THE IMPORTANCE OF ARABIC LANGUAGE IN DA’WAH ACTIVITIES: A STUDY OF WOMEN IN DA’WAH

This paper is on the importance of Arabic language and its usage in Da’awah activities by women in Da’awah in Nigeria. It also discussed how Arabic is used in Da’awah by Muslim women in Nigeria. It explained the mission and vision of Women in Da’awah (WID) and their various approaches to Da’awah that includes encouragement of the use and study of Arabic language. Likewise, the paper discusses the Da’awah activities of the Women in Da’awah and outline most the da’awah activities carried out by the organization. It also deliberates the importance of the use of the language for Da’awah purpose with evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah. The paper adopted and used descriptive approach combined with content analysis approach. Arabic is a compulsory language. When Islam stretched and came into contact with other civilizations, Arabic acted as a bridge of scholarship through the movement of translation.


Introduction
The role of Arabic in the Study and dissemination of the knowledge of Islam as the language of the Noble Book of Allah is not only because of the society where Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), assigned as an Messenger and Prophet is an Arabic speaking society but also because it is capable and worthy to embrace and express eternal and universal divine messages (Fuadah, Muhammad & Ahmad, 2014). Arabic had become the language of more than 22 countries in the Middle East and parts of the African continent, which then became the official language as well as the international language used as the working language of the United Nations, the main factor-besides preserving it in conjunction with the "guarantees and divine protection" the maintenance of the Qur'an is vital plan (the spirit of fighting, impetus) and the religious motivation of Muslims to understand the divine messages and traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet. 1 Moreover, Muslims find the Arabic language to be elegant, flexible, and highly literary in transmitting various Muslim intellectual works in textual form, both books and manuscripts, which are still subject to the study and inspiration of Islamic thought very valuable. 2 It is also a fact that military and religious conquests played important role in the diffusion of languages and cultures among diverse groups. For instance, the Islamic movement made Arabic the language and culture of people beyond the Arabian Peninsula. In a nutshell, with Islam, Arabic became the dominant language not only among its sister Semitic languages but also in Africa. From the early 19th century, Sokoto too became a major focus of learning. 4 It was established that Arabic education was the first form of education known in Lagos and was also the first form of literacy in the whole of West Africa. The Shuwa Arabs, an ethnic group based in Northern Nigeria, speak no other language besides Arabic. A number of local works have also been compiled in Hausa and Fulfulde by indigenous writers in their native languages using the Arabic script. It was largely during the 19th and early 20th centuries that Arabic education began to enjoy a wide popularity in the Northern States of Nigeria. 5 Human life can only be religiously and educationally progressive in a society when it is in line with the Islamic Shari'ah. A Muslim can only practice Islam as a Divine and Noble religion when he is able to comprehend the meaning of the two sources of Islam; the Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Da'awah serves as one of the most suitable ways of inviting mankind to Islam, as it is one of the major ways of teaching the Muslims the doctrines and ethos of the Holy religion, for the betterment of this life and the hereafter. It is clear that the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic Language; the language of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W). In this case, therefore, a propagator (Da'iyah) needs to be Arabic literate before they can engage in the activities of Da'awah.
Women in Da'awah (WID) as an Association in Nigeria, was created purposely for different Islamic propagation activities across the nation. It conducts many religious activities for the benefit of women and children. Thus, the necessity for Arabic language in these righteous activities is obvious. This paper discusses the importance of Arabic Language in

B. Methods
The approach used in writing this paper is a literature study approach. Basically the literature study is the same as research in general, but the research data obtained is secondary data using the literature study method. The three steps that the researcher will take in preparing this article include: first, finding and collecting reference sources that are relevant to the theme of this research. Second, several scientific papers that have been collected are then processed and elaborated, in order to comprehensively explain the inter-sections of this article. Third, as the last step, the researcher concludes specifically referring to the title raised in this study, namely the importance of Arabic language in da'wah activities.

Conceptualizing Da'awah
The literal meaning of Da'awah: Da'awah is an Arabic word with its origin in three roots and procedures that suits those to be taught across the country.

The Activities of Women in Da'awah (WID)
Since the establishment of Women in Da'awah, most of the active members of the

The Importance of Arabic Language in Women in Da'awah Activities
Having discussed the activities of women in Da'awah and use of Arabic language in Nigeria, it becomes necessary to explain why the knowledge of Arabic is significant for women in Da'awah in Muslim Community in Nigeria. Since it is a fact that Muslim women also have certain roles and responsibilities to discharge like their male counterparts as prescribed by Allah, adequate knowledge of Arabic will, therefore, assist them in carrying out such responsibilities.
The impact of Arabic language on Nigerian Muslim women can also be viewed from da'awah activities among women by organizing educational classes. In the first place, they will play a great role in the dissemination of knowledge to their brothers, sisters and even their children. Secondly, they will play there in the field of preaching through poems in both Arabic and local languages. In a nutshell, as soon as women became soundly educated in Arabic language, they will start conducting classes for girls and women, which will help in widening the circle of knowledge among the womenfolk. 14 Arabic language is the language of the glorious Book of Islam, the Qur'an. It is the tongue  In line with the above discussion, it is clear that the importance of Arabic language in Women in Da'wah activities can be directed to the propagators (Du'at) and those invited or called upon to the way of Allah. The propagators can only pass the teachings of Islam to those they are inviting or teaching when they know and understand Arabic, when they can correctly recite, quote and read the verses and of the Qur'an and the Hadith of the Prophet (S.A.W), this will enable them understand the textual meaning of the two sources and explain them to their listeners/audience. 1) Learning the correct method of reciting the verses of the Holy Quran.
2) Learning the correct way of reciting the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
3) Performing the Ibadat in Arabic where necessary.
4) Acquiring the knowledge of Arabic pronunciations of some selected supplications as they were revealed.

D. Conclusion
In conclusion, after discussing about the importance of Arabic Language in Da'wah by Muslim women is commendable as it will encourage the younger generation of Muslims to study and understand the language of the Qur'an. And it will go a long way in assisting the in undertaking Da'wah activities in the future.