Arabic in Urdu
Arabic in Urdu
Arabic in Urdu
Abstract- Having talked with many people from India when we studied there from 2007 till 2014, we were often fascinated
by words that sounded Arabic in origin. When asking about the meaning, they were indeed Arabic. And I could detect more
words in the few Hindi Bollywood movies that I have seen as well. Historicallyspeaking , Arabic has been used in India
almost exclusively by its Muslim population,and has been a key force in delineating and shaping Indian Muslim identity.
This is not surprising, for it is generally acknowledged that the Arabic language has a predominantly sacred character outside
the Arabic speaking Middle East. A thorough study of Indian history suggests that India's first substantial contact with the
Arabic language came when the Arab Muslims settled in the western Indian province of Sind. Subsequently, the Arabic
language continued to flourish further under the patronage of the Mughal rulers in India. In the Islamic epochs, the usage of
Arabic was liturgical. But after the independence of India, non-sacred Arabic gained momentum. However, the functional
manifestation of the language in the subcontinent has great historical significance and has not been systematically
explored.To this end, this paper presents an attempt to analyze the processes and extent of development and uses of Arabic
in India since its arrival in the eighth century through the twentieth indicating career prospects in the days to come, inasmuch
as they bring into sharper focus the scriptural face of Indian Arabic.
Key words- Arabic language, Arab Muslims, Urdu, Indian Arabic, development of Arabic, Mughal rulers
Proceedings of ISER 33rd International Conference, New Delhi, India, 4th -5th September 2016, ISBN: 978-81-925751-2-4
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The Influence of Arabic on Indian Language: Historically and Lingustically
Proceedings of ISER 33rd International Conference, New Delhi, India, 4th -5th September 2016, ISBN: 978-81-925751-2-4
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The Influence of Arabic on Indian Language: Historically and Lingustically
religious schools catering only to Muslim students, has to do with religion, moral values, and issues
called maktab and madrasa.(The terms are somewhat discussed extensively in
fluid, the word madrasa sometimes being used to the Qur'an. Heaviest absorption appears to be into
denote a maktab;other terms used are hifz-khnafor languages used to a great extent by
Qur'an memorization schools, and jmi'aor dar al- Muslims, in particular Urdu, The following sample
'ulumfor higher education institutes. In premodem Arabic terms have been simultaneouslyassimilated
times, the term madrasa was also used for secular into four Indian languages, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, and
schools with both Muslim and Hindu students.). The Marathi: din (religion),hajj (the Hajj pilgrimage),
curriculum followed in these madrasas through the hjji(one who has made the hajj pilgrimage),
centuries focused on Islam as asubject and Arabic as imn(belief),jannat(heaven), jahannam(hell),
a tool. The method of teaching Arabic in these haqlqat(reality), haqq(right), hikmat(wisdom),
madrasas is grammar-centered and text-oriented.The duny(this world), risla(message), slam(greeting),
focus is on reading and understanding classical shaytn(satn), sadaqa(alms), zulm(oppression),
Arabic texts. Speaking skills are notemphasized, but 'adlat(justice), ghusl ([ritual] hath),
stylized prose writing skills (insh') are given some fasd(corruption), qabr(grave), qalam(pen),
attention( Desai,1978). Generally,modern kafn(shroud), ladhdhat(pleasure), mtam(mourning),
proficiency-based techniques are not used, although maqm(station), mawt(death), waf' (loyalty),
there is a slow move towardstheir utilization. Rote wjib(mandatory), wa'da(promise), yaqln(certainty).
memorization is favored over analysis.). Theodore Religious Arabic phrases are habitually interjected
&Wright(1966) stated that the British colonial into Urdu (and other Indian-language)speech. These
government in India de-emphasized religious phrases usually contain an "Allah" component, such
madrasa education; theyfocused on the creation of as al-hamd" li'llh(praisebe to God),
institutions of secular learning which they claimed shukrli'llh(thanks be to God), tnsha' allh(what
would makethe world's academic and scientific [wonders] God haswilled!), insh' allh(if God wills),
progress accessible to the Muslims of India. Arabic and jazk'llh(may God reward you!).
inthese institutions was initially somewhat Additionally,the introductory parts of Muslim
marginalized and "orientalized," both in terms speeches and sermons are often in Arabic and may be
ofteaching method and modified curriculum. The brief,one-sentence openings or longer, multi-
change of direction was often administeredby Muslim paragraph ones. These typically contain the name
modernist reformers rather than directly by the andpraise of God (basmalaand hamdala), and
British. Thus, three modem-styleMuslim universities benedictions on the Prophet (tasliya); Qur'an and
(which were open to non-Muslim students) came into Hadlth quotations are used heavily in religious
being: AligarhMuslim University, 30 the first Muslim communications, both written and oral,such as
institution of secular learning, was founded in 1875in religion classes and the Friday sermon (Muhammad
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, by the reformist Sir Sayyid Ishaq,1955; Seddiqui,2002; Qutbuddin,2007;and
Ahmad Khan; it attained the status ofa university in Haque,2013).
1921, and currently has two full departments of Many Arabic words which have more general
Islamic Studies, viz., Arabicstudies and theology. The meanings in Middle Eastern Arabic take
JamiaMilliaIslamia has a more clearly Islamic bent, on a religious connotation in India. Sahifa, which can
and aimsto offer modem secular education mean several things in Arabic, includinga leaf in a
simultaneously with religious education. It was notebook, a page, a newspaper, or a prayer book,
founded in1920 in Aligarh, and moved to Delhi in signifies here the lastsense only. Ziyrat, which
1925. The Jamia Osmania University in means visit, connotes here a visit to the shrine of a
Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh, was established in 1917 saint. Majlis,which means sitting or assembly,
by the Nizam of Hyderabad; it has a departmentof indicates here a religious assembly. Other words of
Islamic studies in which Arabic is taught, and where generalmeaning, in both Arabic and Indian languages,
research in Islamic studies (mostlyArabic-based) is can denote a religious meaning in the latter.
encouraged. The issues related to the teaching of Similarly, the word kitb, which means any book,
Arabic in these universitiesand in other institutions in often represents here a religious book, picking up on
India have been the subject of several conferences the designation of the Qur'an as The Book or Kitb.
and monographs. Furthermore, the Arabic language is
offered as an academic subject in a fewnon- V. IMPACT OF ARABIC LANGUAGE ON
denominational universities. OTHER LANGUAGES
Proceedings of ISER 33rd International Conference, New Delhi, India, 4th -5th September 2016, ISBN: 978-81-925751-2-4
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The Influence of Arabic on Indian Language: Historically and Lingustically
reforms of the twenties was also written in Arabic. (chair), ijazat ( permission), qubul ( agree), mshhoor
The Hausa language before the coming of the British (famous), khss (special, distinct).(Retrieved from
colonialists was written in Arabic and the script is http://baheyeldin.com/linguistics/hindi-words-arabic-
known as Ajami Script. The incidence of Arabic origin.html).
loan-words in Hausa language is very high. Ali Abu
Bakr observed that one-fifth of currently used words VI. FUTURE OF ARABIC IN INDIA
in Hausa and Fulani are of Arabic origin. If one
ventures into a Hausaspeaking community with an Arabic language will be part of the Indian mosaic
Arabic speaker using only Arabic; such a speaker has since for a significant part of the Indian population
been found to establish quite a fair degree of (Muslims) it is the language of the religious (Islamic)
communication with the people. Thus, Hausa words, scripture and carries with it religious approval and
al-maksh(scissors), bindiga (gun), hakimi(ruler), sanction. Arabic is the language of the Qur'an which
alkalami (pen) are of Arabic origin. The vocabulary is the central religious text of Islam and learning of
of Yoruba, the language of the inhabitants of South Qur'an is necessary for practicing correct rituals of
Western Nigeria, is highly influenced by Arabic, the Islam. So, at least liturgical use of Arabic language
influence transcends religious usage, it includes every such as recitation of Qur'an, litanies (tasbih), ritual
day and routine speech.(Khan,2013) prayer (salah) and such will lead to learning the
Another feature of the significance of Arabic among language. The religious need of Indian Muslims to
Muslims is the establishment of Quranic Arabic learn the Arabic language will continue to lead to the
Schools in every Muslim community to teach the establishment, maintenance and running of madrasas
Holy Quran, Arabic language and fundamentals of and Islamic seminaries in India. So, the religious need
Islamic religion. The Ministry of Education of of Indian Muslims to learn the Arabic language will
Northern Nigeria in 1958 puts the number of the remain one of the greatest factors for the development
Quranic Arabic Schools found in the area at the of the language in India in the future also.
beginning of the 20th century at 20,000 schools with As far as the prospects of the non-sacred usage of
approximately 250,000 students. A considerable Arabic language is concerned, it has a great future
number of works have been written on the language ahead as we see in modern times in economic
in Arabic and other languages spoken by Muslims. activities around the world: it is one of the significant
This enthusiasm is summed up in the observation of languages in the world for business, technology and
Al-Thaalib I (d.1038 A.D.). He says, When the labour market. There are more than 20 countries
Almighty ennobled and exalted the Arabic language, where Arabic is an official language. It is one of the
He elevated its rank and showed greater regard to it six official languages of the United Nations. The
than any other language. He decreed for its fate Arabic language gained more importance after the
guarding and treasuring a select people, the leaders of economic boom of the oil producing Arab countries
virtues and the luminaries of the earth who gave up in the global market. Furthermore, after the economic
lust and roamed the desert land in its service; who globalization, the importance of Arabic language has
befriended the notebooks, the book case and inkstand increased manifold opening up of many employment
for its acquisition, and who exerted themselves opportunities. It was bolstered further by the opening
systemising its rules, and dedicated their life to up of the Indian market to the global business. There
immortalizing its books. In the present scenario, for are many scopes for Arabic learners in both private
the growth and promotion of Arabic language, we all and government sectors. The government sector may
have to make efforts in the right perspective and need include, but is not limited to, Foreign Service,
to make a recourse to our pristine values, we should embassies, cultural attaches and diplomatic services,
be the transmitters of knowledge, particularly that of intelligence, tourism and so on. The private sector
Arabic language and Islam, from our progenitors to may include jobs in international organizations, mass
our progenies(Abdul,2001). communication, publishing, entertainment, education,
Whatever the avenues are, here are other some words interpretation and translation, business and industry,
with the Arabic meaning, which the Hindi derives finance and banking and such others.
from, but may deviate somewhat from.
wqt(time),admi(human being) ,insan (human being) CONCLUSION
,takriban (approximately, almost) ,leken (but) ,shaitan
(devil, satan) ,mabhoom(hidden, unknown future Much of the Arabic vocabulary that has been
event) incorporated into Indian languages over the centuries
shukriya( thank you, not an exact copy, "ya" is has to do with religion, moral values, and issues
added) ,khabar(news item ),khbar(plural of discussed extensively in the Quran. Heaviest
news),mohtaram (respected) , sahib (companion, absorption appears to be into languages used to a
friend, used as Mister in Hindi) ,dab ( good great extent by Muslims in particular Urdu. In India,
manners), ynak ( from eye (ain), means spectacles in during Mughal period, Persian was very dominant
Hindi), alam ( universe) ,alim (scholar, scientist, language and all the official correspondence was
learned person) , sali ( original) , qalm ( pen) ,kursi done in Persian, as a result of which the integration of
Proceedings of ISER 33rd International Conference, New Delhi, India, 4th -5th September 2016, ISBN: 978-81-925751-2-4
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The Influence of Arabic on Indian Language: Historically and Lingustically
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