Op-Ed by Maria Wehbe, Staff Writer

December 18th, 2020

December 18th is Arabic Language Day: a day when we are supposed to commemorate the splendor of this language. Nobody can deny that this language is part of who we are, part of our identity. One must admit that it is exceedingly difficult, however, once you understand its value and dig deep into it, there is no going back.  

There are 25 countries that claim Arabic as their native tongue, among which of course is our beautiful country, Lebanon. This number is significant, especially considering the number of people that leave these countries and spread all across the globe. Odds are, wherever you end up in the world, you will find someone who speaks Arabic. 

This language is very useful as it “offers a blend of critical language skills and applicability in over 20 countries with roughly 300 million native speakers.” (1)

As well, having this language be a part of your culture and heritage would make you stand out in the crowd, as it is not that commonly spoken by students and would be of use to you in the professional world later on. Less than 1% of college students in the US study the Arabic Language, which is roughly around 32 000 students out of 21 million, and this would be an added plus for you as it would give you a way to stand out in your professional field. Governments are said to be seeking employers that acquire Arabic speaking skills in order to address “complex political, military and economic questions surrounding US engagement in the Middle East and North Africa.” (1) As well, other sectors such as the private and nonprofit sectors are on the look-out for people that have acquired Arabic speaking skills in order to learn more about emerging markets and establishments found beyond their borders. 

This is to say that there is a lot of potential found in the Arab countries, especially in the eyes of US organizations and other foreign countries, and so having people that are fluent in Arabic on board would come as a very big advantage to them in order to get further insight, as the US has a very big involvement in foreign affairs. 

In addition, it is the liturgical language of the religion of Islam. You may wonder why this is the case, and the reason is quite simple. It is said that all Muslims come together as believers, as they all believe in One Almighty God and the guidance that he has set forth for mankind. Also, it is said that “his final revelation to mankind, the Quran, was sent over 1400 years ago to Mohammad in the Arabic Language.” (2) Since then, the language has been preserved as part of the religion and is very much praised. This is quite impressive since around 90 % of the world’s Muslims are not native Arabic speakers, yet they make a very big effort in learning the language because they know that it is an integral part of their religion and I find this to be very beautiful. The language is quite complex and even if it doesn’t roll off the tongue quite easily, they do take the time to learn at least some of it. 

Islam is the most widespread religion found in the Arab World, and so it does not come as a surprise that Arabic is a very important component of that religion. 

So many beautiful books have been written in Arabic and one of the most famous authors was Ibn Khaldoun, who was the first sociologist in the world. His writings were so mesmerizing and captivating and the way the message was portrayed was not the same when his work was translated. The Arabic language is one that makes the writing come to life and reals you into this fascinating and marvelous world. From Gebran Khalil Gebran to Hanane Al Sheikh, from Nawal El Saadawi to Nagib Mahfouz: the list is never-ending. 

As well, so much stunning poetry, music and paintings englobe the beauty of the Arabic language. From Fayrouz, to Adonis, from Sabah to Joseph Attieh, from Mahmoud Darwich to Nizar Qabbani: the list goes on and on. So many incredible talents that have used their platforms to portray the importance of this language with the entire culture and heritage that backs it up and that is not only recognized by Arab nations, but worldwide as well. 

The Arabic Language has so much more to it than any of us could have thought, as its spread is expanding more and more with time. We cannot deny that it is an integral part of today’s world as it can be found in all continents, in a lot of different domains and is an essential component of one of the world’s largest religions. The Arabic Language is one that is very rich and has been here for a very long time and nobody intends to see any change in this regard.