A004
Surah: 014 - Ayah: 004
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14:4
Regarding the Qur’an it is further said in the Qur’an : “We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand, and verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, with Us high and full of wisdom. “In other words, this means that where the Qur’an is in the presence of God, there it is in a more subliminal form and full of wisdom. That is to say, there it is in the spiritual writing and in the language of God, which is the language of wisdom. It is living and speaking. But on the soil, where it is revealed, there it is in the Arabic language. For from the beginning it has been a Law of God that he sent very messenger in the language of this people (XIV: 4). Thus during the time of the Prophet, the Arab Muslims had the central position of the Muslim community. Since all the Muslims are one and the same community, therefore Arabic is regarded as the language of the Muslim community.
Lisan (Language)
It is also a great discovery of spiritual science that every heavenly Book has a zahir (exoteric aspect) and a batin (esoteric aspect). For instance, the zahir or tanzil of the Qur'an is in Arabic and its batin or ta'wil is in every language of the world. This is the great universal miracle of the Qur'an, as mentioned in verse (14:4): "And We did not send any messengers but with the tongue of his people, so that he may clearly explain to them." (liyubayyina lahum, bayan = ta'wil). [That is, he may give them the ta’wil].
When God sent a Prophet to a nation, He sent him with their language, as it is said in the holy Qur'an: “We have sent no Messenger save with the language of his people so that he may explain to them” (14:4). Not only was the Messenger sent with their language, but so too was the heavenly Book or Scroll, due to which their worship, remembrance, prayer, etc. were also in their own language, so that they may understand the reality or meaning of all those teachings which were given to them on behalf of God.
Part 77
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
It is mentioned in verse (14:4): “And We did not send any Messenger but with the language of his people.” An intelligent and appropriate question arises here: Was the holy Prophet not sent as a mercy to all the people of the world (21:107)? Whereas in verse (7:158), God says: “Say (O Muhammad): O people, verily I am the Messenger of Allah to you all – of Him to whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.”
The answer to the above question is that indeed when God sends a Messenger, He sends him with the language of his people. Similarly, the holy Prophet was sent with the language of his people (i.e. Arabic) and the Book, which was revealed to him, was also in Arabic. Further, for the sake of its exegesis and ta’wil, He also revealed the Divine light (5:15). This revealed or embodied light (nur-i mujassam) at the time of the Prophet was he himself. After the Prophet this light is the true Imam, who is his successor.
Divine mercy [i.e. the mission of the holy Prophet] had come to the world to be spread, so Islam started to be spread and also his people and language. Therefore, who can say that exoterically the translation and exegesis of the Qur’an and hadith are not permissible and who can say that esoterically ta’wil is not permissible, while the ta’wil is being done by the one who possesses the Divine light (5:15)?
This verse has been referred 4 times.