Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Sharif wrote an article on March 29, 2023, discussing the Arabic language in Egypt. The article mentions that before the Arab conquest of Egypt, the official language was Greek, and the Egyptians primarily spoke the Coptic language. When the Arabs settled in Egypt and introduced Islam, the Arabic language quickly spread, and by the fourth century following migration, it became the language of all Egyptians. Egypt also became a center for Islamic and Arabic studies, with scholars traveling there to learn from its intellectuals. The article also mentions that the process of Arabization in Egypt coincided with the spread of Islam, and Egyptians who converted felt the need to learn Arabic to memorize Quranic verses and perform prayers correctly.
Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Sharif
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 04:30 PM
There are Imam’s message series Two levels of language, while the Egyptians speak a colloquial dialect, the Arabs and those coming from the Arabian Peninsula speak a formal language, and some were surprised at that, which raises a question: When did the Egyptians speak the Arabic language?
When Islam entered Egypt in the seventh century AD, specifically in 642 AD, at the hands of the companion Amr ibn al-Aas, may God be pleased with him, and the Arabs mixed with the Egyptians, but the question that arises is.. when did the Egyptians speak the Arabic language?
The book, The Intellectual and Literary Life of Egypt, From the Arab Conquest to the End of the Fatimid State by Muhammad Kamel Hussein, reveals that “Egypt, before the Arabs entered it, was Coptic in tongue, and its official language was Greek, Christianity of religion, so the Arabs came and settled a large number of different tribes in the countries of Egypt, and spread the religion there. Islam and the Arabic language, and carried out Islamic and Arabic religious studies in Egypt, and the Arabic language quickly spread until it became in the fourth century of migration a language for all members of the Egyptian people, and the circle of Islamic and Arabic culture expanded in Egypt until it was considered one of the important centers in the Islamic world, and scholars used to go to it to learn more and to take from Its scholars, and thanks to the digestive power in Egypt, it was able to stand out in the field of intellectual life until Egypt became the bearer of the banner of Arab and Islamic culture, and on behalf of Egypt it took over the other Arab and Islamic countries.
In literary life, poetry and prose, Egypt might not compete with other Arab countries until following the second half of the third century of migration, that is, following the Arabic language became the language of the entire Egyptian people, and the Egyptian became able to express his whims and feelings in the Arabic language.
While the book of the historical film in Egyptian cinema by Mahmoud Kassem indicates that the process of Arabization of Egypt came in keeping with the spread of Islam, which preceded the spread of the Arabic language, as the Egyptians who converted to Islam felt the need to memorize Al-Fatihah and some Quranic verses in order to carry out their new prayers. The Arabic language is the language of the new rulers of the country, which created a common need for understanding between the rulers and the ruled, which made private and public Egyptians seek to learn the Arabic language. To accelerate the Arabization movement in Egypt, which eventually led to the establishment of an Arab culture that replaced the previous Greek culture.
In conclusion, the history of the Arabic language in Egypt is a testament to the power of culture and religion in shaping the world we live in today. The Egyptians were able to adopt and embrace the Arabic language, making it their own and using it to express their thoughts and feelings. The process of Arabization of Egypt was not immediate, but rather a gradual one that took time and effort. It was a joint effort between the new Arab settlers and the local population that resulted in the establishment of an Arab culture that replaced the previous Greek one. Today, the Arabic language is one of the richest and most diverse languages in the world, with a rich history and a bright future.
