Understanding a language and how it spreads from one region and culture to another is something that can be tied closely to the history of the religion in the same area.
Arabic certainly fits this concept since its history is tied so closely to the history of Islam.
As we look back at this history, we can see how the language is, in fact, the one thing so many regions, societies, and cultures had in common. While the individual cultures had varying customs, traits, traditions, and habits, the language was an important commonality.
Now, the modern Arabic-speaking world can be said to be a product of oral traditions, language and faith, all tied together.
In fact, there is so much overlap here that it can be hard to see the religious history of Arabic without seeing everything else with it. So, let’s get down into the history and see how the language has progressed throughout the years and why it is such an important part of the religious history, too.
Pure Poetry
Some of the earliest instances of written Arabic that we know about are certain types of poems, and to this day – at least a little bit – poetry remains an important fixture in the language and culture.
In pre-Islamic times, the poet was something of a celebrity and certainly held a lot of sway – all because of how they used the language.
When Muhammed arrived in Mecca, expectations of the language of the message he brought with him was naturally going to be very high. This is why the exact language is so important in the Quran.
And since poetry and recitation go hand in hand, this also shows how both the written and oral aspects of a language were important to the culture and religion from the very start.
The Language in the Quran
While Modern Standard Arabic is the most common form of the language used today, Quranic Arabic (or classical or Islamic Arabic) is required to really understand the language of the Quran.
The Quran is written in the highest forms of Arabic prose, and when it was introduced to the region it began to change and influence the cultures, beliefs and languages of the societies in the area.
Of course, it’s more than just a beautiful form of the language. The words and phrases met all the highest expectations and showed the readers that the message truly came from on high.
That’s not to say that everyone who read the Quran were immediately converted, and the Prophet’s followers were small in number at first. There were even those detractors who had only negative things to say.
As time passed, though, the words contained in the Quran would go on to have an incalculable influence on the entire region.
It’s about More than Just Reading
The words in the Quran were conveyed to Muhammad’s followers, who then immediately began learning them by rote so they could also recite the same passages to others.
This is a tradition that is still carried on today.
The Quran is not meant to be read casually. It is meant to be embraced completely. (Which could be one of the reasons why studying the Quran in Arabic can improve your language skills.) There are people today who memorize the entire book, which can earn them a special distinction in the culture.
The Connection Between Religion, Culture, and Language Throughout History
In religion, words are how we connect to and understand spiritual concepts. They are used in prayer and worship, and it even helps us go beyond the theological and philosophical points of the doctrines and understand a little more about the language we’re speaking and what the words really mean.
Understanding the original language that the Quran was written in also helps prevent misinterpretations and misunderstandings of important meanings.
That’s not to say there isn’t personal meaning to be found in these words, but that, too, will require a better understanding of the language in which it’s written. However, at the same time, it’s very important to understand all the grammar and syntax used in the Quran to avoid extrapolating meanings that aren’t intended.
For hundreds of years, now, Arabic has transmitted intellectual, legal, social, scientific, and religious ideas and concepts throughout the entire region. It is crucial to truly understanding the Quran which, in turn, can help a learner understand more of the language.
