Arabic Literature in the Rise of Islamic Civilisation and the Present Educational System

Abstract

Every given civilisation has foundations on which it rises. These foundations form the way of thinking for the people to whom that civilisation belongs, and define the scope within which they operate. The foundations differ from one civilisation to another; they may be a revelation, a divine or civil law, or customs and or norms that prevailed in a given society. Islamic civilisation sprung from the original Islamic sources, namely the Qur’an and the prophetic tradition. However, Arabic literature is seen as one of the additional foundations that have played a pivotal role in the rise of this civilisation, as well as in its development and flourishing. The purpose of this paper is to study critically some characteristic view-points of the relationship between Arabic literature and Islamic civilisation and to demonstrate the role Arabic language has played in the rise of this civilisation through its important periods. The outcome of this study will interpret Arabic literature as reflecting virtues and values, as revealing the ethos of different cultures of the Islamic civilisation, the processes of its rise and certain types of social facts. It will also illustrate the significance of teaching Arabic literature in the present day education, for it allows us to reach the heart of the Islamic civilisation through its literary, philosophical and political texts, along with its historical context.