The Beauty and Legacy of the Arabic Language: Insights from Scholars, Poets, and Thinkers

Arabic is a language of timeless expression, celebrated by poets, writers, and thinkers throughout history. As the language of the Quran, it holds a unique position among the world’s languages, rich in vocabulary, precise in meaning, and capable of conveying profound ideas. Every year, December 18 is celebrated as Arabic Language Day to commemorate its adoption as an official language of the United Nations in 1973.

Arabic: Eternal Through the Quran

Arabic is one of the richest languages globally, surpassing even European languages in depth and eloquence. According to Mohamed El-Saadny, a researcher of Arabic at Alexandria University, the language is the foundation of science, literature, and history. It has influenced other languages, branched into multiple dialects, and its script is used to write Persian, Urdu, and other languages.

Arabic belongs to the Semitic family and is known as “the language of the letter ض” (Daad), a letter unique and challenging to pronounce for non-native speakers. With 28 letters (or 29 including the hamza), Arabic has historically been the language of learning, politics, and literature. Its rich vocabulary and profound meanings allow poets and writers to craft works of extraordinary beauty. Arabic is celebrated for its originality, flexibility, and status as the language of the Quran, making it eternal.

What Poets and Thinkers Have Said About Arabic

Ahmad Shawqi (The Prince of Poets)

Shawqi famously said:

"The one who filled all languages with beauty placed its secret in Daad."

He emphasized that Arabic surpasses other languages in elegance and that its beauty is deeply tied to the letter Daad, which makes it unique and expressive. Shawqi considered Arabic a complete, eloquent language with unmatched literary richness.

Gibran Khalil Gibran

The Lebanese writer and thinker noted:

"Arabic was created to express beauty."

Gibran highlighted Arabic’s vital role in literature, poetry, and artistic expression. He emphasized innovation in language, arguing that the vitality of Arabic depends on the poet’s creativity and the integration of vernacular expressions into classical forms.

Mustafa Sadiq Al-Rafi’i

Al-Rafi’i praised Arabic for its resilience and depth, stating that it does not age or die because it is grounded in the Quran and the Sunnah. He described Arabic as the reflection of a nation’s existence, thoughts, and values, highlighting that the decline of a language mirrors the decline of a nation.

Hafez Ibrahim

In his famous poem “The Arabic Language,” Ibrahim wrote:

"I am the sea whose pearls lie within; have the divers asked about my treasures?"

He compared the richness of Arabic to the depths of the ocean, portraying it as a boundless space for literary and poetic creativity.

Perspectives from Western Scholars

Gustave Le Bon

In Civilization of the Arabs, Le Bon praised Arabic’s structural coherence and credited it for enabling significant scientific and intellectual advancements. He noted that the language facilitated the Arabs’ contributions to knowledge and culture.

Villa Spaza

Villa Spaza considered Arabic richer and more advanced than European languages, emphasizing its comprehensive tools for expression and its ability to preserve linguistic precision.

Ernest Renan

Renan recognized Arabic as a global language, unique because of the Quran and its centrality in Muslim worship, and praised its completeness and early sophistication.

Louis Massignon

Massignon described Arabic as one of the “purest languages,” praising its brevity, clarity, and unmatched scientific and literary expressiveness.

Carl Brockelmann

The German orientalist highlighted the Arabic language’s vast scope, flexibility, and adaptability to modern contexts, noting its importance in religious, cultural, and scientific communication.

Conclusion

Arabic is a rich, precise, and flexible language that reflects the identity, culture, and intellectual legacy of its speakers. Celebrated for its eloquence and expressive power, it has been praised by Muslim scholars, poets, writers, and Western orientalists alike. Learning and preserving Arabic is essential not only for understanding religion and science but also for appreciating a language that continues to inspire and shape human thought.