Classical Arabic

speaking community and their experience in standardizing their language. The problem was addressed with the creation of Modern Standard Arabic. This language is universally used “across the Middle East, North Africa, [and the] Horn of Africa” (Thompson). In addition it is “one of the official six languages of the United Nations” (Thompson). This language is based on Classical Arabic, which is used in the Quran and early Islamic literature, but the similarities end there. Modern Standard Arabic is the official business and social language of the Arab world, but elements of the different dialects still exist within the individual communities. These dialects are never used outside of the given community. In other words, there is never confusion between the different dialects and the Modern Standard Arabic. They are never mixed. The essay “Authority and American Usage” by David Foster Wallace states that everybody is “…fluent in more than one major English dialect and in several sub-dialects and are probably at least passable in countless others. Which dialect you choose to use depends, of course, on whom you’re addressing” (Wallace 101). Isn’t the statement by Wallace a reflection of what is occurring in the Arab speaking world with Modern Standard Arabic? Many would argue that Standardization of English can be achieved using the Modern Standard Arabic model. The belief that vibrant cultural heritages would be hindered is not true. Each individual culture will be maintained in…

dynastic regions that sought to defray the orthodox traditions of installing a Arabic descendent of Muhammad to govern the Persian peoples. In some ways, the local Samanid government was primarily Sunni, but the government was very tolerant of Buyid Twelver Shias that were in close regional proximity. These regional dynasties defined the important role of religious tolerance and the flexible policies of Sunni traditions that favored localized rulers as a challenge to the traditional orthodoxy of…

In Zajal music, there are multiple different instruments including the voice. The chorus of men and women who recite the verses of poetry back are known as the Reddadi. There are two main instruments used in zajal music. The derbake is a percussion instrument of Arabic origin used throughout the Middle East. This instruments’ base is made of wood or metal generally and has a patch of goat leather strung across the top. In order to use this instrument, it is placed between the thighs or under the…

This period, known as the Islamic Golden Age, saw advances in science, philosophy, medicine and education. Great centers of Muslim learning under the Abbasid dynasty, started knowledge and scientific development that spread from Alexandria and Baghdad to Europe. The architecture flourished in Muslim Spain, later influencing Spanish colonial settlements around the world. Muslim philosophers translated the works of classical Greek philosophers and added their own significant contributions,…

to unite Muslims because everyone must learn the Arabic language to participate in prayers and recitations. Introduction Islamic calligraphy is considered to have developed into an art during the time of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph and the son-in-law of Muhammad (Schimmel, Islamic 3). Not only a religious leader, Ali ibn Abi Talib was a great calligrapher and artist. The use and importance of Islamic calligraphy grew rapidly after his extensive development of the art. Muslims…

The Islamic religion seems to always come up when women’s rights are discussed. It is used to sometimes justify why the Middle East has some of the lowest countries on the gender index gap. Is it possible for Women to have equal rights in these Muslim societies? This has been debated among scholars for many years. In general, Sharia leaves room for Women’s rights in almost every aspect. However, some areas have used interpretations to justify their male-dominating patriarchal societies. These…

In life there is one thing that remains constant and that is change. This commonly used phrase is a way to describe the evolution of women all over the world. For years women have been responsible for bearing children, taking care of their households, and their husbands. Women in certain regions have overcome these circumstances, which has caused many to pursue a career or even a higher education. Unfortunately, women in the Middle East did not fully overcome of being secluded to one particular…

Ancient civilization is full of many different stories and different ways of living. The ancient civilizations that we have studied such as Ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Eqypt, and ancient Greece are all very unique in their own ways but the greatest one in my opinion would be Ancient Egypt. I chose ancient Egypt for various reasons. The most obvious reasons would be that the Egyptians did not have to be sent off on their own at a young age to learn how to survive and learn how to go to war like…

Saudi Arabia people respect who is talkative and have bold personality. It’s part of our culture, that people know my personality by my way of speaking to them. As I am known in Saudi Arabia that I have a strong personality because of my way of speaking Arabic. I didn’t know that my personality will change in different language. Communication is so important in our life, and the only value to communicate is speaking. As I said that I am talkative and have the good sense to choose interesting…

small chapel in Goodenough College based on my own exploration. The emphasis of the essay is mainly on descriptive analysis rather than presenting a narrow angle of positioning. It also explains the challenges encountered in the way the observation to collect the information was conducted. I was reading a book sitting in a front desk of the little Middle East. Suddenly I heard someone talking in a loud sound saying “selet al-isha ya Welid”? I realised the voice was coming from outside dictating…