Do any of you know what percentage of Muslims can read the Koran in Arabic with complete understanding?

I understand that the majority of Muslims do not read or understand Arabic but must rely on transliterations in languages that they do understand.

True?

ummm...is not the whole of the Middle east and parts of Africa speak arabic ?

Those muslims who are of different languages, and do not know arabic do rely on translations.

As to to the percent I do not know.

DavidC wrote: George wrote: Do any of you know what percentage of Muslims can read the Koran in Arabic with complete understanding? I dunno, but it is way larger than the % of Christians that can read Greek.

Probably true, but your answer is not responsive to my question.

Angel wrote: ummm...is not the whole of the Middle east and parts of Africa speak arabic ? Those muslims who are of different languages, and do not know arabic do rely on translations. As to to the percent I do not know.

I asked who speak and understand.  I read that it was something like 50-60% could read it, but many have problems understanding it even if they speak the language.

How reliable are the translations of the Koran?

George, most born Muslims can read the Quran in Arabic and understand it, even if they do not speak Arabic. They are raised from infancy learning the Quran. That is why you will see Muslims in China, Russia, Indonesia, who cannot speak conversational Arabic but who read the Quran perfectly.

Mishmish wrote: George, most born Muslims can read the Quran in Arabic and understand it, even if they do not speak Arabic. They are raised from infancy learning the Quran. That is why you will see Muslims in China, Russia, Indonesia, who cannot speak conversational Arabic but who read the Quran perfectly.

I do believe that the statistics speak for themselves.  Most Muslims know a little Arabic, but most do not understand the language.  I see on discussion boards that many keep asking others what a aya in the Koran means.

Reading the Koran in Arabic is quite a distance from understanding it.  Children memorize the Koran but don't understand a word of it.  Wouldn't you agree?

I know a Muslim who said it took him 12 years to say the ayas correctly and understand what he was reading.

I would be willing to guess that most Muslims rely on the commentaries in the Koran and also on Internet tasfir commentaries.

Part of learning Quran is understanding Quran. That's the learning part. Recitation is different.

Mishmish wrote: Part of learning Quran is understanding Quran. That's the learning part. Recitation is different.

OK, when I look up the statistics, I'll post them

If I asked you to translate an Arabic word, could you do it?

DavidC wrote:

"I dunno, but it is way larger than the % of Christians that can read Greek."

and I say, borrowing DavidC's words:

"I don't know but it is way larger than the percentage of Christians who can read Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew."

BMZ

George,

From you: "If I asked you to translate an Arabic word, could you do it?"

At your service, George. I can translate any verses of Qur'aan or Arabic for you without looking at any translation, in English. You know well that I am not an Arab or an Arabic-speaking person.

BR

BMZ

bmzsp wrote: George, From you: "If I asked you to translate an Arabic word, could you do it?" At your service, George. I can translate any verses of Qur'aan or Arabic for you without looking at any translation, in English. You know well that I am not an Arab or an Arabic-speaking person. BR BMZ

Be careful what you offer to translate.....

bmzsp wrote: George, From you: "If I asked you to translate an Arabic word, could you do it?" At your service, George. I can translate any verses of Qur'aan or Arabic for you without looking at any translation, in English. You know well that I am not an Arab or an Arabic-speaking person. BR BMZ

I do have a word for you to translate, but another topic would need to be created and since you asked me to slow now, I will.

It will have to come later.

The following site claims the number of Arabic speakers is about 220 million. These are speakers only and a large percentage of Arabs are illiterate. Thus, the number of people who can actually read and understand the Koran is likely to be far fewer than 220 million. If we estimate 100 million that is less than 10% of Muslims able to read and understand the Koran.  If we assume the entire 220 million speakers can read and understand the Koran that's still only about 15%.

Please see the following analysis:

http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm - http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm

George wrote: Do any of you know what percentage of Muslims can read the Koran in Arabic with complete understanding? I understand that the majority of Muslims do not read or understand Arabic but must rely on transliterations in languages that they do understand. True?

I don't know how the answer is going to benefit you.

You have put forward a  loaded question--with  complete understanding.

I would say the percentage be directly proportional to the spiritual health of the community. 

i.e., the level of love for the Prophet and his message. How charitable and just is the community in its faith and practices.

What is the optimum number of doctors and judges in a community?

To have a complete understanding of Quran is equivalent to having a Ph.d in Islamic studies. Yes there are people who have achieved this level but statistical number you are looking for has to stay allusive for  now. It takes commitment to master all the required disciplines and residency / clerkship just like for a  doctor of medicine or attorney at law.

Yes there are numerous translations available describing the meaning of Quran for consumption of lay people and they do fairly good job. Most ayahs/ signs which were revealed relevant to a particular event  need  to be understood in context of the revelation. This is the most important aspect of Quranic understanding for clarity.

But complete understanding comes with reflection and that takes time.

It is not an absolute requirement to have a complete understanding of Quran to be a good lay-Muslim.As long he/she fulfills the basic requirements of faith and practice. And does keep a yard stick for right and wrong. That much they can learn at their kids' Sunday school.

I think you need to understand in asking this question that the current Muslim pool would not be a good representation of true statistical sample. The Muslim people are waking up from a long and painful slumber/ nightmare. They have been through a period of devolution under a long spell of imperialism and then followed by colonialism both were  anathema for complete understanding and practice  of divine book like Quran. The detail belons in another thread.

The process of learnig to read Quran starts with learnig the basics of arabic alphabets and arabic word formation and practice. It all depends upon how commited are the parents for their childrens' development as  knowledgeable Muslims. Some secular style muslim parents are satisfied with just the name and some rituals, while some want their children be able to read Quran from cover to cover well and few would like their sons to memorise the whole thing for their love for the Prophet. A great test for the memory of the young man and an honor to be the leader of the multitude at prayer time in Ramadan. And of course if the learning / mastery of arabic language and prophet's life and times becomes part of the kids curriculum they will have pretty good understanding of the Quran. That is how it works.

The transliteration is probably for the non-muslim readers of Quran or the  muslims who missed the abinitio course mentioned above in their childhood. This variation from country to country in this process will be found but with similar results.

And bmzsp offer to a translation test would be of what value in the days of googling to you ?

Sign*Reader,

That was well written and I liked the following observation from you:

"But complete understanding comes with reflection and that takes time."

Best Regards & Salaam Aalikum

BMZ

bmzsp wrote: Sign*Reader, That was well written and I liked the following observation from you: "But complete understanding comes with reflection and that takes time." Best Regards & Salaam Aalikum BMZ

OK, BMZ.  You volunteered to translate some words in the Koran in Arabic.  That will be another topic, when I get around to it.

Hello all

From the little acquired knowledge of Islam I have most born Muslims that do speak Arabic are at a small percentage versus the rest of the world which is comprised of many other nationalities. I'm sure mosques in malaysia perhgaps perform their Islamic duties such as prayer etc ion Arabic saying but I would assume that their sermons and such are performed in their respective languages. However learning Quranic Arabic is another story I would believe that there is a small percentage of people who can read and speak Arabic and understand the wording of Qur'an. I mean if some people do undertand the Qur'an why do we have individuals committing ignorant terrorist acts? They quote many Quranic verses can we say these individuals understand the Qur'an?

Apex wrote: I mean if some people do undertand the Qur'an why do we have individuals committing ignorant terrorist acts? They quote many Quranic verses can we say these individuals understand the Qur'an?

ask those ignorant terrorists (as stated by you) this question.

Hi Apex,

"I mean if some people do undertand the Qur'an why do we have individuals committing ignorant terrorist acts? They quote many Quranic verses can we say these individuals understand the Qur'an?"

Committing terrorist act has nothing to do with understanding of Qur'an. A person of belief would never commit terrorist act. Plain and Simple.

Moreover, there are many people in this world who know that lying, cheating, killing each other are all wrong acts irrespective of one's color, country, faith and language, yet they resort to those evil things.

Peace