The Qur'an & the Arabic Language

The Islamic tradition and the Arabic language seem to be inseparable. Muslims recite their daily prayers in Arabic, read in the Qur’an in Arabic, and many of the phrases they use in daily conversations, like “InshaAllah” and “Alhamdulilah,” find their origins in the Qur’an - Islam’s sacred book. In this talk, Maryait Khader (Arabic Dept.) and Zahra Moeini (Scott Center) will discuss how this came to be, with a close look at early Islamic history and the Qur’an. How does the Qur’an refer to the Arabic language? And, why does it consistently challenge the Arabs at the time, who were known for their eloquence and poetry, to bring a text like it? We will also explore what these questions mean for the formation of religious and social identity of many young Muslim speakers and non-speakers of Arabic today.  Accompanied by a halal Palestinian dinner!