Dubai - 'I have started an online course also as I want to learn more about this beautiful and sweet language.'
Published: Thu 24 May 2018, 5:29 PM
The holy month of Ramadan is passing so quickly that it's hard to believe that we are now entering the eight day of this precious month. On the one hand, I am happy that I am able to complete my first ever fasts comfortably and on the other hand I am sad that this month of blessings is passing by so quickly.
I recently read that before it came to be known as the month of fasting, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him) knew Ramadan as a month of the Quran, the last and ever lasting divine guidance to humanity. This is because it is the month when the Holy Quran was revealed. Therefore I have made it a point to read the holy book everyday without fail. Now since I do not understand Arabic, I read the Quran in English to understand what it means and what Allah wants us to make of our lives.
Diary of a convert: 'It is my first Ramadan as a Muslim'
In order to understand Quran and also be able to speak in Arabic, I have started an online course also as I want to learn more about this beautiful and sweet language. So I intend to learn both types of Arabic (Quranic as well as spoken) in order to absorb the culture and religion well on daily basis this month. So far I have memorised just one chapter (Surah) of the Holy Quran and in all there 114 Surahs, each divided into verses and all of unequal length. But they have a rhythm to them , an amazing structure and quality that if recited the right way , it can be so enjoyable as well as beneficial for our throat because we have to use different parts of our throat for different alphabets - an amazing exercise.
The first chapter I memorised is the opening chapter of the Quran called Surah Fatiha, which comprises seven verses (ayat) that are a prayer for the guidance, lordship and mercy of God. It took me one or two days to memorise this; another two or three days to pronounce it better; so in total it took me about a week.
'I am nervous before my first ever Ramadan fast'
And of course I understand the meaning of the Surah as it would make no sense if I just memorised and not understood what it means. So Im learning the Quran in both Arabic and English (meaning). I must confess that It is not easy because it is beautiful God's language, and is pure and perfect therefore it will take some time to master it. Since it is something I have never dealt with therefore it is a bit difficult for me to pronounce and memorise it.
Lot of sounds of this language we do not have in Spanish or in English so it becomes a bit challenging. But its structure is simple and with practice I feel I am getting there. So In shaa Allah this Ramadan Im hoping to learn at least 10 surahs.
This Ramadan I am looking forward to staying fit and strong in faith; increase my Iman, learn more about Quran and about the language.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
(AS TOLD TO SAMAN HAZIQ)
Luis Carreno is a 36-year-old from Colombia who embraced Islam in January 2018. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt coach for the UAE armed forces in Dubai.
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