The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 11
Arabic the Mother of Tongues that speech is affected by earthly and heavenly causes. 11. The Jews and the Christians are compelled to acknowledge that Arabic is the mother of tongues as the Torah clearly affirms that there was only one language in the beginning. . . . . Some people raise the objection that the relationship of some languages with Arabic, for instance that of Hebrew, is much closer than that of other languages like Sanskrit or European languages. The answer is that despite this difference it has been ascertained that the elementary words and phrases of these languages have been derived from Arabic and have been further developed through natural changes. . Special Characteristics of Arabic. There are five special characteristics of Arabic, which prove conclusively that Arabic is a revealed language, which we shall expound in detail in their proper places. . These are:. First Characteristic: Arabic has a perfect pattern of roots, which is suited to human needs. Other languages lack this pattern. . Second Characteristic: The names of God, and of heavenly bodies, vegetables, animals, solids, and human limbs in. Arabic comprise great wisdom. Other languages cannot compete with Arabic in this respect. . Third Characteristic: The Arabic system of elementary words is perfect, and comprises all nouns and verbs of the same roots, and illustrates their mutual relationship by arranging them in a wise pattern. This characteristic is not found in other languages in the same perfect degree. . Fourth Characteristic: In Arabic idiom a few words