Isn't Arabic the language of the mideast. Just like English is the language of certain parts of the West? Even though different dialects may be involved?
Yes, you are right about Arabic being the language of the Middle East, though there are different dialiects and the citizens of some countries can mix alot of French into their Arabic. But.... the use of Arabic stops at Iraq. The people of Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, though they are moslems, are not arabs and do not dont speak Arabic.
Even the most observant Moslems from non arabic countries would not speak conversational Arabic unless they had friendship or business contacts with arabs. In short, casual Moslems know a memorized prayer or two in Koranic Arabic. More observant moslems know more prayers, and even a few Koran passages. Religous authorities might be fluent in Koranic arabic.Arabic is the language of islam, and probably most often the language of the middle east, but Turks speak Turkish, Afghans are not middle east and have a few languages, Pakistan has a language, Iran is Persian. All islamists know some or lots of Arabic. JMO
Koranic arabic and modern arabic, however, is like comparing the English of Beowulf to modern English. I once showed some Koranic arabic to a Christian arab and later, to a Moslem arab for a translation. Neither could truly read it and both said in general terms that it was part of the story of Moses.
Not good. Nearly all Persians are Shia Moslems and thus mortal enemies of ISIS.So he might be a Persian who was speaking Farsi. How does ISIS feel about Persians?