Salamun Alaykum
Does reading Quran in Arabic compulsory ? It is maintained in Turkey that Quran should be read in Arabic. But there is a problem. Though reading Quran in Arabic is tought at Mosques in Turkey, understanding what you read howewer is not. So while people recite Quran in Arabic they do not know what are they reading. I know there are translations to Turkish in every page but if you ask people what do they know about Quran, you will come to conclusion that they don't know even a single piece of rice of knowledge. People are not bothered to read the translations and i can confirm it, my mother and another religious friend of mine do not have a clue about what does the Quran talking about. The Hodjas insinst on reading it in Arabic. But maybe that is because the some traitors in Turkey try to cut Muslim populations ties from Islam so that maybe why the Hodjas insist on Arabic. But the case is still not solved, and there is no way to make population read in Turkish. People will come you with arguments that the Quran demans to be read in Arabic. But what is the purpose of reading if you dont learn anything from it ? I once heard or read somewhere that in Quran it is said by Allah that "We send you this Quran so you can understand and learn what is written in it. It is not a book to be only read at a graveside to the dead and be put away." Something like that. So Allah wants us to learn whats written in it. Not just recited in vain.
By the way dont get me wrong. Im not some fanatic nationalist. People have every right to read whatever language they wish to read. But they skip translations. That is the problem.
Another question i have in mind is why birds are forbidden to be kept as pets, especially Budgerigars ? The cute, litte, colorful birds that can mimic human speech ? Taking care of them is easy, cheap and clean. They do not make messes as much as other pets do. The hodjas in Turkey just say that it is not good to have birds as pets but does not elaborate further. I know a story that have a good chance of being an İslamic one. It is that some people put a bird in a golden cage. But the bird began to cry "i want my motherland." so the people got curious and released it wondering where would its motherland could be. Then the bird fly and conquered the skies.
You guys have some answers ?