No, it’s not debatable because the Prophet (Sallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) listed the four Arab prophets and Isma’eel was not one of them.

At the time of Propher Musa and Harun, Egypt was NOT an Arab speaking nation. Egypt only became Arab speaking relatively recently with the Muslim liberation of the region during the rule of Umar. Similarly, Palestine at the time of Jesus was not an Arab region. The region at that time was occupied by the Greek speaking branch of the Roman Empire. (Jesus, Harun, and Moses were all considered Israelite (not Israeli) Prophets–the Sacred Book of Moses was in Hebrew, and the Book of Jesus was in Syriac. Also, keep in mind that Ibrahim was not an Arab, although he came from Iraq; Iraq at that time was not an Arab region.)

Regarding language, MANY of the Arabs speak a very sloppy and ungrammatical form of Arabic. However, in some parts of the Muslim world, the Arab is superior. I know that it is said of Mauratania that the people there have a better command of the classical Arabic than most other places.

I was as taken aback by this fact that there were only 4 Arab Prophets. However were Prophets Musa and Harun not Arab? Because they were from Egypt if I am not mistaken, which is technically still an arabic speaking nation. Or would they be considered African? I am guessin Prophet Isa also falls into the ‘came from a country that speaks Arabic’ category?
Another interesting fact that I have just learnt. The people of Mauritania have a 1000 verse poem highlighting all the grammatical rules of Arabic in its entirety. The Arabs of the Gulf seek them out to learn them. Would this mean that the Mauritanians have a better claim to the old and therefore pure and original Arabic?

Thanks.
Salaams.

I also strongly recommend the Seerah CDs by Imam Anwar al Awlaki. If you can’t take seerah studies, then that’s the next best thing! You can listen to them as mp3s on your way to where ever.

The arabs received the last Prophet, the best of Creation, Muhammad (s) because of all the other nations that existed at that time they were best prepared to received him. It is also foretold in the Bible that a Prophet like unto Moses shall rise out of [their] brethren (ie/ the brethren of the Children of Israel (children of Isaac), who are the Arabs, children of Ishmael. There are several passages that give this foretelling.

Gems like Abu Bakr Siddique, and a few others like him readily accepted Islam. The last Christians who knew of the coming Prophet were now passing away; most Christians were now giving Divinity to Isa (as). The Jews knew of the coming Prophet which is why they moved to Arabia (the foretold region), but when Islam was presented to them they rejected it.

Ultimately, why question the fact that the Arabs received the Seal of Prophets? Allah knows best! Who are you to criticize that?

If you want a better explanation, download the lectures by Imam Anwar.

Ultimately, the Arabs were chosen because the city of Makkah belonged to them at the time; Makkah is holiest place on Earth and required liberation from idolatry.

I don’t know why you hate Arabs so much. I’ve met good and bad people from all backgrounds. Don’t let a few bad impressions spoil your view of the whole bunch. By that logic, all Muslims are terrorists, right? There’s scum in every religion, every race, every background. Don’t let that scum get under your nails!

Thats true about only 4 Prophets being Arab. When I heard it I was surprised too.

Correct me if I am But there is also an authentic hadeeth where the Prophet said that whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab.

Which means that “Arab” is not a race….but a language.

Here is the hadeeth:

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A man once visited the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah. There he saw a group of people sitting and discussing their faith together. Among them were Salman (who came from Persia ), Suhayb who grew up in the Eastern Roman empire and was regarded as a Greek, and Bilal who was an African. The man then said:

“If the (Madinan) tribes of Aws and Khazraj support Muhammad, they are his people (that is, Arabs like him). But what are these people doing here?”

The Prophet became very angry when this was reported to him. Straightaway, he went to the mosque and summoned people to a Salat. He then addressed them saying:

“O people, know that the Lord and Sustainer is One. Your ancestor is one, your faith is one. The Arabism of anyone of you is not from your mother or father. It is no more than a tongue (language). Whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab.” (As quoted in Islam The Natural Way by Abdul Wahid Hamid p. 125)
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And Allah knows best

to see the discution i have with him visit http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTruthHurtsYou

please offer help to me if you can salam