Language Does Matter

Language Does Matter

Shamsul Huda Qasmi

Editor: The Light (Islamic Magazine)

hudaqasmi@gmail.com

In the recent past, it was deemed no good and necessary by the scholars in Indian subcontinent to work in English language at large for various valid reasons. Most importantly because the scholars hated the British illegitimate oppressive regime and its policy, as the latter had occupied their homeland and were ruling over a vast empire. After a long struggle for freedom against the British regime, the brutal colonial rule came to an end and India enjoyed the glory of independence in 1947. Moreover our scholars didn't like the European culture and always rightly opposed it on solid Islamic basis. Since the British spoke English and considered themselves to be superior to others, our Ulama never ever approved their fanciful thoughts and never encouraged to absorb English on the aforesaid grounds. 

But post-independence, India witnessed a lot of dynamic changes in political, educational, economical and scientific scenarios where Muslims cannot stand aloof from the recent developments in modern India, besides the western countries made a remarkable progress in various fields especially in the fields of science and technology and now it is indisputable fact that different cultures and economic systems around the world are becoming connected and similar to each other because of the influence of large multinational companies and of improved communication. English language, being the language of the developed nations, is now playing a vital role in expanding the recent advancements in science and technology and undoubtedly has taken the position of an international language as local and national languages are getting influenced with it. Some self-professed modern people in India have opened a discussion to make English a national language as they aspire to pursue a scientific career and get rewarded with well-paid jobs across the world. However, it has become subsidiary official language in India.

Sensing the need of hour, our scholars too do not deny the significance of languages specially English today and not only appreciate the learning but some of our scholars set up special faculty for this language and designed tailor-made course for fresh certified Ulama from different Madaris so as they could learn the communicative tool and serve Islam with wisdom and beautiful preaching at a large scale. It's not a whimsical imagination to conceive but the community has begun to derive the benefits from these scholars equipped with this modern means. Our new scholars are fully capable of representing true Islamic views in English thanks to these departments and interestingly they are heard at various levels, be it preaching, teaching and writings, but the gap is still to be bridged.

Islam is a dynamic and universal religion and has a power to meet the challenges of the modern world. It never denies using the useful and positive sources for the noble cause of Islam. Languages are innocents as prophets were sent to different nations from time to time with their own languages. It could be an effective tool in propagating the teachings of Islam and removing the misconceptions in the minds of the people. Languages are signs and boon, not bane, of Allah, the Almighty, as the holy Qur'an speaks in its matchless style: "And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and difference of your tongues and colours. Surely in this there are signs for the persons having knowledge. (Al-rome-22)

This quarterly magazine too is a part of an effort to broadcast Islamic message to the targeted audiences. May Allah (swt) accept our humble deeds and reward us hereafter. Ameen!