Al-Liwā’ al-Islāmī hosted the Islamic intellectual
Dr. ‘Abd al-Sabour Shāhīn, Professor of Linguistics, Faculty of Dār al-‘Uloum, Cairo University, in its first
intellectual forum [panel].
In response to a question about the dangers facing the Arabic language, Dr. cAbd al-
Sabour Shāhīn explained that the danger is twofold. Enemies of the Arabic language [the enemies are not defined]
and Arabic speakers themselves are threatening the language. “It faces the same fate as Islam.” [If religion is not taken
serious it has consequences. For the author the same applies to Arabic]
The enemies of the Arabic language want this
language to be ruined and demolished because it results in cutting the connection between Muslims and the Qur’ān,
Muslims’ source of power and protection. The death of the Arabic language would mean the death of the Qur’ān in our
hearts.
Also, Arabic speakers have offended their language. They have reduced it to a language that is only taught but
not practiced. The language that is taught in schools and universities is colloquial Arabic. Contrary to that, English is a
language of speech, education, discourse, and daily life.
Dr. ‘Abd al-Sabour Shāhīn asserted that the
Arabic language has the ability to absorb all new scientific terminology. Scholars of the Arabic Language Academy [Mujammac
al-Lugha al-‘Arabīya] come up with new terms and translations of new words in different fields. However, such efforts
are not noticed. Thus, he calls for Arabicizing all sciences [i.e. reducing loanwords from other languages].
Dr.
Shāhīn urged President Husnī Mubārak to establish a translation institute, which will transform the
Arabic Language from a static to a progressive and up-to-date language.
Dr. Shāhīn is totally opposed to
rewriting the Qur’ān on modern dictation rules and stated that this is entirely forbidden. He explained that the verses
of the Qur’ān were collected and compiled by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattāb, Abī Ibn Ka‘b, Zayd Bin Thabit and
other Companions. Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, had forty three companions who penned down the revelations he had
received.
Dr. Shāhīn says the Qur’ān was written in two stages. The first stage was in Mecca where some
verses were written and others were memorized. Islam was just beginning and few people had embraced Islam. Thus, there were
one or two persons who wrote down the verses.
In the second stage, which took place in Medina, Muslims were concerned
with establishing an Islamic state and enforcing the legislation. Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, gave priority to writing the verses
towards the end of his life. The Qur’ān was published for the first time as an entire book in the era of ‘Uthmān
Bin ‘Affān. From that time onwards, the Qur’ān found its way to all Muslim communities.
Some people claim
that the Qur’ān is a human creation. Dr. ‘Abd al-Sabour Shāhīn said that such allegations are old and still
exist. He believes that there is a conspiracy that encourages people to accept some points they like in the Qur’ān and
discard others. Such an attitude is very dangerous and destructive. Among those who believe that the Qur’ān is a human
product is Dr. Nasr Abu Zayd. That idea has put Dr. Abu Zayd in trouble.
In discussing the main idea of his
controversial book, “Abī Ādam,” Dr. Shāhīn elaborates that Adam is not the father of all humanity. He is
the father of civilized human beings. In other words, Adam is the father of the prophethood generation and not the first
human. Dr. Shāhīn refutes Darwin’s theory. “Fī Mawkib Abī Ādam” [In the procession of my father
Adam] by Dr. ‘Umar Sharīf, Head of the Department of General Surgery, Faculty of medicine at cAyn Shams University and
“Jidī Ādam” [My Grandfather Adam] by a scholar called Mamdouh al-Jamal, are new books that support the idea of Dr.
Shāhīn regarding Ādam and creation. .
The last question asked was about his viewpoint on the current
status of Muslims. He replied that the Muslims’ situation is tragic. The Islamic nation is disintegrating. There are,
according to Shāhīn, two reasons for this. First, Muslims have abandoned the teachings of the Qur’ān and
Sunna. Second, anti-Islamic efforts take advantage of the deterioration of the Islamic nation [umma]. The only solution to
this is unity. Only then will Muslims be able to master the world. History offers good proof of this. When Salāh al-
Dīn unified the interior fronts [he overthrew the Fatimids in Egypt and united Egypt and Syria], he obtained victory and
liberated Jerusalem.
