Arabic Language: A Living Journey of History and Civilization
Awaz E Bihar••1 views•7 min read
Shamim Akram Rahmani (Deputy Judge of Shariah, Central Darul Qaza, Phulwari Sharif, Patna)
Languages do not emerge suddenly, but are born under the influence of social needs and gradually go through various stages of evolution. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for linguists to determine the exact origin of any language. If we talk about the Arabic language, some religious sources suggest that Arabic has existed since the beginning of creation, but for any linguist, it is not easy to accept this as an established fact. Historians have discussed the origin of the Arabic language at length, but so far, they have not been able to present any solid and irrefutable evidence that can definitively determine the origin of the Arabic language. Perhaps one major reason for this is that the Arabic language was introduced to the world at a time when it had already reached its peak, eloquence, and literary youth.
According to scholars, the Arabic language is one of the Semitic languages that originated from the same region. However, due to population expansion and scarcity of resources, when Semitic nations migrated to different areas, their interaction with other nations affected their language, resulting in the emergence of various dialects, which gradually evolved into distinct languages. According to Professor Ahmed Hassan Zayat, "In the Middle Ages, Jewish scholars first realized the relationship between the languages of Semitic nations, but later, European orientalists proved this linguistic relationship with strong arguments, which has now become an established fact."
There is no doubt that historians have tried to declare other Semitic languages more ancient than Arabic, but they acknowledge that Arabic is one of the few languages that, despite being very ancient, remained alive with its original structure, intellectual maturity, and linguistic dignity before the revelation of the Quran. The poetry and literature of the pre-Islamic era are clear evidence of Arabic's intellectual maturity and linguistic strength. However, it is also undeniable that the remarkable survival of the Arabic language, its linguistic dignity, and its global spread are largely due to the revelation of the Quran. The Quran has provided Arabic with eternal protection, which no other ancient language has received.
Scholars believe that the historical journey of the Arabic language can be divided into five distinct periods: the first period is the pre-Islamic era, which started in the mid-5th century CE and ended with the beginning of Islam in 622 CE. The second period is from the beginning of Islam to the Umayyad era, which ended with the establishment of the Abbasid caliphate in 132 AH (750 CE). The third period is the Abbasid era, which started with the establishment of the Abbasid caliphate and ended with the fall of Baghdad in 656 AH (1258 CE). The fourth period is the Turkish era, which began with the fall of Baghdad and ended with the modern revolutionary movement in 1220 AH (1844 CE). The fifth period is the modern era, which began when Muhammad Ali Pasha ruled Egypt and continues to this day. All these periods testify that the Arabic language has successfully traversed this long historical journey without interruption, thanks to its phonetic, morphological, and syntactical characteristics, and has been a spoken language for at least fifteen centuries.
If we examine the impact of Arabic on other languages, it can be said with certainty that Arabic has profoundly influenced numerous languages through religious, scientific, trade, and cultural connections. Arabic has not only played a fundamental role in shaping the lexical and intellectual structure of Urdu and Persian but has also significantly contributed to the development and expansion of Spanish and the important African contact language, Swahili. Scholars are aware that Swahili has been deeply influenced by Arabic, with a significant portion of its vocabulary consisting of Arabic-derived words.
The wealth of Arabic literature is extremely valuable for several reasons, not only because Arabic preserved the sciences and arts of all progressive nations in ancient times but also because it continues to absorb modern scientific research and literary works without any shortcomings. In the fields of artificial intelligence and digital technology, Arabic is also establishing its presence, where its use is increasing in translation, linguistic analysis, and the digital compilation of scientific data. This is why Arabic has a unique position among a few languages that possess both ancient and modern essential resources. Consequently, if someone wants to learn a language that can provide access to the sciences and arts of various languages and religions, knowledge of Arabic might be the key to fulfilling this desire. This is why European researchers give Arabic unusual importance in their studies.
Arabic has an individual distinction over other languages in that all the fundamental resources of Islam, namely the Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, and Tafsir, are preserved in this one language. Due to its religious significance, Arabic is an indispensable language for millions of Muslims worldwide. However, it is incorrect to consider Arabic merely a religious language. In reality, it has always been a cultural, literary, and scientific language that has presented unparalleled examples of immortal poetry in pre-Islamic times and has played a remarkable role in literature, medicine, science, and philosophy during the Umayyad, Abbasid, and Turkish eras. In the modern era, it continues to illuminate the world with knowledge, literature, and thought. The poems of modern poets like Nazik al-Malaika, Ahmed Shawqi, and Badr Shakir al-Sayyab, and the prose of writers like Naguib Mahfouz, Taha Hussein, and Hussein Heikal, are living examples of this reality. This is why Arabic is still one of the most important and influential languages in the world. It is not only a religious necessity for over 1.5 billion Muslims but also an official language in approximately 24 countries and one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
For this reason, December 18 is celebrated as World Arabic Language Day by the United Nations, which is a testament to its global role. It is true that, like other languages, Arabic also has some natural linguistic difficulties, such as its complex morphological and syntactical system, its heavy reliance on vowel points, and the abundance of ancient words, which can make it challenging for non-Arab students to learn. However, these aspects are not weaknesses of the Arabic language but rather a natural consequence of its organized and robust linguistic structure, which can be mastered with proper effort and dedication.
Therefore, it is essential for governments to play a serious role in promoting the Arabic language, especially in countries like India, which has strong cultural and economic ties with Arab nations. Through the Arabic language, India can better present its true image, culture, and democratic values to the Arab world, which will strengthen mutual friendship and global relations. Moreover, it is the responsibility of Muslims, in particular, to understand the usefulness of the Arabic language and learn it as a key to unlocking the doors of knowledge and wisdom, which will not only provide them with job opportunities but also allow them to directly benefit from their scientific and religious heritage and connect with their past. It is an undeniable fact that nations that are deprived of their scientific and literary treasures inevitably become intellectually enslaved, which is more dangerous than political slavery.
