Our Muslim friends say that their message is for all people, that their Quran was meant to be universal, but is this really true? If we focus in on the Quran, that answer seems to be no! The Quran was sent to a specific people group and in Arabic specifically so that they receive a revelation in a language they understand. In fact, the hadith teaches it was revealed in seven Arabic dialects (which we would more correctly call "textual variants") to make sure the original recipients of the revelation, the Quraish, could understand it.
This is a far cry what we see today, with Muslims being required to pray and memorize the Quran in Arabic, a language that they don't typically understand. Was this the original purpose of sending the message in Arabic?
Quran Was Sent in Arabic, so that Arabs Might Understand
If the Quran was meant for all people, why was it sent down in the obscure language of Arabic?
"And so We have revealed it as an authority in Arabic. And if you were to follow their desires after ˹all˺ the knowledge that has come to you, there would be none to protect or shield you from Allah." Quran 13:37, Khattab
Why does it have to be in Arabic? The answer apparently is so that the people that spoke Arabic so that Allah would send a message that the people would understand:
“Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran so that you may understand.” Quran 12:2, Khattab
“By the clear Book! Certainly, We have made it a Quran in Arabic so perhaps you will understand.” Quran 43:2-3, Khattab
But this doesn't really make sense. Is Arabic a universal language? Only about 16% of Muslims speak Arabic. Who is able to understand (in another translation “learn wisdom”) without knowing Arabic? For, the Quran was meant to be sent down in Arabic, in order to make the revelation clear:
“And so We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran and varied the warnings in it, so perhaps they will shun evil or it may cause them to be mindful.” Quran 20:113, Khattab
For whom will such a revelation be clear? Only for the Arabs.
Muhammad was Sent only to the Arabs
Muhammad was sent to his own people. Muhammad was specifically sent as a warner to the town of Mecca and the towns around it:
“ And this (the Qur’ân) is a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming (the revelations) which came before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Towns (i.e. Makkah) and all those around it.…” Quran 6:92a, Hilali-Khan
According to the Quran, Allah’s messengers are ALWAYS sent to speak the language of their people:
“We have not sent a messenger except in the language of his people to clarify ˹the message˺ for them. Then Allah leaves whoever He wills to stray and guides whoever He wills. ...” Quran 14:4a, Khattab
For clear conveyance of the message, Muhammad was sent to his own people from his people. That is, according to the Quran, the messenger to the Arabs had to be from the people of the Arabs. So Muhammad was the messenger only for the Arabs.
Was Muhammad Really Sent to All People?
These verses create a clear contradiction to the common Muslim story that Muhammad’s message is universal. But is this narrative even true?
In the following verses, Muhammad is purportedly “a mercy for all creatures” and he was sent to all mankind:
“And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” Quran 21:107, Hilali- Khan
“We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men understand not.” Quran 34:28, Yusuf Ali
There are many verses, e.g. Quran 4:79, where it says in the Quran translations that Muhammad is a messenger to all mankind. In Quran 34:28 the term “lilnnāsi” (لِلنَّاسِ) for mankind also translates to “for people”. It is translated this way by Usmani, Hareem and Khattab in 4:79. Similarly, “l-nāsu” (لِلنَّاسِ) that has been translated “mankind” in 7:158 and many other verses, literally translates to “the people”. This term may in fact only be referring to the people of Mecca.The Quran Was Revealed to be Easy to Understand, If You Read Arabic!
Allah has provided the Quran in different Arabic dialects or “ahruf” (the meaning of this term is unclear; it may be closer to “textual variants” and not actually dialects). This was to make reciting it easy on the people receiving the Quran (i.e. Muhammad’s people, the Arabs) to recite and understand it. In fact, after the requests of Muhammad, Allah permitted the Quran to be recited in seven textual variants:
“Ubayy b. Ka'b reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was near the tank of Banu Ghifar that Gabriel came to him and said:
Allah has commanded you to recite to your people the Qur'an in one dialect. Upon this he said: I ask from Allah pardon and forgiveness. My people are not capable of doing it. He then came for the second time and said: Allah has commanded you that you should recite the Qur'an to your people in two dialects. Upon this he (the Holy prophet) again said: I seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah, my people would not be able to do so. He (Gabriel) came for the third time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in three dialects. Upon this he said: I ask pardon and forgiveness from Allah. My people would not be able to do it. He then came to him for the fourth time and said: Allah has commanded you to recite the Qur'an to your people in seven dialects, and in whichever dialect they would recite, they would be right.” Sahih Muslim 821 a
Islam today expects Muslims to read the Quran and pray in Arabic. How can Allah expect this of Muslims today while at the same time making pains to ensure that the Quran was easy to understand for its original recipients? If Allah revealed the Quran in seven different Quraishi dialects, why couldn’t he reveal the Quran in, for example, just one Indonesians language?
(The original message was taken from the Christian Prince talk “Is the Quran the book of contradiction or perfection? #1 Islam is universal or local?” More information on this topic is at answering-islam.org: https://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Incoherence/messenger_language.html)
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