What language is the Quran written in?
The Quran was revealed and written in Classical Arabic, the language of the Prophet ﷺ and the people of Makkah in the 7th century. Here is what that means, how it differs from the Arabic spoken today, and why Muslims still recite it in Arabic.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
The short answer
Arabic. The Quran says so about itself several times:
إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٢﴾
بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ﴿١٩٥﴾
When the Quran was copied into standard volumes under the third caliph, Uthman, the scribes were told to follow the dialect of Quraysh, the Prophet's tribe, where they differed, because it was revealed in that dialect (Sahih al-Bukhari 4987). The full story is in when the Quran was written.
Classical and modern Arabic
The Arabic of the Quran is usually called Classical or Quranic Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic, used today in news and books, grew directly out of it and shares its grammar and most of its vocabulary. Spoken dialects, such as Egyptian or Gulf Arabic, differ more. That is why an Arabic speaker can follow much of the Quran but still benefits from tafseer for rarer words and expressions.
The written script has also developed. Early copies had no dots on letters and no vowel marks; these were added in the first centuries of Islam to help non-Arab Muslims read correctly. Today you will see the Quran printed in the Uthmani or IndoPak script, both carrying the same Arabic text.
Translations
The Quran has been translated into most of the world's languages, including dozens of English translations. Muslims treat these as translations of the meaning: helpful for understanding, but not a replacement for the Arabic. In salah, the Quran is recited in Arabic. See our comparison of English translations of the Quran and our tafseer and translation classes.
Learning Quranic Arabic
Reading comes first: the Arabic alphabet and vowel marks, which most learners master in months (see the Arabic alphabet and Noorani Qaida). Understanding comes next, through vocabulary and grammar taught from the verses themselves in our Quranic Arabic course.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Quran written in Arabic or Aramaic?
Arabic. The Quran repeatedly describes itself as an Arabic Quran, and it was revealed in the Arabic spoken by the Prophet ﷺ and his people in Makkah.
Is a translation of the Quran still the Quran?
Muslims regard a translation as an explanation of the meanings, not the Quran itself. That is why translations are often titled "the meaning of the Quran", and why the Arabic is recited in prayer.
Can I understand the Quran if I speak modern Arabic?
Much of it, yes, because the grammar and most vocabulary are shared. But some words and styles are rare today, so even native Arabic speakers study tafseer to understand it fully.
Do I need to learn Arabic to read the Quran?
You need to learn to read the Arabic script and pronounce it correctly, which takes months, not years. Understanding the language is a separate, longer journey that many learners add later.
Start reading the Arabic yourself
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