Arabic Language, the language of written communication and of most formal, oral communication for speakers of Arabic dialects from Morocco to Iraq. Among Muslims, Arabic is considered sacred since it is the language through which the Koran is believed to have been revealed. With the rise of Islam as a dominant religion after ad 622, Arabic became the most widespread of the living Semitic languages, and today is spoken by some 150 million as a mother tongue, and several million more as a second language. Classified as South Central Semitic, Arabic is related to Hebrew, spoken in Israel, and Amharic, spoken in Ethiopia, as well as to the ancient Semitic languages. The earliest written inscriptions in Arabic are found in the Arabian Peninsula and date from the early 4th century ad, but the language is thought to have been in use as early as the 5th century bc. Today, Arabic is a unifying bond among Arabs, and it is the liturgical language of Muslims in Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Arabic and Islam
Arabic is the language the Quran is written in. Arabic exists in two forms—Classical and colloquial. Classical Arabic is the sacred language of Islam and the lingua franca of educated people throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Colloquial Arabic refers to the standard form of the language heard on television and radio as well as in mosques. However, it is also spoken by others of different religions such as Arab Christian, Arab Jews, etc.. Arabic is not spoken by all Muslims as native language but most Muslims can read and recite words written in Arabic alphabet in order for them to read the Quran.
Arabic is the language the Quran is written in. Arabic exists in two forms—Classical and colloquial. Classical Arabic is the sacred language of Islam and the lingua franca of educated people throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Colloquial Arabic refers to the standard form of the language heard on television and radio as well as in mosques. However, it is also spoken by others of different religions such as Arab Christian, Arab Jews, etc.. Arabic is not spoken by all Muslims as native language but most Muslims can read and recite words written in Arabic alphabet in order for them to read the Quran.
