and, just as every class of idolaters—including the Arab idol-worshippers—falls under the same ruling, so does every group of the People of the Book, including those among the Arabs. In fact, among the Jews and Christians who know the Arabic tongue are people whose numbers are known only to Allah, Mighty and Majestic.

Fifth aspect:
It is not obligatory for every Muslim to comprehend every single verse of the Qur’an. What is required of the Muslim is simply to know what Allah has commanded and what He has forbidden, whatever wording conveys that knowledge; and this is attainable by all nations. For that very reason, whole communities of non-Arabs—Persians, Turks, Indians, Slavs, Berbers and others—have entered Islam. Some of them learn the Arabic language, while others fulfil their duty through translation of what Allah has made incumbent upon them. We have already stated that translating the Qur’an outside the formal prayer, or expressing its meanings in other words, is permissible, just as explaining it is permissible by unanimous agreement of the Muslims. The only point of dispute is whether it may be recited as tilawah in a language other than Arabic in the same manner as it is recited in the prayer; the majority of scholars have ruled that this is not allowed. Accordingly, if a non-Arab recites the Opening Chapter of the Book along with two other surahs