Islamic Perspective

We've learned about words, its usage, its application.
We've learned about how computer application eases the process
of us analyzing words and sentences.
We realized then, that human mind alone is incapable of processing or
collecting or arranging such large amount of words, be it in English or any other languages.
Even if we could, we wouldn't have enough time anyway.
When we learn corpus linguistics, we've come across databases that contains millions
of words, yet, it is still a fraction of the usage of the words that has been compiled.
We marvel at the efficiency of computer and its technology of formatting words and compiling them. This should allow us to further marvel the work of our creator, Allah SWT.

[18:109]Say: "If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid."

The language we speak or learn today, is a gift worth learning. Grammatical Analysi,which is a general theory of the organization of natural language, explores the complexity of sentences and its categorization of words into a system. As we learn about it, at the same time, we are also learning about God's gift.

[2:37]Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

It is not enough for us to just marvel at the comlplexity of language, it is also and obligation for us to learn about language, because in Islam we have to know what we say, and what we say is in form of language.

[24:15]Behold, ye received it on your tongues, and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter, while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.

For us to fully utilize language, we have to learn about it, and merely speaking it is not enough. There should be a very good reason why language is worth learning. For one, we have hundreds of different languages in the world, and each language is shaped by the society (or vice versa, its really a chicken or egg question). And for each language, it comes with an underlying system of grammar that is also shaped by the community. Ever wonder why Bahasa Malaysia doesn't have a grammar system that differentiates male and female but English and Arabic does?
Language, then, is very important for the society.

[14:4]We sent not a messenger except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them. Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases: and He is Exalted in power, full of Wisdom.

Last but not least,
whatever knowledge that we've gained through the learning of language
should be appreciated and used in the right way. Language is wisdom.

[40:67]It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom.

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