Charles Dobara: Be Proud of Your Languages, the Qur’an Inspires Me

26 September 2024

“I’m not a Muslim, but I urge you to teach your children the Qur’an. I’m not Arab, but I implore you to teach your children Arabic. Please!”

With these simple but powerful words, British artist and influencer Charles Dobara encapsulated his message, offering valuable advice to Arabs in Britain during an exclusive interview with Al Arab in UK (AUK) on 17th September in London.

In the video interview, filmed along the Thames in Fulham, Dobara discussed a wide range of topics, including his deep interest in Arabic and the Qur’an, his passion for learning around 15 languages, and his dedication to exploring different cultures.

Speaking with AUK reporter Salah Abdullah, Dobara shared: “I never expected my videos about Arabic to receive such a reaction. I read every comment and love interacting with everyone. This journey of learning languages has completely changed my life—I’m living the happiest moments of my life right now.”

“Sometimes, I walk up to a group of young people while they’re talking, and I act like I’m deliberately eavesdropping, so they think I’m a grumpy, racist person. But when I start speaking their language, everyone bursts out laughing, and we quickly start joking. It’s one of the things I enjoy the most.”

Interestingly, Charles Dobara never studied languages formally. His academic background is in mechanical engineering and mathematics. However, after retiring, he decided to dedicate himself to learning languages and exploring different cultures. As part of this passion, he directed a film titled Salvation in April of this year, which set a world record for being the most translated film ever, according to his production team.

Discussing the film with Al Arab in UK, Dobara explained: “The film tells my personal story, starting with how I began learning languages here in London, which I think is the most beautiful city in the world. It’s a hub for every culture imaginable. Sometimes, I had to reach out to friends of friends to find translations for rare or extinct languages, but I eventually managed to achieve my goal. The film is free for everyone, I’ve removed all ads from my platforms, and I fund it entirely out of my own pocket—I spend my retirement savings on this, and I don’t regret a thing.”

When asked if he had visited any of the countries where the languages he learned are spoken, Dobara responded: “You’d be surprised to know I haven’t travelled to any of them. I learned all these languages here in London. My relationship with Arabs, in particular, is very special. Their generosity is unmatched—often, I receive messages from people who’ve memorised the Qur’an or teach Arabic, offering to tutor me or help me with my pronunciation.”

“I read every single comment,” he added. “Sometimes, someone says, ‘If you were in London, I’d invite you over for lunch,’ and I reply, ‘Well, I am in London—is the invitation still on?’ I meet families, learn from them, and get to know their beautiful cultures and wonderful people.”

When asked Dobara about his love for the Qur’an and whether he had converted to Islam, Dobara responded: “If I were Muslim, I wouldn’t be able to influence white English people in the same way. Most would just think, ‘Oh, he’s saying that because he’s Muslim.’ But now, they see a white man who isn’t Muslim, and they pay attention when I speak. Maybe, after experiencing the beauty of the Qur’an and Arab culture, it could change their perspectives.”

In closing, Charles Dobara gave some advice to Arab communities in Britain: “Please, hold on to your mother tongues and speak them with your children at home. What’s the harm in raising multilingual children? Even better if the parents speak different languages alongside English—your kids could end up fluent in three languages. I also encourage you to teach them different dialects.”

You can watch the full interview with Charles Dobara on the Al Arab in UK platforms. The platform continues to showcase the beauty of the Arabic language through ongoing seminars and activities, aiming to preserve the Islamic heritage and the Arabic language among expats, with the help of experts from across the UK.

ShortURL ⬇