December 18 marks "World Arabic Language Day," a day recognized by UNESCO since 2012 to celebrate one of the oldest and most widely spoken Semitic languages. Over 450 million people use Arabic, making it a bridge for Arab civilization, which has illuminated the world with its treasures of science, literature, wisdom, and arts.
Sacred Status Among Muslims
Arabic holds a sacred status among Muslims as the language of the Quran. Thanks to the Quran, Arabic has reached a level of expansiveness that few other languages have achieved.
Arabic Influence on Other Languages
There are 7,584 words in the Urdu language with roots in Arabic. In comparison to other world languages, Arabic has borrowed very little from others, while many other languages have borrowed extensively from Arabic. For example, there are 7,584 words in Urdu, 3,303 in Malay, and 160 in English that originate from Arabic.
Unique Characteristics of the Arabic Language
Geographical Independence
The geographical location of Arabic has contributed to its independence and minimal influence from neighboring languages, such as Persian to the east, Aramaic to the north, and Ethiopian to the south. Thus, Arabic has retained the greatest elements of the original Semitic tongue. Father Raphael Nakhlah, in an important study, confirmed that only 2.5% of Arabic vocabulary consists of borrowed words, compared to 55% in French.
Classification and Origin
According to modern linguists, Arabic belongs to the Semitic language family, a term coined by German scholar Schloetzer in the late 18th century. This classification includes Aramaic, Phoenician, Hebrew, Arabic, Yemeni, and Babylonian-Assyrian, all of which share significant similarities in phonetics, morphology, and vocabulary.
Mother of Languages
Many Orientalists assert that Arabic is the mother of all languages. The language's deeply rooted history, fruitful branches, linguistic ingenuity, and consistent structure across generations exemplify its unparalleled richness and resilience. Edward Van Dyck, an American literary figure, stated in his book "The History of the Arabs and Their Literature" that Arabic is one of the most distinguished languages regarding the richness of its lexicon and the breadth of its literature.
Testimonials About Arabic
- Karl Brockelmann's Observations
German Orientalist Karl Brockelmann, a key scholar of Semitic languages, highlighted that Arabic distinguishes itself by retaining its original rich sounds, especially guttural and various sibilant sounds, along with the preservation of ancient phonetics. In his work on Semitic philology, he noted that Arabic poetry's language features a wealth of grammatical forms, achieving the highest development in expressing syntactic relations among Semitic languages. He described Arabic as a river nourished by the springs of dialects spoken by Arab tribes.
French archaeologist and Orientalist Louis Massignon, one of the founders of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo, affirmed that Arabic is one of the purest languages and the most distinctive in scientific and artistic expression. He described its brevity as a linguistic miracle, adding that while Syriac borrowed its grammar from Greek, Arabic built a grand structure of grammar, presenting a philosophically original and innovative scene.
- Reynold Nicholson's Endorsement
British Orientalist Reynold Nicholson, an expert in Islamic mysticism, supported this view in his book "A Literary History of the Arabs," stating that Arabic is the purest of the Semitic languages and the closest to the original source. He noted that Arabic remained the language of conversation and writing for all educated Muslims, regardless of their ethnicities, from India to the Atlantic Ocean during the early Middle Ages.
- Lamens and Taylor's Research
Orientalist Lamens, in his book "Notes on Arabic-Derived French Words," identified over 700 Arabic words in French. Researcher Taylor mentioned more than 1,000 Arabic words in medicine, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and surgery that entered the English language.
- Ernest Renan's Reflections
French philosopher Ernest Renan, in his book "History of Semitic Languages," observed that the spread of Arabic is one of the most remarkable events in human history and one of the most difficult to explain. He remarked that Arabic emerged suddenly in a state of perfection, fluid, rich, and complete, without significant modification since its inception. Unlike other languages that undergo various developmental stages, Arabic appeared mature from the outset and spread across large parts of the world.
Conclusion
Arabic will always remain an integral part of the essence of Islam, as its sacred text can only be read and understood in Arabic. Its linguistic miracle is a testament to its divine origin, as stated in the Quran: "An Arabic Quran, without any crookedness, that they might be righteous" (Az-Zumar: 28). Despite facing challenges from Mongol and Turkish invasions and the dominance of colloquial dialects and colonial languages, Arabic's sanctity is upheld by its speakers. Imam Al-Shafi'i emphasized in his book Al-Risalah that Arabic is the most expansive and rich language, and it is incumbent upon every Muslim to learn as much of it as possible to bear witness to the faith and recite the Quran in its original language.
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