عَرَبِيّ

42:8; 43:4; 46:13.

Important Words:

عربیا (in Arabic) is derived from عرب (‘ariba) or عرب (‘aruba). They say عربت البئر (‘aribat) i.e. the water of the well became abundant; or the well contained much water. عربت معدته means, his stomach became in a corrupt or disordered state from being burdened (owing to fulness). عرب الرجل (‘aruba) means, the man spoke clearly, plainly or distinctly after being barbarous in speech; he was or became brisk, lively or sprightly. عرب means, he spoke clearly, plainly or distinctly without incorrectness. عرب لسانه means, his tongue or speech was or became chaste Arabic, اعراب الکلام means, he spoke clearly, plainly, distinctly or intelligibly in Arabic; or he made the speech clear, plain, distinct or perspicuous; or he made his speech free from error or incorrectness. عربی means, pertaining to Arabic; clear, eloquent and chaste in speech; of established Arabic lineage. So the expression قرانا عربیا would mean, a book which is (1) most extensively and regularly read and (2) which can express its meanings in a clear, eloquent and comprehensive language (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The word عرب conveys the sense of fullness, abundance and clearness, and the Arabic language is so called because its roots are innumerable and are full of meaning and because it is most expressive, eloquent and comprehensive. It possesses suitable words and phrases for the full expression of all sorts of ideas and shades of meaning. Any topic can be discussed in this language with a precision and thoroughness unmatched in any other. European scholars have had to testify to the fact that the Arabic language is complete in respect of its roots. It consists of hundreds of thousands of roots which are pregnant with a vast variety of meanings. Ibn Jinni, an eminent linguist, has advanced the claim in the name of his teacher, Abu ‘Ali, that even the letters of the Arabic language possess clear and definite meanings. For instance, he declared that the letters Mim, Lam and Kaf, in whatever combination they may occur, express the idea of "power," which is more or less common to all the words that are formed with these letters or are derived from this root.

In the previous verse the Quran was called "the Book" which implied a prophecy that it would ever continue to be preserved in the form of a book. In the present verse it has been called "the Quran," meaning, "a book that is read," which constitutes a prophecy that it will be very widely read and studied. It is a fact which no opponent of Islam can deny that no other book is so widely and frequently read as the Quran. Professor Nöldeke says, "Since the use of the Koran in public worship, in schools and otherwise, is much more extensive than, for example, the reading of the Bible in most Christian countries it has been truly described as the most widely read book in existence" (Enc. Bri. 9th edition, vol. 16, p. 597).

Thus, the giving of these two names to the Word of God revealed to the Holy Prophet, viz. the "Book" and the "Quran" signifies that this final Law of God would be preserved both by means of the pen and the tongue.

The verse also hints that if the Quran had not been revealed in a tongue which possessed the quality of expressing all ideas with perfect ease and clearness, as the Arabic language does, or if it had not been widely and constantly read (as the Quran is, in accordance with the prophecy implied in its name), people would not have benefited by it as much as they have done and still do.

It may also be incidentally noted here that Arabic, as its very name implies, is the mother of all languages (ام الالسنة). This great revelation was made and emphasized by Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, who wrote a treatise on this subject entitled, "Minan-ur-Rahman". See also 14:5.

12:3; 20:114; 43:4.

2:121,146; 42:16.

Important Words:

عربیا (clear). See 12:3.

Commentary:

That the Quran has been revealed in the Arabic tongue is not the idea that is meant to be expressed in this verse, for that language is spoken by the Arabs. The real idea lies in the deeper significance of the word عربیا viz. the Quran has been invested with a vastness of meaning which is beyond human power.

The words, if thou follow their evil desires, after the knowledge that has come to thee, thou shalt have no friend nor defender against Allah, may be taken as addressed either to the reader or to the Holy Prophet. In the latter case, the verse would be taken as expressing the Majesty and Independence of God. The Prophet was only a flute through which the sweet and majestic voice of God was being sounded. Away from the mouth of God it becomes silent and is no better than a piece of wood.

42:8; 43:4; 46:13.

Commentary:

The verse purports to say that if the western nations wish to escape the Divine punishment which they have incurred by their evil deeds, and which is in store for them; they can do so by accepting the message of Islam and by following the Holy Prophet.

12:3; 42:8; 43:4.

Commentary:

For an explanation of قرآناً عربیاً see 12:3.

11:2.

Important Words:

عربیا (clear, eloquent language) is derived from عرب (‘ariba or ‘aruba). The root meanings of this word denote fulness, abundance and plainness coupled with chasteness. Hence all the words formed from this root express the idea of fulness, abundance and clearness. Thus the words قرآنا عربیا would mean, the Book which is most extensively and regularly read and which expresses its ideas and themes in a most clear, eloquent and comprehensive language. See also 12:3 & 20:114.

20:114; 39:29; 43:4; 46:13.

6:93.

Commentary:

For an explanation of قرآناً عربیاً see 12:3 and 41:4.

The reference in the words أم القری (Mother of Towns) may be to Mecca, because Mecca was not only the commercial and political metropolis of Arabia at the time when the Quran was revealed but was destined for all time to come to be the spiritual centre of the whole world and from its breast the whole of humanity was to suck the milk of spiritual life. Geographically also Mecca is situated in the centre of the world. The Quran has been called أم الکتاب (Mother of the Book) and Arabic in which the Quran has been revealed أم الالسنة (Mother of Tongues) and Mecca أم القری (Mother of Towns or Mother-Town).

The reference in the expression یوم الـجمع i.e. the Day of Gathering, may preferably be to the Judgement Day which has also been called یوم الـحشر i.e. the Day of Resurrection (41:20), یوم التناد i.e. the Day of Mutual Calling (40:33), یوم التلاق i.e. the Day of Meeting (40:16) and یوم الـحساب i.e. the Day of Reckoning (40:28), in the Quran. یوم الـجمع may also refer to that Day of Gathering when all the forces of disbelief assembled in the Battle of the Ditch to administer a coup de grace to the rising power of Islam. It may also refer to the Latter Days when the whole of mankind was to become, as it were, like one family. See also 38:12; 54:46.

20:114; 39:29; 42:8; 46:13.

Commentary:

The Surah being the fourth of the Ha Mim group, naturally opens with the important subject of the revelation of the Quran. See also 12:3; 20:114 and 41:4.

28:44.

20:114; 42:8; 43:4.

Commentary:

Verse 11 above referred to the appearance of a Prophet among the Ishmaelites. The present verse refers to Arabia as the scene of the advent of the Prophet who was to be the like of Moses and to the Book (the Quran) which was to fulfil the prophecies contained in the Book of Moses and which also was to supersede it. The relevant prophecy is as follows:

The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they presented with their bread him that fled (Isaiah 21: 13-15).

See also 26:198.