Arab studies
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Albategnius.jpeg/220px-Albategnius.jpeg)
Arab studiesorArabic studiesis anacademic disciplinecentered on the study ofArabsandArab World.It consists of several disciplines such asanthropology,sociology,linguistics,historiography,archaeology,cultural studies,economics,geography,international relations,law,literature,philosophy,psychology,political science,andpublic administration.[1][2][3]The field draws from oldArabic chronicles,records and oral literature, in addition to written accounts and traditions about Arabs from explorers and geographers in theArab World(Middle East-North Africa).[4][5][6]
History
[edit]Arab studies talk about the history of the Middle East and North Africa, before therise of Islamto the present time. Covering a wide range of topics, such asmethods,approaches,colonial history,gender,environmentaland legal dimensions. It depends on thepolitical,economic,socialandcultural history of the region.
Linguistic
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Learning_Arabic_calligraphy.jpg/220px-Learning_Arabic_calligraphy.jpg)
Arabicis a language spoken by more than 422 million people from theoceanto theGulf,as the Arabs say.[7][8]This includesMorocco,MauritaniaandWestern Saharain the west, and extends toIraq,theGulf statesandSomaliain the east. The official language of 26 countries, one of the sixofficial languages of the United Nations.It is also the sacred language of over 1.7 billionMuslimsaround the world,[9][10][11]and the language written by some of the greatest works of literature, science and history in theworld.[12]According to the teachings ofIslam,classical Arabicis the language in whichGodchose to speak to mankind throughMuhammadin the seventh century of theChristian era.It is the language of theQuran,theholy bookof Islam. This is the language of Islamic and classical texts.[13]Modern Arabicis the language ofbooks,news broadcasts,poetryandpoliticalspeeches throughout the Arab world,[13]a language that every child in primary school learns to read and write, a diverse language ofArabic poetic traditions,the precise language of theologians and theologians of the Internet. Knowledge of Arabic provides an opportunity to connect with people throughout theMiddle East,providing access to the richness and passion of the contemporary Arab world. Arabic is a way to explore nearly 14 centuries of one of the most sophisticated, diverse, and rich intellectual traditions in the world.[14][15]
Culture and society
[edit]Cultureandsocietyin the Arab world, fromstructures,institutions,art,poetry,letters,practices,and definitions ofidentity,based onanthropology,sociology,literatureandreligious studies.
Development
[edit]Development andpolitical economyin the Arab world, focusing on economic and social development,education,humanitarian aid,and gender and environmental dimensions of development. This concentration is based on economic history, political economy, sociology and politics.
Politics
[edit]Contemporary political developments in the Arab world and the Middle East. The program covers the study of domineering,nationalism,local institutions, politics, war, peacemaking, identity, security policies and environmental security. It relies on comparative policies,international relations,history,science,political economy and development.
Themes
[edit]History of Arabs
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Map_of_expansion_of_Caliphate.svg/220px-Map_of_expansion_of_Caliphate.svg.png)
To understand the history of Arabs provides the indispensable basis to understand all aspects of Arabs and its culture. Themes of special interest are:
Theology
[edit]Kalam(علم الكلام) is one of the "religious sciences" of Islam. InArabic,the word means "discussion" and refers to the Arabic tradition of seeking theological principles throughdialectic.A scholar ofkalamis referred to as amutakallim.
Philosophy
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Sughrat.jpg/220px-Sughrat.jpg)
Arabic philosophyis a part of Arab studies. It is a longstanding attempt to create harmony betweenfaith,reason orphilosophy,and the religious teachings ofArabs.A Muslim engaged in this field is called anArab philosopher.It is divided in fields like:
- Early Arabic philosophy
- Modern Arabic philosophy
- List of Arab philosophers
- Illuminationist philosophy
Sciences
[edit]Arabic scienceissciencein the context of traditional ideas ofArabs,including itsethicsand prohibitions. An Arab engaged in this field is called aMuslim scientistThis is not the same as science as conducted by anyMuslimin a secular context.
Literature
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Cassim.jpg/220px-Cassim.jpg)
Architecture
[edit]Arabic architecture is the entire range of architecture that has evolved withinArab culturein the course of thehistory of Arabs.Hence the term encompasses religious buildings as well as secular ones, historic as well as modern expressions and the production of all places that have come under the varying levels of Islamic influence.
Art
[edit]Notable Arabists
[edit]- William Granara
- George Grigore
- Beatrice Gründler
- Gustave E. von Grunebaum
- Julián Ribera
- Charles Pierre Henri Rieu
- Andrew Rippin
- Maxime Rodinson
- Franz Rosenthal
- Cheryl Rubenberg
- Gordiy Sablukov
- W. Montgomery Watt
- Hans Wehr
- Michael Scott Weir
- Julius Wellhausen
- Abraham Wheelocke
- Franz Woepcke
- William Wright (orientalist)
See also
[edit]- Center for Contemporary Arab Studies
- American Legation, Tangier
- Arabic language academies
- Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World
- College of Islamic and Arabic Studies, Afghanistan
- Genetic studies on Arabs
- Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam
- Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Middle East Centre for Arab Studies
- Middle East Forum
- Middle Eastern studies
- Orient-Institut Beirut
- Pontifical Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
- School of Arabic Studies
- Tribes with Flags
References
[edit]- ^Studies in the History of the Near East - Page 28 113627331X P.M. Holt - 2013 "He held the post until his death in 1624 and was succeeded by his former pupil, James Golius (1596–1667). Erpenius and Golius made outstanding contributions to the development of Arabic studies by their teaching, their preparation of texts,..."
- ^Arnoud Vrolijk, Richard van Leeuwen Arabic Studies in the Netherlands: A Short History in Portraits, 900426633X - 2013 "The following portraits of the most distinguished Dutch Arabists are placed in their historical and intellectual context in order to show how intimately the development of Arabic studies is entwined with European and Dutch history."
- ^C. H. M. Versteegh, Kees Versteegh - The Arabic Language - Page 6 0748614362 2001 "In this introduction, we have traced the development of Arabic studies and stressed the connection between the study of Arabic and that of Hebrew and the other Semitic languages. Since the Second World War, Arabic studies have become..."
- ^"Arab Studies Degree Programs & Information | American University, Washington, DC".american.edu.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-13.Retrieved2017-03-28.
- ^"The Arab Studies Journal on JSTOR".jstor.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-27.Retrieved2017-03-28.
- ^"Arab Studies Quarterly on JSTOR".jstor.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-11-27.Retrieved2017-03-28.
- ^"Al-Jallad. The earliest stages of Arabic and its linguistic classification (Routledge Handbook of Arabic Linguistics, forthcoming)".Archivedfrom the original on 2017-10-23.Retrieved2016-10-27.
- ^"World Arabic Language Day".UNESCO.18 December 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2017.Retrieved12 February2014.
- ^"Christianity 2015: Religious Diversity and Personal Contact"(PDF).gordonconwell.edu. January 2015. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-05-25.Retrieved2015-05-29.
- ^"Executive Summary".Future of the Global Muslim Population.Pew Research Center. 2011-01-27.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-08-05.Retrieved22 December2011.
- ^"Table: Muslim Population by Country | Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project".Features.pewforum.org. 2011-01-27.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-08-01.Retrieved2014-05-18.
- ^Al-Jallad, Ahmad."Al-Jallad. The earliest stages of Arabic and its linguistic classification (Routledge Handbook of Arabic Linguistics, forthcoming)".Archivedfrom the original on 2017-10-23.Retrieved2016-07-15.
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(help) - ^abLentin, Jérôme (2011-05-30)."Middle Arabic - Brill Reference".Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-08-15.Retrieved2016-07-17.
- ^"Arabic – the mother of all languages – Al Islam Online".Alislam.org.Archivedfrom the original on 30 April 2010.Retrieved4 May2010.
- ^Coffman, James (December 1995)."Does the Arabic Language Encourage Radical Islam?".Middle East Quarterly.Archivedfrom the original on 1 February 2009.Retrieved5 December2008.