Should we as students celebrate it or be worried about it? Making Arabic compulsory for Grade 1 to Grade 5 has been introduced on Feb 01, 2021, as a private member’s bill by senator Javed Abbasi of PML-N. Sooner or later it will become an act of parliament once it gets approved by the National Assembly.
There is a dire need to analyze the reasons that why our lawmakers have taken this decision for the people of Pakistan.
First, the bill states that proficiency in the Arabic language will pave the way for employment and expand business opportunities for Pakistani citizens in Arab Rich countries. This reason is quite illogical because getting a job is not a matter of becoming proficient in that particular language. There is just one factor that is defined for getting a job or grab a business opportunity is to one should acquire high skills.
Furthermore, there are 10% of Indians who are working there just because of their highly skilled work not because of having familiarity with Arabic. Pakistanis about 3%still remained far behind. This is because of low professional skills.
Second, the bill says that school- learned Arabic will enable students to comprehend the Holy Qur'an better and will help them to become better Muslims. Are the bill’s sponsor not aware that from the 10th century the Qur'an has been translated into all major languages? This was important to translate it for the non-Arabs to have better understanding of the Quran. The Urdu translation is yet much easier for Pakistani students.
The statement from the minister of state for parliamentary affairs: you can not understand the Quran until you know the Arabic language. How a person can be a good human being after understanding the Arabic language? Having this type of thinking is really peculiar. If that is the case then Arab states will be an exemplary state for the world. The ambiguity on Israel is very clear. Has the Arabic language made Arabs as an example of moral integrity, Unity, or high thinking?
It would be great to teach students the Arabic language. May all lawyers of the Pakistan would be honest. May students read books rather than protesting for cheating.