ARABIC AS THE MEDIUM OF REVELATION IN UNDERSTANDING THE QUR’AN

Abstract

Arabic holds a fundamental position in Islam as the language of the Qur’anic revelation and as an epistemological foundation for understanding divine guidance. This article examines the linguistic characteristics of the Arabic language and their implications for the construction of Qur’anic meaning, interpretive authority, and the production of Islamic knowledge. Employing a qualitative approach based on library research, this study analyzes the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic features of Arabic through classical Qur’anic exegesis and contemporary Qur’anic studies. The findings demonstrate that the root-based morphological system and the semantic density of Arabic enable the Qur’an to convey informative, normative, ethical, and transformative messages simultaneously. Moreover, key Qur’anic concepts such as taqwa, ‘ilm, and kufr embody multilayered meanings that cannot be fully transferred through translation without the risk of semantic and epistemological reduction. Arabic also functions as an epistemic instrument that determines the legitimacy of interpretation and shapes scholarly authority within the Islamic intellectual tradition. In the context of globalization and digital technology, the increasing reliance on translations and instant interpretations risks weakening the depth of Qur’anic understanding when not accompanied by adequate linguistic competence. Therefore, strengthening Arabic proficiency is a crucial prerequisite for preserving the epistemological integrity of Qur’anic understanding and reaffirming its virtue as the language of revelation and Islamic scholarship in the contemporary era.