The Scientific Seminar of the ACADEMION Cultural Platform Achieves Great Success
On the occasion of the International Day of the Arabic Language, the ACADEMION Cultural Platform launched a scientific seminar titled "The Arabic Language and Civilizational Communication" on Tuesday, 24/5/1443 AH corresponding to 28/12/2021 AD in the evening via live broadcast on the YouTube channel of the ACADEMION International Training Institute, and the seminar was managed by Mr. Abdulaziz Tayah Al-Mubarak, with coordination from Dr. Sonia Ahmed Malaki.
The seminar began with Dr. Mishal bin Yasin Al-Mahlawi, the founder of the ACADEMION Platform, presenting a working paper titled "The Arabic Language and Enhancing Civilizational Communication," where the doctor spoke about the interaction of ideas among peoples and their civilizational experiences, and its strength lies in its impact on other civilizations. He clarified that the Arabic language is a pillar of the cultural diversity of humanity and is one of the most widely spoken and used languages in the world. It also allows entry into a world rich in diversity in all its forms and images, including the diversity of origins, backgrounds, and beliefs. The history of the Arabic language is rich with evidence that shows the many and close connections it has with several other languages of the world, as the Arabic language has been a catalyst for the production and dissemination of knowledge.
Dr. Youssef Al-Ayashi Al-Kallam, a professor of beliefs and comparative religions at Al-Qarawiyyin University, Dar Al-Hekma Foundation in Rabat, Morocco, addressed in his paper "The Virtue of the Quran over the Arabic Language" that there is no way to engage with different civilizations and cultures except through the key of language. Whoever is ignorant of a nation's language is ignorant of its culture, customs, and traditions. The Quran has considered the diversity of tongues and their multiplicity as a sign of God's greatness. The Arabic language has existed since the time of Prophet Ishmael, peace be upon him, and was the dominant language for several centuries without exceeding the Arabian Peninsula, and it spread across the world after the advent of Islam. He added that the Quran has given the Arabic language a special status in several matters, as Allah, the Almighty, made it the language of the last revealed heavenly book and granted it a sacred status, making it a focus of interest and care for believers. It is also the language of worship, as prayer cannot be performed without reciting the Opening of the Book in Arabic. Furthermore, the Arabic language is the way to know God's rulings, beliefs, and to understand His names and attributes.
The seminar included a poem by poet Wafa bint Salem Al-Ghamdi titled "The Miracle Language," which began with:
The longing coincided in my heart, O my language O Dhaad, let your magic resonate on my lips
Pour the nectar of the pure dew, intoxicated Igniting the veins with inspiration through my pen.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sharqawi, a professor of Islamic philosophy, comparative religions, and Oriental studies at the Faculty of Dar Al-Uloom, Cairo University, presented a working paper titled "The Language of Dhaad in the Eyes of Orientalists" in which he pointed out that the Arabic language is a tool for civilizational communication and that Orientalism is a bridge for this civilizational communication, especially between Islamic and Western civilizations. Orientalists were fascinated by the Arabic language, and most of them were enchanted by it, including the Orientalist "Ernest Renan," who said: "It is strange and astonishing that the Arabic language could flourish and reach perfection amidst the barren deserts among a nation of nomadic tribes, surpassing its sisters in the abundance of its vocabulary, the precision of its meanings, and the beauty of its structural system. Throughout its life, it has known neither childhood nor old age, and we hardly know of its affairs except for its conquests and victories that are unmatched." He also referred to the approaches of Orientalists in studying the Arabic language, which had two entrances: the first being their experience, knowledge, and observations of their own languages, and the second being the comparative study of the Arabic language with its Semitic sisters, leading to significant results.
The seminar included poetic verses by the poet Mohammed Jaber Al-Madkhali titled "A Glimmer from the Language of Eternity," which began with:
The door of astonishment opened wide, and the planet was lost And to the letters of Dhaad, the procession was delivered
So it sat joyfully, adorned with Garments that the lover admires and courts.
The seminar also touched on the rich interventions from the audience that added a special charm to the atmosphere of the seminar, and these interventions had a significant impact on achieving the desired goals of the seminar.