The Influence of the Arabic Language on Other Languages
Throughout history, Arabs have established connections with neighboring civilizations. During the pre-Islamic era, interactions occurred between Arabs and Persians, Romans, and Abyssinians, among others. This linguistic interplay led to a mutual influence where the Arabic language impacted other languages while also absorbing elements from them.
The Impact of Islam on the Spread of the Arabic Language
The spread of Islam has significantly influenced the Arabic language, facilitating its expansion beyond the Arabian Peninsula to vast new horizons and through time until the end of days. A new Muslim must learn the language to perform prayers and fulfill Islamic obligations. As a result, the Arabic language permeated lands beyond its origin, with people from newly Islamic regions eagerly learning and mastering it. Noteworthy figures such as Sibawayh and Ibn Jinni emerged from the non-Arab community, becoming luminaries of the language, attracting many learners and scholars. Consequently, Arabic evolved from being a heritage passed down within families to a language that is actively acquired through study—a status it will maintain indefinitely.
A Brief Overview of the Journey of the Arabic Language
During the Islamic era, Arabic established itself as the language of all sciences, serving as a means of expressing ideas from the first century of the Hijra. It transformed from a tongue rooted in nomadic origins to a global language utilized by both Arabs and non-Arabs in their transactions and writings.
Under the Abbasid Caliphate, the Arab Islamic society engaged with various civilizations, as Baghdad became a cultural hub. Scholars from these nations contributed to building the Islamic cultural edifice, many of whom were influenced by Arabic vocabulary. Various sciences such as physics, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, astronomy, and mathematics were documented in Arabic.
Significant Scientific Works Written in Arabic
Among the masterpieces of Arabic literature is Ibn al-Haytham’s monumental work “Book of Optics,” which addresses the apparent position of reflected images in mirrors, image refraction, and the apparent size of objects. The sons of Musa ibn Shakir authored their treatise on mechanics during the reign of Al-Ma’mun. Additionally, Jabir ibn Hayyan made substantial contributions to chemistry, his works forming a veritable encyclopedia. Abu Bakr al-Razi wrote his renowned medical collection “Kitab al-Hawi,” while Ibn Sina, regarded as the greatest physician in Islamic history, authored “Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb” (The Canon of Medicine) in Arabic. Ibn al-Nafis notably described the circulatory system long before it was acknowledged by Western scholars. Al-Khwarizmi authored “Al-Jabr wa al-Muqabala,” the first book on algebra, and the esteemed Al-Biruni developed the astrolabe and devised a theory to calculate the Earth’s circumference.
Al-Andalus produced numerous famous physicians, including Ibn Zuhr al-Shafii, who made significant advancements in surgery. The flourishing of sciences in Al-Andalus attracted many scholars from around the globe, who were required to master Arabic to study various disciplines in its universities. During this period, Arabic terminology became widespread in academia, while Europe languished in the Dark Ages.
Scientific Arabic Terminology Still in Use Today
Exploring the vast corpus of knowledge produced by Muslim scholars, both Arab and non-Arab, reveals countless contributions made in Arabic across all scientific fields. The Arabic language continuously adapts, responding to the cultural influences it encounters, and has remained a language of the civilized world for centuries, unaffected by adverse challenges.
For instance, Al-Khwarizmi introduced numerous terms into Latin and English; among them is “algebra,” derived from the Arabic word “al-jabr,” meaning the restoration of broken parts. In chemistry, terms such as “elixir” and “talisman” originate from Arabic, used in ancient chemistry. Professor Taylor presented a research paper titled “Arabic Words in English,” which identified over a thousand Arabic terms in fields such as medicine, chemistry, astronomy, biology, and surgery that have entered the English language. Additionally, Ibn al-Haytham laid the groundwork for optics, contributing to the development of the camera, which he referred to as “Al-Qamara,” meaning dark chamber, from which the English term “camera” is derived.
The growth and flourishing of a language depend on the efforts of its speakers. The Arabic language has served as the medium for scientific discourse for over a millennium. Today, it remains robust and capable, though perhaps its speakers feel unprepared.