Learning English for the purpose of da’wah

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen
(may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked this question. He replied as
follows.

Our view on learning English is that
it is a means and it is a bad menans if the aim is bad. But the one
thing that we must avoid is using it instead of Arabic. That is not
permitted. We have heard some foolish people speaking English instead
of Arabic, and some of the foolish people who are dazzled by the west,
whom I regard as lackeys (of the west), teaching their children to use
the greetings of the non-Muslims, and teaching them to say “bye-bye”
when departing, and so on.

Because using this language instead of
Arabic, which is the language of the Qur’aan and the noblest of languages,
is haraam. It was narrated that the salaf forbade speaking in the tongues
of the non-Arabs.

With regard to using it as a means of
da’wah, there is no doubt that this is obligatory sometimes. I did not
learn it and I wish that I had learned it. On some occasions I have
found forced to use an interpreter who could not fully express what
I wanted to say.

I will tell you a story of something
that happened to me in the mosque of Jeddah airport, with some men from
the Islamic Awareness organization. After Fajr prayer, we were speaking
about the Tijaani sect and how it is a false sect that that apostatized
from Islam. I started to say what I knew about them, then a man came
and asked me for permission to interpret my words into Hausa.
I gave him permission, and he started to interpret. Then a man came
rushing in and said, “This man who is interpreting for you is praising
the Tijaaniyyah.” I was astonished and I said, “Inna Lillaahi wa
inna ilayhi raaji’oon (Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to
Him we shall return).” If I had known this language I would not have
needed these cheaters. The point is that knowing the language of the
people whom you are addressing is undoubtedly important so that you
can convey the information to them. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And We sent not a Messenger except with
the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message)
clear for them”

[Ibraaheem 14:4]