Present-Day Persian

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On the morning of 25 August [1898] while discussing the Persian language, the honourable Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib of Sialkot said:

“Nowadays, the Iranians have directed their attention heavily to the writing of literature. They have begun to use Arabic words so abundantly that except for connecting words, the actual usage of Persian vocabulary has fallen drastically. They have begun to use words in the measure of the Arabic forms mufa’alah, infi’al, istif’al, etc., so greatly that one’s mind is left astonished.”

At this, the Promised Messiahas said:

“In earlier times the word fehmidan, etc., was in common usage. But today, this word is rarely used.”

Maulana Abdul Karim Sahib humbly submitted, “These days, they simply say mufahamah, tafhim, etc.”

The breadth of the Arabic language and the support of Islam

In the context of this discussion, the Promised Messiahas went on to say:

“The Arabic language is immensely vast and contains all kinds of terminology. Written works are being produced so abundantly that only God has a knowledge of their number. Simply take the example of the Hadith. No one can claim confidently that they have seen all the books which relate to the science of Hadith.”

After this, Maulana Abdul Karim Sahib stated during the course of discussion:

“Just recently, Maulvi Sahib (i.e. Respected Maulvi Nur-ud-Din Sahib, may the Lord protect him) has received a list of the books from the Khadawiyyah Library in Egypt, which extends over seven volumes. The list has been compiled in a manner that it is enjoyable to just read through it. The books have been numbered systematically in such a manner that even a person who has not visited the library before can walk in and locate precisely where a certain book is placed, provided that they have read through the list at least once.”

At this, the Promised Messiahas enquired, “Can these books be issued?”

Maulvi Sahib responded, “Yes, these libraries place no such restriction; books can be copied as well, etc.”

Then, our Noble Leader, the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, said:

“How abundantly has God Almighty supported Islam. If any foolish person were to deny the divine succour furnished in favour of Islam, they would have to accept that God has never supported anyone in the world before. For a language to be so vast in its scope, and then for so many written works to be produced in that language, is a means of support for Islam, for this actually supports the Holy Quran. Whenever a lexicographer defines an Arabic word, if the word has appeared in the Holy Quran, they have always written the relevant verse as well.”

At this, Maulana Abdul Karim Sahib said, “Lisan-ul-Arab has adhered to this practice strictly.”

Then, the Promised Messiahas stated in the course of his discourse:

“Languages such as Sanskrit and others have almost died away. Neither is written work produced in those languages, nor anything else. So too is the case of the Christians, who have paid no attention to maintaining their Gospel in its original language.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 271-272)

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