Arabic, the Human Language Chosen by God [2652]

General Information

• Credits: 6 ECTS
• Prerequisites: Bachelor's or Licence level (or equivalent); proficiency in English
• Learning format: asynchronous distance learning – 100% e-learning
• Language of instruction: English
• Course access: available at any time of year
• Disability liaison officer: Cécile Boucherle

Course Overview

This course explores the close relationship between the Arabic language and Islam from historical, linguistic, and theological perspectives. It begins by showing that Arabic is a Semitic language whose history long predates the emergence of Islam, before examining the decisive influence of Qur’anic revelation on its standardisation, dissemination, and status. The course then considers how Arabic, in turn, shaped Islamic religious thought, particularly through grammar, logic, and debates concerning the exceptional nature of the language of the Qur’an. Finally, it examines the contemporary development of Arabic, including Modern Standard Arabic and its dialects, in order to shed light on current linguistic issues.

Course Objectives

This course enables you to:

• Understand the history of the Arabic language before Islam and its place among the Semitic languages.
• Explain the impact of Qur’anic revelation and Islam on the development, standardisation, and spread of the Arabic language.
• Analyse the influence of the Arabic language on the development of Muslim theological and religious thought.
• Master the main historical, linguistic, and theological issues related to the status of Arabic in Islam.
• Identify the characteristics of contemporary Arabic and the relationships between Standard Arabic and dialectal varieties.

Course Competencies

This course is linked to the following competency:

• Master the beliefs, the foundational texts and the scholarly language of Islam.

Course Outline

Introduction
Section 1 The Arabic language before Islam: The “most recent” and the “most archaic” of the Semitic languages?
Section 2 A language deeply shaped by Islam
Section 3 A religion deeply shaped by the Arabic language
Section 4 What is the Arabic language today?

Assessment Methods 

Course assessment is based on:

• tracking and completion of the course and of all learning activities. These activities, designed as essential practice and learning exercises, may be completed multiple times and are not factored into the final grade,
• the final assessment quiz, which constitutes the graded evaluation.

Learning Format

The course is taught entirely online via the MyDomuni platform, accessible 24/7.
Learning resources include:

• written course materials;
• supplementary documents and, depending on the content, video resources;
• interactive learning activities (quizzes, exercises);
• a discussion forum with the course instructor and fellow participants.

Prerequisites

This course is open to anyone holding a Bachelor's degree or Licence (or an equivalent qualification) in theology, the humanities, social sciences, or a related field, or with significant personal or academic experience related to the topics covered.

A good command of written English is recommended to facilitate understanding of the content and participation in the activities offered. 

Accessibility

The course is accessible at any time, from any internet-connected device, via the MyDomuni platform.
For students with disabilities, specific support can be arranged upon request to ensure equitable access to course content and activities.

Disability liaison officer: cecile.boucherle@domuni.eu.

Selective Bibliography

• Kees Versteegh, The Arabic Language, 3rd ed., Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2026.
• Jonathan Owens, A Linguistic History of Arabic, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2006.
• Kees Versteegh, Arabic Grammar and Qurʾānic Exegesis in Early Islam, Leiden, Brill, 1993.
• Yasir Suleiman, The Arabic Grammatical Tradition: A Study in Taʿlīl, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 1999.
• Yasir Suleiman, The Arabic Language and National Identity: A Study in Ideology, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2003.