more elementary questions

While reading through another thread I read the following (this is not the whole post but the part I have a question about. No offense to cabdirazzaq for the partial quote):

1. Does this mean one has to speak/read arabic to be a true Muslim?
2. The ones who do translate the Quran into english or other language are they considered to have done wrong?

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3. Memorizing the Quran is done by all Muslims?
4. Memorizing the Quran is a requirement by Allah or Muhammad or both?
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Good question.. I have a 'side question' as well:

Is it true that Arabic is the first language of man and that Hebrew is actually a derivation of the Original Arabic?

Second Question: There are different dialects of Arabic (were in Muhammads day) so which one is the True Arabic?
The combined version Muhammad used?
Which Arabic translation of the Koran is correct then?
Only One?

 

1. No, not by any means. What is obligatory is to learn is whats sufficent in order to pray, that is to say the first chapter (it has only 7 verses, doesnt take long too learn. Im not an arab and most of those who have memorized the Quran (fully) are not arab nor speak arabic) and a few phrases one says in prayer. A similar question was posted in islamqa: http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?QR=6524&ln=eng

2. No, not if they are fit to do the job. The prophets companions used to explain quran to the non arabs in their language. But the emphasis lies on the notion that its not considered Quran, but only as an interpretation of its meaning. This is called tafsir in arabic, wich means "an explanation", the most famous arabic tafsir was the one of ibn kathir in his explanation; (its now translated to english, www.tafsir.com).

3. Yes, atleast a small part of it. Most muslims know atleast the last chapters of the Quran (due to they being very short) and some learn the whole book. "The Quran" it self means "The Recitation/Recital". You dont read it, you recite it

4. Im not really sure what you mean, I take it as if your asking about wether its mentioned in the Quran (the words of Allah) or in Hadith (the words of the Prophet)? It doesnt really matter if its imposed by the prophet or Allah since its still compulsion to obey them both (a certain sect denies the words of hadith saying that they only accept Quran, by doing this they are acually denying alot of Quran verses speaking about obeying the prophet)

The Quran mentions that we should give zakah(obligtory charity wich is given to the needy) for instance but it doesnt say how much but the hadith procentage does, it mentions prayer but it doesnt give a detailed description on how to pray etc. There cant be a real confusion about the creed of muslims, we simply follow the way the prophet understod certain verses without changing their meanings to mean something else as some people have been fond of doing today, this means their etiher denieing his words or think they are better than him in understanding its meanings.

Then there is alot of different understanding of certain hadiths/verses (though this doesnt concern the creed) but this is due to peoples different understandings. The prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) once mentioned that none of the muslims should pray until theyve reached a certain location. When the asr prayer came some prayed argumenting that the prayer must be prayed in its given time while the others refrained from praying due to the prophets command not pray until they reach that location.
When they met him later on, he didnt refute neither of them since they both tried to understand the situation based on how they understod it.

 

1. I dont know of anyone who claimed that arabic is the first language, I dont know, ask linguists.

2. The right one is called Fusha(classical arabic, the orginal eleqouent arabic) , its true what you say. Arabs today are scattered and they speak very different dialects but they all understand fusha and their writing is all the same.

No translation written by any scholar is 100% correct of the meanings of the Quran, its says: "...but none knows its interpretation except Allah...",