The Holy Quran was revealed to mankind in Arabic. It’s the literal message of Allah to us. It’s intended to be a miracle that turns disbelievers into believers where it was first revealed; The Arabian Peninsula. 

Particularly in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, people loved poetry and used it in the most beautiful way through their daily lives. So, when Quran was revealed, it was in the most flawless rhetorical Arabic, the language of the people there. 

What Do We Mean By Quranic Arabic?

Quranic Arabic is the classical Arabic used in Quran’s sacred text. It was first used when the Quran was written as early as the 6th century A.D., the language was different from the Arabic of today.

The Arabic of today is called Modern Standard Arabic, which is generally easier than Quranic Arabic. For that, it’s most commonly used in media, modern literature, political debates, and classroom teaching rather than the classical one. 

Classical Arabic (Fusha) is commonly used in literature in the form of poems, novels, and historical books. It’s less commonly used as a spoken language.

Standard Arabic is the most frequently used dialect of Arabic in Arabic-speaking nations. It is spoken by 313 million people worldwide in up to 30 distinct dialects. It contains additional phrases and terms that did not exist in the Quran at the time.

History of Quranic Arabic

Over a twenty-three-year period, 610-632 A.D., Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) received revelations from Allah SWT in Arabic through the Angel Jibreel. Professional reciters (huffaz and quraa) memorized the Holy Quran, which included these messages. 

Different accents for the pronunciation of the Quran were used as Islam expanded until a standardized version (with notations for different accents) was established in the mid-seventh century A.D. under the third Caliph, Uthman Ibn Affan.

As more non-Arabic speakers were persuaded by Islam, the Quran became the most essential bond between Muslims, Arabs, and non-Arabs alike, respected for its message and praised for its language beauty.

Arabs, regardless of religion, and Muslims, regardless of ethnic background, hold the Arabic language in high respect and cherish it as a tool for preserving a rich cultural history. This close relationship between the Quran and Arabic has given the language a unique position and led to the Arabization of many ethnicities.

After several decades, notably in the ninth century, there was an intellectual rebirth that began in Egypt and Syria and expanded to the rest of the Arab world, starting with Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt in 1798. 

The French expedition led by Napoleon included the introduction of Egypt’s first Arabic printing press as well as the translation of various Western literary works into Arabic. Lebanon has been in contact with the West since the seventeenth century and maintained a close religious bond with some European sects.

Other Western influences came via Arab immigrants to the Americas and missionaries who helped establish other languages such as French and English as important components of the educational system in various Arab countries.

These movements and developments were often connected to the two fundamental elements of Arab nationalism: Islam and the Arabic language. As a result, Arab intellectuals found themselves caught between a rich and beautiful past and a future increasingly connected with Western language and modernism.

The nineteenth-century saw the emergence of Arabic as a viable modern language, or what we call today: Modern Standard Arabic

Importance of Quranic Arabic

Quranic Arabic is the original language of the Quran. It features specific symbols that are used to indicate correct pronunciation and to accentuate words, such as pauses between sentences. These written Arabic symbols are nearly entirely utilized in oral Quran recitation.

“Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand.”

(Surah Yusuf)

Some words are exclusively used in Quran that is no longer used in Standard Arabic. So, in order to recite Quran properly, you need to learn Quranic Arabic. 

Learning Quranic Arabic also allows you to experience the Quran’s spiritual aspect. That is guaranteed if you read the text in its original form. Because Arabic is a beautiful language, it expresses meaning in the most spiritually wonderful manner.

Since the Holy Quran was given to mankind with the intention of providing eternal guidance, it is vital that its words and meanings be understood. Learning the Quranic Arabic with its vocabulary and grammar is your way towards understanding the Quranic meanings.

Lucky for you, learning Arabic online has never been easier! You can learn Fusha Arabic (classical Arabic) via an online Classical Arabic course from the comfort of your home.

If you need help in learning Quranic Arabic, find a professional online Arabic tutor on Studio Arabiya to help you in improving your Arabic skills concentrating on important elements such as:

• Classical Arabic alphabet
• Classical Arabic words
• Arabic alphabet pronunciation
• Classical Arabic writing, 
• Arabic grammar

 You can also get recommendations of helpful methods of practice to follow.