Arabic and Islam in the Formation of the Arab World
Introduction
Arabic language is ranked among the top six languages spoken across the globe. It is also a Qur’an language used in the holy Islamic book. Clearly, a large number of Muslims use this language. It is categorized under Semitic languages which incorporates Amharic and Hebrew as major languages that are used by people of Arab origin.
Vital Role of Arabic Language in Formation of the Arab World Historically.
There are various Arabic dialects and they include Quran language that was originally in Mecca dialect that is currently Saudi Arabia. Evidently, Arabic language consists of its own Alphabet that is of the abjad script (Ayubi 52). Throughout its history, Arabic language has impacted on various languages across the globe. They range from Hindi, Turkish, Hausa, and Persian. In the Middle Ages, Arabic had become a major language that imparted culture in Europe. Its effects were evident in philosophy, science, and mathematics. In this regard, the majority of languages that were used in Europe borrowed words from it.
Historically, Arabic language was vital for the consolidation of Arabic world when it boasted a huge range of Semitic languages during the early centuries. For instance, the South West majority of Central Semitic languages were part of the old South Arabian family. It is also believed that during that period, ancestors who belonged to the Modern South Arabian languages also communicated in Arabian dialect (Bateson 66). The language was also vital during the first Islamic century because majority of Arabic writers and poets used Arab as their first language.
The significance of Arabic language reveals the attempt of writers and the manner in which they utilized the traditional form of writing. It applied to recording classical Arabic that existed in non-standardized form. Having knowledge in classical Arabic was vital during the old era as a necessity for allowing higher classes in the entire world of Islam. Additionally, Arabic language was also influential in the Arab world via its three key variants. They include the dialectical Arabic, old, and modern standard Arabic. However, Arabs claim that they communicate in a single dialect in spite of the availability of a number of versions.
Based on a linguistic view, Arabic language differed from Romance languages that were used. Despite this fact, Arabic language was vital in the Arab world when it was used in the holy book. In addition, Arabic language was also important in the community when it served as a source of vocabulary for a variety of languages. It incorporated French, Italian and Somali languages. English also benefited significantly from Arab vocabulary and it adopted grammatical rules from Arab. In entire of Islamic world, Arabic took a position that was similar to that of Latin in Europe. Furthermore, Arabic language was also significant because most of its concepts had applied in field of commerce.
The relevance of Arabic roots is that it facilitated in the procedure of translating foreign concepts. It proceeded further in the 18th and 19th century when the lands inhibited by the Arabs were under the reign of Ottoman. Clearly, the language was also used to re-emphasize the Egyptian culture. In this regard, Egyptians emphasized using Arabic as a formal language to aid in solving issues that were inherent from Arabic. The importance of the language had an impact among the Egyptians when it enhanced a strong cultural connection among these individuals. For instance, the previous generations of Egyptians perceived an Arabic language to incorporate an alphabet that had strong link to history and Arab values.
History reveals that Arabic language was part of Arab world when it was linked to the Islamic religion. The fact that Arabic was drafted in Islamic language, indicates that it benefited the majority of Muslims who could not communicate in classical Arabic language. This is because they were in a position of reading and reciting the Quran (Stewart 68). Egyptian Arabic is a dialect most understood as it was part of distributing television and film shows throughout the Arab speaking world. Arab is also a vital language when it unites individuals from various states.
Evidently, Islam and Arabic language involves two main cultural features. It has benefited the Arab people by subjecting them to enjoy common bonds of tradition and history. Another importance of this language in the Arab world was that it united members of different countries and made them one nation. The language has further enabled various Arab states to coordinate in their operations. As a result, this has led to improvement in various sectors such as education, technology, communication and industrialization.
Arabic language has also facilitated progress in the Arab world by enhancing assistance. For instance, Arabic countries that had plenty of resources devoted funds to assist states that were still developing. Through the language, students have also been motivated to take careers that will promote progress in their homeland. As much as modernization and progress is concerned, Arab speakers have dedicated their efforts in ensuring that they preserve their values and traditions that are linked to Islam.
The significance of the language is that it has generated huge urban centers that has benefited from space and satellite communication. As much as Arab has contributed to plenty of developments in Arab world, majority have decided to embrace their old cultures. This is clear when they maintain their past arts and advance it to the future. Evidently, Arabic language contributed to civilization when it identified huge cultural debts. The relevance of Arabic language in the Arab society is that it stimulated interests in both religion and individuals in relation to understanding and mutual respect.
Role of Islam in Formation of the Arab World.
Islam dominated the Arab world since the seventh century A.D. The significant duty of Islam was to enhance the Arabic cultures that dominated in society during the monotheistic era. To further appreciate the responsibility of Islam in Arab world, an individual need to comprehend fundamental tenets of faith. Historically, Islam is a religion that originated from Arabian-peninsula (Roy 95). In Muslim, God is known as Allah and he regards Muhammad as his prophet. The role of Islam is apparent when it depicts progress of Arabic literature through Qur’an. Its revelation also reflects on the accomplishment of Arabic language that serves as an inspiration to the Arab world.
Based on the five pillars of Islam. its role in the Arab society is observed when it exhibits Islamic acts of worship and devotion. The origin of Islam reveals that the religion started from an Arab culture hence it is also influenced by Arab values. It implies that the impact of Islam in Arab world subject Muslims and Arabs to share cultural affinities. Due to the influence of Islam, there has been a transmission of Arab culture via narratives and poetry (Hourani 115). Another vital duty of Islam is that it contributed to civilization evident through education in the Arab community.
Historically, Islam generated the large centers that supported religious learning. The function of these venues is that they enhanced scientific progress and centers of knowledge. Clearly, culture and history of Islam were indicated in the written records. Additionally, Islam is responsible for facilitating the development of Western civilization and reviving its cultures. Studying history further depicted a particular view concerning the Muslims and the Arabs. Relating to Islamic teachings, we learn that Allah created the universe to be occupied by various individuals regardless of their tribes. The significance of Islam is that it is a religion that represented all people for the purpose of unity.
The vital role of Islam was to spread knowledge and discovery which enabled Muslims to record their history. It generated facts and insights that granted individuals events. The developments that were linked to Islamic scientific concepts enhanced fundamental knowledge that spread in Arab world. The vital role of Islam is that it incorporated scholars who protected heritage. During its era in history, philosophical and scientific heritage of the old world in Arab was almost destroyed. It implies that without spread of Islam, it would be difficult to cultivate science in early centauries.
According to Islamic scholars, there would be no probable texts that would exercise formative influence over Western cultures if Islam was not in existence. It reveals further that Arab and modern world would not have transformed as it is today without the presence of Islam. Furthermore, Islam is responsible for preserving heritage in the old world and also facilitated procedures of making distinctive contributions in the society. Considering the Islamic duty of transmitting and preserving ancient science, it leads to the survival of Greek texts in Arab translations (Chejne 77).
Clearly, the success of Islamic takeover eradicated national boundaries that were in existence. The intervention of Islam was vital to ensure that individuals were not separated on basis of linguistics, politics, and in intellectual way. Through Islam, there was the development of Arabic language which assisted in governance and also applied in science. Islam played a vital role that prevented Muslims from suffering due to conflicts between reason and faith. Through Quran, the role of Islam was to unite Muslims to achieve knowledge in their lives. In the Muslim world, individuals were concerned with understanding, correcting and assimilating ancient values of Islam. In addition, Islamic education became unique in society due to its influence in Quran. In the 7th century, the advent of Quran became revolutionary. It reflects the manner in which Islam became beneficial in Arab society by reducing the number of illiterate people.
Conclusion
Analyzing the paper, it is clear that languages such as English also benefited a lot from Arab vocabulary by adopting grammatical rules from Arabic language. In the Arab world, Islam was regarded as a procedure that incorporated spiritual, rational, and social dimensions. The vital role of Islam was to emphasize the fact that convinced individuals to live a moral life in the same way prophet Muhammad did. Islam emphasized further the significance of education to facilitate the acquiring of spiritual knowledge. It was vital because it enhanced righteous actions that enhanced faith among people in the Arab world.
Works Cited
Ayubi, Nazih N. M. Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Arab World. London: Routledge, 1991.
Bateson, Mary C. Arabic Language Handbook. Washington, D.C: Georgetown University Press, 2003.
Chejne, Anwar G. The Arabic Language, Its Role in History. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1969.
Hourani, Albert. A History of the Arab Peoples. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1991.
Roy, M N. Historical Role of Islam: An Essay on Islamic Culture. Lahore: Sind Sagar Academy, 1974.
Stewart, Desmond. The Arab World. New York, N.Y: Time, Inc, 1962.