Challenges of Teaching the Arabic Language in the Era of Globalisation in the Malay Muslim Community

The study “Challenges of Teaching the Arabic Language in the Era of Globalisation in the Malay Muslim Community” explores the significance of Arabic in preserving Islamic identity, particularly within the Malay Muslim context. For that purpose, this qualitative study uses a thematic content analysis approach. In this context, this study recognises Arabic as essential for understanding the Qur’an and Sunnah, and it addresses the challenges that Arabic language teachers face in fostering student interest amid the distractions of globalisation. Global cultural influences, particularly the dominance of English and Western ideologies, have diminished students' enthusiasm for Arabic and eroded their religious identity. Drawing on over 30 years of teaching experience, the researcher examines the Malay Muslim community’s efforts to uphold Islamic and ethnic traditions, including the study of Qur’anic Arabic through mosques and religious schools. The study outlines the impact of globalisation on Malaysian society, highlighting how it threatens Islamic beliefs and promotes secular ideologies. It also examines the impact of mass media and educational systems on undermining Arabic language learning and Islamic values. The final section presents strategies for overcoming these challenges, emphasising Arabic’s religious importance and countering the inferiority complex associated with non-Arabic languages. The study concludes by stressing the urgent need to revitalise Arabic education to safeguard Islamic teachings and resist ideological shifts such as liberalism and secularism, which are partly fueled by a lack of Arabic proficiency. Employing descriptive, analytical, and critical methodologies, the research underscores Arabic’s central role in preserving Islamic faith and identity within the Malay Muslim community.