Strengthen English, Preserve Your Mother Tongue, and Gain a Sound Understanding of Arabic
Alienation from Language Will Deprive Future Muslim Generations of Their Religious Heritage and Identity
Founder and Patron-in-Chief of Minhaj-ul-Quran International Addresses Al-Hidayah Camp 2026 in Australia
While addressing the three-day Al-Hidayah Training Camp 2026 in Australia, Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the founder and patron-in-chief of Minhaj-ul-Quran International, has emphasized that the younger generation must attain proficiency in contemporary languages to safeguard their faith and identity.
He said that regardless of where Muslims live in the world, they should develop strong command of the English language, preserve their mother tongue, and acquire a comprehensive understanding of Arabic, as Arabic is indispensable for accessing the sciences of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri explained that English is essential for engaging with the modern world and for acquiring contemporary scientific knowledge, while one's mother tongue serves as a vital link to cultural heritage, history, and civilizational identity.
He noted that many parents raising their children in Western countries are increasingly concerned that their children, having become detached from their mother tongue, are also growing distant from their cultural values, moral traditions, and heritage. He stressed that such parents should instill, from an early stage of upbringing, an appreciation for learning all three languages.
He further clarified that the English language, in itself, poses no threat to Islam, faith, or Muslim identity. In today's world, English has become the global language of education, research, professional advancement, mass communication, humanitarian service, and intellectual dialogue.
He observed that by mastering English alongside their mother tongue, young Muslims can articulate the Islamic perspective with reason, wisdom, and confidence when responding to atheism, morally unrestrained liberal ideologies, and contemporary intellectual challenges.
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri warned, however, that the real danger arises when English becomes the only language through which Muslim children understand the world, causing them to become estranged from their religion, spirituality, history, and identity. In such circumstances, future generations gradually lose access to Islamic scholarship, civilization, and the rich intellectual legacy accumulated over centuries.
A large number of young men and women are participating in Al-Hidayah Camp 2026.
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