Should Arabic be replaced with Urdu for Mosque sermons in Pakistan ??

[shuntmaster]

You still at it chure?

What does it mean?

 

[qamar1990]

Hi All.

99% our society doesn't understand Arabic , they can just read and write but don't understand the language itself , which means that Masjid which has served as not only a place of worship but a place of Islamic social justice (Islamic socialism) , a school , a marriage hall , conflict solving authority , even a command and control HQ for centuries is now fading.

Put it this way , almost all of us do not understand what Imam is saying in the sermon , we just put our head down and keep listening to Arabic which makes no sense or "a practical difference".

A Masjid is supposed to be a place of problem solving not just a place of worship , imams give their sermons in arabic which creates a language barrier and the "khutba" which really is the "heart of the prayer" remains a no brainer just because of the lingual barrier.

Replacing Arabic with Urdu will just do what its meant to , which is creating understanding among the people about social issues , national issues. It will spark a discussion , followed by questions and answers resulting in widespread education and understanding on outstanding national and social issues and given the fact that half of our population is illiterate its even more important for a Masjid to clarify its message in most simplest of terms that everyone could understand those issues.

An environment where imams can clarify Social evils ie theft , Sood , Riba , drugs , murder , divorce , rape , discrimination against women , discrimination against other religions and sects , unfair trade , corruption , tax evasion etc in the common language will educate people specially those who are illiterate and eventually will result in a common understanding of these crimes followed by reduction in such occurrences.

We have seen in Egypt and Tunisia , now in Yemen how Masjid can mobilize public show of force , how it can serve as a binding force , a hospital even a shelter for a night.

Masses got out of the Masajid from Friday prayers and changed the face of their country - Its raw power and it comes from understanding mainly driven by Imams.

In Pakistan we don't enjoy that luxury , our immas walk in and start giving "khutba" in Arabic , which sometimes include our vital national issues , we shake our heads and forget about it just because we can't understand the language and the practice is widespread in hundreds and thousands of Masajid around Pakistan so the effect on our society is visible to a critical eye.

My personal opinion is that Urdu should be the official language for sermons during Jumma and other prayers and it should be upheld by the law.

Please share your opinion -- lets have a serious debate

Regards:

Aeronaut.

of course it should replaced.
we don't understand arabic at all, so what good is a sermon when 99.9 percent of our people don't even know what is being said. it doesn't neccesarily have to be urdu, it can be punjabi or what ever language the people speak in the area.
most people read the quran like parrots, they don't know what is being said. every quran in pakistan should have the urdu translation below the arabic as well.

 

[MM_Haider]

I am in china and here the sermon is delivered both in Arabic and Chinese!.

 

[Chak Bamu]

In the whole of non-Arab Muslim world, the Juma sermon is both in Arabic and local language. Typically the 3 or 4 minute Arabic Khutba is formulaic and has a dua as well.

It is a total non-issue whether or no this short khutba should be in Arabic or any other language. I fail to see the point. Any discerning person can understand what it means. Its not like there are any current events, or issues, or history lessons being imparted therein. Imagine visiting China or Indonesia, or Senegal, or UK and hearing the Arabic khutba. This is part of our international linkage. We get it no matter where we are.

I've not read the whole thread and possibly someone has already said what I have shared. But it needs to be said again and again, until opponents finally realize.