Classical vs Modern Arabic?

[Milkyway]

I mainly want to learn Arabic to read the Qur'an and I just read an article that modern and classical arabic of the Qur'an are two different languages? Is this true? How do I learn classical arabic instead of modern arabic or are they both the same? Also if you know any good books to learn arabic please don't hesitate to post them :) Thanks in advance.

[Rasha]

I disagree that modern vs traditional is different language... unless the author is referring to "dialect" when he says modern Arabic.

But what i think he means is the style etc.

The difference in that is very small.... main that in traditional arabic, people were more sophisticated in Arabic to use more advanced words. For example, instead of saying I am happy with the result, they'd say "I am content" or whatever (this is just an example).

I know of a sister here who knows how to read the quraan and can understand it well, but when we speak in our dialect, she understands some not all.

dialects are different yet, but the arabic is same. I am arab and I read arabic books (modern and traditional) and I read the quraan..... I find the quraan a bit harder to understand since my arabic is not that great... but i can understand both alright.

So if u want to learn arabic to know the quraan, just learn proper arabic not a dialect, and i think u should be fine.

inshaAllah others who were not born arabic but learned it later on would post ... maybe they have a different experience.

[Lulua]

Assalaamu alaikum.

Arabic-whether modern or classic-is all one language basically. As sr. Rasha has pointed out, the dialects are different, whether in ages past or in modern times. But they are all the same basic language.

As for dialects, it can be compared to the difference between the English language spoken by Australians, British, Irish, and Americans. And...even that...the difference of the accents involved in the various regions of America (I refer to America more so than other English speaking countries, simply because of my own experience and familiarity with it and their language). All of these ppls from the various mentioned regions speak the same basic language-English...but with different tendencies to word usage for particular meanings(i.e. dialects), or differing accents. The same thing can be said of Arabic speaking ppls.

The ppl of the Gulf region have a different accent/dialect than those, say, in Egypt, as differing from Lebanon and Syria and Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. And even within Saudi Arabia...the various regions having varrying dialects/accents from one another. But they all speak the same underlying language basically...and that is Arabic.

And for a person to be able to understand and competently communicate with others from various regions...it is a personal ability to understand and adapt. Some people can do so easier than others. Similar to English speaking ppl when meeting up with others from various regions who may speak either a different dialect and/or accent.

I am not an arab by birth, but have been fortunate to come to understand modern spoken arabic, as well as for the most part classic arabic. However, there is a greater deepness to the classic arabic than there is for modern spoken dialects. But it is advisable for anyone desiring to learn the language, and in particular with desire to understand the Quran in it's revealed language, to study classic arabic. But beware that it is a very extensive and thorough study.

There are several sites on the net which offer help in working towards the goal of learning arabic. Will search for some...or perhaps u can do ur own google search. Try typing in 'learn arabic' or something similar and see what u come up with.

If u need some more help, we will try to do our best, inshaAllah.

Lulua.