A2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A2 - Essay Example Mohamed’s life and teachings were written down, and in the centuries after his death, many scholars wrote interpretations and commentaries, preserving the letter of his teaching as well as explaining its meaning for subsequent generations. As the religion spread, so the Arabic language inevitably spread with it, bringing the values and customs of this region to very different areas. To this day Muslim children are taught to recite verses of the Qur’an, learning the ancient words and preserving the older, classical form of the language which serves as a lingua franca in every country where Islam is an important religion. There is also a great value in preserving the philosophy and literature of previous centuries for modern people to read. The ability to read classical Arabic is a mark of superior education because it represents a prestige form: â€Å"it is a cultural force which unites all Arabs† (Nydell, p. 91). So long as people strive to master this ancient language and culture, they are able to benefit from ancient wisdom and reflect on the common heritage that they share. This linguistic and religious fusion creates unity across the globe, since many Muslims do not speak modern Arabic as their native language, but still learn classical Arabic for religious purposes. In the modern world, therefore, there is a common Arab heritage passed on through the language, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, and this can be seen for example in the giving of certain names to people and places (Suleiman, p. 143). Names such as Mohamed or Ahmed are given to boys in many countries, and this maintains an obvious connection with the ancient heritage of Islam. There is also evidence, however, of the divergence of the spoken language into different dialects, and this has served to differentiate different strands of Arab culture. It has been