What is the ruling on Arabs learning English?
Question

                What is the ruling on learning English nowadays?
Praise be to Allah. 
          Learning it is a means. If there is a need for it as 
          a means of calling people to Allaah, then learning it may be obligatory. 
          If there is no need to learn it, then do not occupy your time with that 
          or let it distract you from things which are more important and more 
          beneficial. People vary with regard to how much they need to learn English. 
          The Prophet 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded Ibn Thaabit to 
          learn the language of the Jews. Zayd ibn Thaabit said: “The Messenger 
          of Allaah 
          
          (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded me to learn the 
          language and writing of the Jews for him. He said, ‘By Allaah, I do 
          not trust a Jew to write my letters for me.’ So I learned it, and no 
          more than half a month passed by before I had mastered it. I used to 
          write it for him if he wanted a letter written, and I would read it 
          for him if a letter was sent to him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, Kitaab 
          al-‘Ilm, Baab Riwaayat Ahl al-Kitaab; Imaam Ahmad, part 5, 
          p. 186; al-Haakim,  al-Mustadrak, part 1, p. 75 – he said it 
          is a saheeh hadeeth, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him). 
 
          Learning English is one of the means which, if you need 
          it you may learn it, and if you do not need it then do not waste your 
          time with it.