Writing in Middle East History

Writing in Middle East History

Although the Arabic language existed within the pre-Islamic Era, Arabic writing spread dramatically after the revelation of the Qur’an, the Holy Book of Muslims. The revelation resulted in the spread of Islam, which resulted in more countries adapting Arabic as its native language. From Arabic, other languages came to exist, such as Persian, Turkish, and Urdu. The letters of these languages juxtaposed that of the Arabic language, along with additional letters, which gave each its newness. These inscriptions became a critical part of providing insight into history, culture, and social aspects of the Islamic period.

Another purpose for writing in the first centuries of Islam was to represent the Umma as a political entity. Formal rules and laws were established for the public through writing as a means to communicate. In addition, writing helped to interpret the complex and metaphorical language of the Quran into something more understandable to the general public.

Today, the Islamic Umma (community) is very dependent on the writings that dated back to the first centuries of Islam and onward. This is because the Hadith (written testimonies of the ways of the Prophet Muhammad) were recorded through writing and passed on to the Umma as an example of excellent behavior and lifestyle. Writing, as seen in this example, was vital to the records and teachings that were apart from the provided teachings of the Quran. The companions of Prophet Muhammad recorded their observations pertaining to his speech, his advice, his prayer