(Part 2 of 2) By Abdul Hannan Tago

Arabic is a major language – a beautiful one at that – but many are wondering why many non-Arabic speaking expatriates are reluctant to study it, much more to send their children to Arabic schools to study.  A fellow researcher, who is a Saudi, made a survey regarding it, and he found out that: 

First: Expatriates do not expect much benefit from learning Arabic language, and does not guarantee good future for their children both in Saudi Arabia and in their home countries.  

Second: Saudi schools do not allow foreigners to continue their studies after graduation from high school here, which casts doubt on the uncertainty of their education.  

Foreign children attending school in Saudi Arabia at the primary level leave the school after realizing that they could not continue studying after high school. 

Third: Lack of interest by the Saudi sponsors and companies to encourage their applicant foreign workers to learn Arabic as among other prerequisites for admission for employment or a guarantee for continuity of their services. 

A Saudi columnist said that despite the announcement by the Saudi government, that Arabic is the official language in all companies’ correspondences; many firms here are using English. 

It may be noted that many of the job advertisements in the local papers indicate that applicants are required to have knowledge of English as a prerequisite, but you cannot find a similar ad in which the employer requires Arabic language. We find that there are marginal preferences for those who know the Arabic language. 

The fellow researcher asked me about the future of my children in the light of the urgent need of the Saudi companies for foreigners mainly because of their knowledge of English. 

I honestly told him, I see a bright future for my children and I am keenly optimistic about this.  This leads me to the facts and future expectations that have surfaced during the global economic turmoil. 

Firstly: I believe in the Arabic Holy Book, the book of God and the nation's Constitution, which raised the nation like what we see in this prosperous country. The Almighty Allah says in Surah Yusuf, “Verily, we have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an in order that you may understand.” On the other hand, those who adopted human-made constitution rather than the Qur’an have failed and lost. Despite their advanced knowledge, they have made mistakes in their calculation and counting. 

Secondly: We have seen recently the unprecedented economic decline in major countries in the west, which led to the closure of many giant companies in America alone, and threatening others. They themselves acknowledged their own mistakes within their economic system could probably one of the reasons for the deterioration in their economy.

This has forced them to search for an alternative, and somehow found an answer in the Islamic economic system that has gained green-light supports from the Pope of Vatican.  As such, individuals and companies are now heading towards Muslim countries, seeking to know more about Shariah compliant banking system. 

Thirdly: I mentioned to the researcher that in my personal view I consider Arabic as the main pillar and others as branches. If somebody seeks this branch of knowledge, it could be an additional means that may be used to reach the desired objective. For example, you find workers who have mastered the English language. Do you feel that they are better than you are? Whatever the answer is, the fact remains that they merely came to serve you and provide the well-being of the country and its citizen, who may not speak English at all. 

Fourthly: As I have indicated earlier that the repercussions of the economic crisis in the Western worlds in general and their search for the alternative in Islamic regime in particular has prompted the use of Arabic economic terminology, which exists only in the books of Islamic studies, such as “Sukuk”, “Murabaha” and other many Arabic terms. 

This is a great chance for the Arab world to take this opportunity. It should do something for expats to get interested to learn about the Arabic knowledge while they are in need for the employment. It is crystal clear that the more people learn Arabic the more Arabs win their sympathy and understanding to Islamic cause and enhance their love for the language and its people. 

Finally, I requested the fellow researcher to highlight in his theses the request of expatriates who are very few for the Saudi Higher Education to open room for them to continue their studies in Saudi universities irrespective of the specializations.  Definitely, they will carry in their hearts the generosity of this country. Similar to their Saudi classmates, they will certainly learn everything advantageous about the country. They will act as ambassadors of this noble country when they finally return to their countries of origin. 

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