when addressing government
representatives or authority figures or when speaking to people of knowledge, undoubtedly
this is makrooh (disliked), because it involves being like the non-Arabs, which is
makrooh, as stated previously.

Hence when the early Muslims went to live in Syria and Egypt, where the
people spoke Byzantine Greek, and in Iraq and Khurasaan, where the people spoke Farsi, and
the Maghrib (North Africa) where the people spoke Berber, they taught the people of those
countries to speak Arabic, so that Arabic became the prevalent language in those lands,
and all the people, Muslim and kaafir alike, spoke Arabic. Such was also the case in
Khurasaan in the past, then they became lax with regard to the language and got used to
speaking Farsi until it became prevalent and Arabic was forgotten by most of them.
Undoubtedly this is makrooh.

The best way is to become accustomed to speaking Arabic so that the
young people will learn it in their homes and schools, so that the symbol of Islam and its
people will prevail. This will make it easier for the people of Islam to understand the
Qur’aan and Sunnah, and the words of the Salaf, unlike a person who gets used to
speaking one language, then wants to learn another, and finds it difficult.

Know that being used to using a language has a clear and strong effect
on one’s thinking, behaviour and religious commitment. It also has an effect on
making one resemble the early generations of this Ummah, the Sahaabah and Taabi’een.
Being like them improves one’s thinking, religious commitment and behaviour.

Moreover, the Arabic language itself is part of Islam, and knowing
Arabic is an obligatory duty. If it is a duty to understand the Qur’aan and Sunnah,
and they cannot be understood without knowing Arabic, then the means that is needed to
fulfil the duty is also obligatory.

There are things which are obligatory on all individuals (fard
‘ayn), and others which are obligatory on the community or ummah (fard kifaayah,
i.e., if some people fulfil them the rest are relieved of the obligation).

This is the meaning of the report narrated by Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah
who said: ‘Eesa ibn Yoonus told us from Thawr from ‘Umar ibn Yazeed that
‘Umar wrote to Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari (may Allaah be pleased with him) and said:
‘learn the Sunnah and learn Arabic; learn the Qur’aan in Arabic for it is
Arabic.’

According to another hadeeth narrated from ‘Umar (may Allaah be
pleased with him), he said: ‘Learn Arabic for it is part of your religion, and learn
how the estate of the deceased should be divided (faraa’id) for these are part
of your religion.’

This command of ‘Umar, to learn Arabic and Sharee’ah,
combines the things that are needed, for religion involves understanding words and
actions. Understanding Arabic is the way to understand the words of Islam, and
understanding the Sunnah is the way to understand the actions of Islam…”

(Iqtidaa’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem, 2/207)

In addition to the above, we advise the following:

1. Muslims should strive – along with their families and children
   – to speak Arabic in their homes and gatherings. Parents should set the example for
   their children within the home, and sometimes they should deliberately not answer their
   children if they do not speak Arabic.

2. Try to put the children in Arabic schools and academies wherever
   possible.

3. Families should try to form housing co-ops or live close to one another,
   so that the neighbourhood and the local environment will be Arabic-speaking.

4. Try to set up Arabic-language courses and seek reward and draw closer to
   Allaah by doing so. Books, tapes and other modern educational means should be used for
   this purpose.

5. Continually listening to recordings of the Qur’aan, listening to
   lessons on tape and attending Islamic lectures in Arabic.

And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet
Muhammad,