Why Is Reciting the Quran in Arabic So Important?

Assalamu alaikum, everyone. So, I wouldn't call myself super religious, but my family on my mom's side is really devout, and they've been encouraging me to start with Iqra' and eventually the Quran. Honestly, their constant reminders were stressing me out and making me less interested at first. But I decided to shift my mindset-instead of getting frustrated, I got curious and started asking questions. Here’s what I’m wondering: The Quran is essentially a guide for life, right? So why is it necessary to recite it in Arabic? What’s the issue if I just read an English translation? We begin with Iqra' to get comfortable with Arabic script, so it feels like the whole process is just about learning the language. If there’s an easier way to understand the message by reading in English, why go through the effort? Even when I can read Arabic, I often don’t grasp the meaning-it’s like reciting sounds without understanding. I only really get it after checking the English translation. So, if I’m going to rely on the translation anyway, what’s the point of learning to read Arabic?