Classical Arabic naturally resembles other languages of the same family. However, it has four distinct characteristics that mark it apart from its sister languages.

First, it is a powerful language. This power and forcefulness is due to the Spartan Sahara life. Its forcefulness has helped it withstand the changing times.

Secondly, it has brevity. A forceful expression is also a brief one. Arabs chose to be brief in their spoken and written expression. Arabs consider brevity to be the criterion of perfect speech and eloquence. A famous Arab idiom reads, "The best of all speech is that which is concise and significant." The spoken Arabic of the Prophet (SA) is considered the pinnacle of this perfection. Rasulullah (SA) observed that he had been bestowed with comprehensive words having infinite shades of meaning.

Thirdly, Arabic is very precise in its expression. As Islam spread beyond the boundaries of the Arab world, the varied activity of humans in philosophy, science and culture were expressed in Arabic. Persian, Indian and Greek sciences were all translated. That this was possible is testament to the precision which is a distinct quality of Arabic. Many Persian writers, for example, such as Al-Beiruni (4 AH/11 AD) wrote in both Persian and Arabic. Their works on philosophy and science in particular exhibit greater exactness in Arabic than they do in their Persian version. So much so, in fact, that Persian readers prefer to read the Arabic versions.

Fourth, and last of the characteristics of Arabic is self-conservation. Arabic has preserved itself without any radical changes during its long history. European authors have marked that the degree of difference between 8th century Arabic and 20th century Arabic is less in comparison to English over the same period. This capacity to self protect has weakened the effects of time, and means that even ancient Arabic works can be read with relative ease today. The influences of other cultures on the language as it spread out from Arabia were also diluted. The differences between classical Arabic and localized or colloquial versions were also minimized. It is to be noted that increased learning and education have meant a return to classical Arabic and a decrease in the use of colloquial Arabic. Without doubt, the Quran-e-Majeed in particular has played a pivotal role in the preservation and continuity of classical Arabic.

From "Arabic as a Language"
Dr Y. Najmuddin, Rector Al-Jamea-tus-Saifiyah
1976, Wilson Lecture, University of Mumbai India.