‘And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.’ (Qur’an 3:85)

They answered, “For a variety of reasons.”

I asked, “And what are they?”

They replied, “One is that the Book is Arabic, not in our language, for it says:

‘Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an.’ (Qur’an 12:2)

And He says,

‘in a clear Arabic tongue.’ (Qur’an 26:195)

And in the same surah He says,

‘Had We revealed it to one of the non-Arabs, and he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.’ (Qur’an 26:198–199)

And in surah al-Baqarah He says,

‘Just as We have sent among you a messenger from your own people, reciting Our revelations to you, purifying you, teaching you the Book and wisdom, and teaching you what you did not know.’ (Qur’an 2:151)

And in surah Āl ʿImrān He says,

‘Allah has certainly shown favor to the believers when He raised up among them a messenger from their own number, reciting to them His revelations.’ (Qur’an 3:164)

And the Exalted says in surah al-Qaṣaṣ,

‘so that you might warn a people to whom no warner had come before you, that they may take heed.’ (Qur’an 28:46).”