When Arabic Becomes a Lifelong Dream: Stories of Struggle and Passion

We, as native Arabic speakers, live amidst blessings we have grown so accustomed to that we often forget to be grateful for them. Perhaps the greatest of these blessings is the “Eloquent Arabic Tongue.” To open the Quran and read it smoothly, to hear the Adhan and understand its call, to feel humility (Khushoo) with the Imam because your mind comprehends what is being recited—these are intuitive basics for us. Yet, for millions of Muslims around the world, this is a “lifelong dream,” a daily struggle, and an immense challenge.

We have witnessed this passion and seen these tears in the eyes of our students and those we have met along life’s path. These are stories that made us realize the magnitude of the responsibility resting on our shoulders.

“Why Wasn’t I Created Speaking Arabic?”

During an online lesson, there was a young student from India, only 12 years old, living in the United States. She was trying with great effort to memorize Surah Al-Qalam. However, the pronunciation was difficult for her, and her tongue felt heavy. She persisted in trying to master this single Surah for three whole months!

One day, wishing to encourage her, her teacher jokingly said: “When we finish Surah Al-Qalam, we will hold a celebration for you here in Egypt and another in America.” Suddenly, the little girl burst into tears, her voice filled with pain and hope: “It is the dream of my life to finish Surah Al-Qalam! Why wasn’t I created knowing how to read the Quran easily like you?” She wished she had been born with a tongue that could utter the words of God without suffering.

To fulfill this child’s dream and alleviate the burden of being estranged from the language of the Quran… That is why we established the qortoba Center in Cairo to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

“Weeping Without Understanding”

From India to Canada, a mother of a Canadian student shares a story that shakes the conscience. She says: “I went to perform Umrah, and the atmosphere was spiritually majestic. The Imam in the Haram was praying and weeping out of deep reverence, and the people around him were weeping, moved by his words. I was crying too, not because I understood what he was saying, but out of sorrow because I didn’t understand a single letter! I would wait for the reaction of the people around me; if they said ‘Ameen’, I would repeat after them, completely absent from the meaning.”

Imagine standing in the holiest place on earth, your heart wanting to connect, but the language barrier stands as an impenetrable wall between you and your Lord. To break this barrier and transform “imitation” in prayer into “certainty” and understanding… That is why we established the qortoba Center in Cairo to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

The Seven-Hour Struggle

In Cairo, specifically in the Nasr City district, a sister lived with a French student who had come to learn Islam. The sister recounts: “I used to watch her on Fridays with astonishment. She would wake up at 2:00 AM to start reading Surah Al-Kahf. She would continue reading, struggling to spell out the words until 7:00 AM! Sadly, sometimes she couldn’t even finish it due to the sheer difficulty of reading.”

We read Surah Al-Kahf in twenty minutes, while she struggles with it for seven hours. To turn this hardship into enjoyment, and to save them hours of struggle so they can spend them in contemplation (Tadabbur) instead of mere spelling… That is why we established the qortoba Center in Cairo to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

The Greatest Blessing

In another inspiring scene, we met a girl from China at a Quran memorization center. God had blessed her, and she was reading the Quran with perfect Tajweed and a beautiful voice. When we told her: “Masha’Allah, it is a beautiful thing that you can read with such proficiency,” she replied with a sentence worth its weight in gold: “I have been blessed with many gifts in my life that I cannot count, but the greatest gift Allah has given me is that He made me know how to read the Quran.”

She realized that learning Arabic is not just a skill, but the master key to the treasures of Revelation. To see more of these proficient role models who taste the sweetness of the Quran… That is why we established the qortoba Center in Cairo to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

The Loneliness of the Stranger at Friday Prayer

One of the unforgettable stories is that of a young British man who had recently embraced Islam. He came to us, his eyes filled with confusion. He said: “I go to Friday prayer every week. I see men crying at times and smiling at others, nodding their heads, moved by the Khateeb’s words, while I sit among them like a deaf man! I feel a deadly loneliness amidst my brothers. I want to know what God asks of me; I want to laugh with them and weep with them.”

To comfort the loneliness of such hearts, and to integrate them into the one body of the Ummah, so they may understand the sermon, the lecture, and the lesson… That is why we established the qortoba Center in Cairo to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

Conclusion: Our Mission at qortoba Center

Dear friends, we hold a magnificent treasure in our hands. The ability to open the Quran and read smoothly at any time is a priceless blessing. These students hold the Quran, embrace it, and pray sincerely that God grants them sound reading one day.

At qortoba Center, we have taken this trust upon ourselves. We are not merely a language center; we are a bridge connecting the hearts of these lovers to the words of the Lord of the Worlds. Our goal is to shorten their path of struggle and gift them the keys to understanding and contemplation, right here in the heart of Cairo, the beacon of knowledge and scholars.

O Allah, to You belongs all praise as befits the majesty of Your Face and the greatness of Your Authority for the blessing of the Arabic tongue. Use us, and do not replace us, in the service of Your language and Your Book.

Do you want to be part of this great journey? Or do you know someone who needs this light? Contact us at the qortoba Center in Cairo, and let us make the dream come true together.