Written by: Raziuddin Syed
Languages guide civilizations on their journeys. They often emerge in novel and unfamiliar forms, but with the passage of time and interaction with various cultures, they evolve into refined and elevated systems of communication. Every language contains a deep treasury of knowledge and literature, rich in vocabulary and meaning. Across the world, no language appears today as it did in its earliest stages — many are unrecognizable even to experts. Languages such as French, Latin, English, Urdu, and Persian have undergone transformations over time and exist today in evolved forms.
Logically, this transformation should have occurred in the Arabic of the Qur’an as well. The Qur’an was revealed over fourteen centuries ago, so by this measure, its Arabic should now be foreign and outdated. Had this occurred, our connection with the Qur’an might have been severed, and Islam would have felt alien — just as the original languages of the Torah and Gospel are now extinct, rendering those scriptures non-authentic in many eyes.
However, the reality is that the Arabic of the Qur’an remains intact, full of beauty, allure, and unmatched literary excellence. Not a single word has become obsolete, nor has any better substitute emerged in its place.
As Islam spread across the globe — reaching Europe, Asia, and Africa — Arabic encountered numerous languages. During this expansion, there were no native Arabic speakers in these new regions. Despite ruling in these territories for 500 to 600 years, Arabic remained unaffected by local languages. Powerful civilizations like Iraq, Egypt, Persia, and Rome could not subdue Arabic; rather, Arabic transformed their scripts and expressions.
For example, following the Arab conquests in Sindh, the Sindhi script was replaced by the Arabic script.
Many attempts were made to eliminate Qur’anic Arabic. Persian rulers burned Arabic libraries, and the British and French introduced foreign languages in their colonies' educational systems. Yet, Arabic stood firm — because the Qur’an continues to live as an ever-relevant, ever-living Word.
In pre-Islamic Arabia, a "good poem" was praised for its exaggeration and falsehood. But the Qur’an, especially Sūrat al-Raḥmān, expressed profound truths with such beauty that it earned the title ‘Bride of the Qur’an’ (ʿArūs al-Qurʾān).
The Qur’an not only introduced new vocabulary to the Arabs, but also endowed those words with depth and meanings previously unknown to them.
Writers and poets typically drive language evolution. But Arabic presents a unique exception — even today, it is understood with the same clarity and eloquence as during its earliest era. Time has had no impact on the Arabic of the Qur’an. Its vocabulary and expressions remain as vibrant and fresh as ever.
The British historian Philip K. Hitti, in his book The History of the Arabs, observed:
“The Arabic of the Qur’an is so universal that despite different dialects, it has never fragmented.”
Sayyid Quṭb (رحمه الله) noted that with the spread of Islam, sciences and arts were presented in Arabic. Experts in Tafsīr, Fiqh, Sufism, and Philosophy authored works in Arabic as if it were their mother tongue.
Sayyid Abul A‘la Mawdūdī (رحمه الله) wrote:
“Even after fourteen hundred years, the Qur’an remains the highest example of literary excellence in Arabic. It has preserved the Arabic language so completely that not a single word has become obsolete. There is no other language in the world that has maintained such grandeur over such a long period. It is the power of the Qur’an that has preserved Arabic in its exalted status.”
Languages guide civilizations on their journeys. They often emerge in novel and unfamiliar forms, but with the passage of time and interaction with various cultures, they evolve into refined and elevated systems of communication. Every language contains a deep treasury of knowledge and literature, rich in vocabulary and meaning. Across the world, no language appears today as it did in its earliest stages — many are unrecognizable even to experts. Languages such as French, Latin, English, Urdu, and Persian have undergone transformations over time and exist today in evolved forms.
Logically, this transformation should have occurred in the Arabic of the Qur’an as well. The Qur’an was revealed over fourteen centuries ago, so by this measure, its Arabic should now be foreign and outdated. Had this occurred, our connection with the Qur’an might have been severed, and Islam would have felt alien — just as the original languages of the Torah and Gospel are now extinct, rendering those scriptures non-authentic in many eyes.
However, the reality is that the Arabic of the Qur’an remains intact, full of beauty, allure, and unmatched literary excellence. Not a single word has become obsolete, nor has any better substitute emerged in its place.
As Islam spread across the globe — reaching Europe, Asia, and Africa — Arabic encountered numerous languages. During this expansion, there were no native Arabic speakers in these new regions. Despite ruling in these territories for 500 to 600 years, Arabic remained unaffected by local languages. Powerful civilizations like Iraq, Egypt, Persia, and Rome could not subdue Arabic; rather, Arabic transformed their scripts and expressions.
For example, following the Arab conquests in Sindh, the Sindhi script was replaced by the Arabic script.
Many attempts were made to eliminate Qur’anic Arabic. Persian rulers burned Arabic libraries, and the British and French introduced foreign languages in their colonies' educational systems. Yet, Arabic stood firm — because the Qur’an continues to live as an ever-relevant, ever-living Word.
In pre-Islamic Arabia, a "good poem" was praised for its exaggeration and falsehood. But the Qur’an, especially Sūrat al-Raḥmān, expressed profound truths with such beauty that it earned the title ‘Bride of the Qur’an’ (ʿArūs al-Qurʾān).
The Qur’an not only introduced new vocabulary to the Arabs, but also endowed those words with depth and meanings previously unknown to them.
Writers and poets typically drive language evolution. But Arabic presents a unique exception — even today, it is understood with the same clarity and eloquence as during its earliest era. Time has had no impact on the Arabic of the Qur’an. Its vocabulary and expressions remain as vibrant and fresh as ever.
The British historian Philip K. Hitti, in his book The History of the Arabs, observed:
“The Arabic of the Qur’an is so universal that despite different dialects, it has never fragmented.”
Sayyid Quṭb (رحمه الله) noted that with the spread of Islam, sciences and arts were presented in Arabic. Experts in Tafsīr, Fiqh, Sufism, and Philosophy authored works in Arabic as if it were their mother tongue.
Sayyid Abul A‘la Mawdūdī (رحمه الله) wrote:
“Even after fourteen hundred years, the Qur’an remains the highest example of literary excellence in Arabic. It has preserved the Arabic language so completely that not a single word has become obsolete. There is no other language in the world that has maintained such grandeur over such a long period. It is the power of the Qur’an that has preserved Arabic in its exalted status.”
