Why was the Qur'an revealed in Arabic?

Answer 1

Reasons

There are three typical arguments given by Muslims as for why the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic:

1) Poetic Tradition in Arabic: There was a strong poetic tradition in Pre-Islamic Arabia. The sound of this poetry and its forms were very moving, which enhanced the Divine Edicts of the Qur'an. Part of the Qur'an's beauty comes from this poetic tradition into which the Qur'an was grafted.

2) Complex Arabic Grammar: Arabic has a very complex grammatical system which makes it much more specific in its method of explaining what the Divine Laws are. There are 2 genders, 3 verbal moods, 15 verbal paradigms, 4 declensions, etc. which make it harder to misread an Arabic sentence.

3) Arabia: Mohammed was an Arab speaking to other Arabs. As a result, it makes sense that he should reveal a Qur'an in Arabic as opposed to another language. (Q: 41:44)

Additionally, most Muslims hold that for a true believer, the Qur'an will make itself clear and bridge the linguistic difficulties.

Criticism

All three of these reasons above do not stand up to any serious scrutiny.

1) Poetic Tradition: Arabia is not the only place with a strong poetic and musical tradition. Places as varied as the Ancient Hellenic World, Ancient China, Persia, etc. all had poetic and singing traditions that would have accentuated the beauty of their texts. There are established metered patterns in all of these languages, such as dactylic hexameter in Homeric Greek or Chinese Quatrains. English has iambic pentameter and the Sonnet. Alexander Pope was famously able to render the Homeric poetry in his translations by meticulously choosing words that would convey the meaning and the rhyming scheme.

2) Complex Grammar: The premise of this is flawed. A complex grammar more often obscures intent than elucidates it. Languages with relatively simple grammar, like English, are generally easier to learn and the use of such a language grants easier access to the meaning of the text for millions of people. However, even assuming that a complex grammar is desirable, a number of other languages have even more complex systems than Arabic. Russian, Navajo, and numerous languages from Papua New Guinea are much more confusing and complex grammatically than Arabic. Additionally, grammatically simple languages, like English make up for their grammar with other assets. In English, it is the precision of terms. For example, there is a slight difference between "stubborn" and "intransigent", which Arabic does not pick up (as both are 3anid - عنيد). Finally, contrary to what Muslims may say, language barriers remain an issue regardless of piety.

3) Arabia: This only serves to push back this question to the question of why God chose to reveal the Qur'an in 7th century Arabia. If God had chosen to reveal the Qur'an in 18th century Bavaria, to Gottlob, the Qur'an would have to have been in German according to this rationale. This makes the Arabic language incidental to the revelation as opposed to necessary for the revelation.