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This book is a comprehensive reference on the history of Arabic
Language and script, which goes beyond the sole discussion of
technical matters. It studies objectively the evidence presented by
modern-day western archeological discoveries together with the
evidence presented by the indispensable scholarly work and research
of the past Islamic Arab civilization era. The book scrutinizes
modern western theories about the history of the Arabs and Arabic
language and script in connection with the roles played by Western
Near East scholarship, religion and colonial history in the
formation of current belief system vs. Arab history and language,
which is an essential step to study this correlated and complex
topic objectively. In his book, the author explores the relevant
facts of history and geography as crucial defining factors in the
study of history of Arabic language and script. He offers a brief
balanced account on the important topic of Muhammad leadership and
Islam in the formation of Arabia, and investigates the Quran as a
key evidence and reference of the Arabic language and script. As a
research tool, this book presents in-depth tracings and readings of
the most relevant inscriptions and the findings accumulated by the
author over one and a half year of research. Particularly, it
presents new comprehensive readings of the important Umm al-Jimal
and al-Namarah Nabataean Arabic inscriptions. The al-Namarah stone
which was discovered by French archeologist Dussaud in 1901
(displayed today on a wall in the Louvre Museum of Paris) was
assumed for more than a century to be the tombstone of the
prominent pre-Islamic Arab king, Umru' al-Qays bin 'Amru. After
re-tracing and re-reading its complex inscription, the author
concluded it was actually about a previously unknown personality
named 'Akdi, possibly a high ranking Arab soldier in the Roman army
or an Arab tribal leader, not the burial stone of King Umru'
al-Qays or even about him. Similarly, the author proves beyond
doubt that the important Umm al-Jimal Nabataean Arabic inscription
was not the burial stone of Faihru bin Sali, but Faru' bin Sali.
The two inscriptions are among only four Nabataean inscriptions
believed by Western scholars to be written in the old Arabic
language. These are referenced heavily today as evidence linking
the Arabic script to the Nabataean Aramaic script. Utilizing
classic Arabic and grammar tools and challenging their accuracy at
times, the author findings in this book could potentially amend
several historical and linguistic facts as told today by history
textbooks. In his book, the author, a known Arabic type designer,
studies with an investigative expert eye the early shapes of the
pre-Islamic Arabic script and compares them to those of Musnad
Arabic and late Nabataean Aramaic inscriptions, in addition to
those of the early Islamic Arabic manuscripts and papyri. He
concludes that the early Arabic script was not an evolved Nabataean
script, but likely an independently derived script of the old
Musnad Arabic script, with clear Nabataean influence. Although this
book is conceived as a reference tool for scholars and researchers,
other readers may find its topics and captivating arguments valid
enough to debate and to study further. All chapters can be read
independently. There are more than 40 figures and illustrations to
aid the reader throughout the book. The first two chapters are
intended as introductory essays regarding the history of Arabia
(people and language) and the role of Western scholarship. To
facilitate the selective and independent reading of the last three
chapters, which presents the author research findings and
conclusions, the book included (in addition to the chapter-specific
references already offered throughout the whole book)
chapter-specific introductions and conclusions.
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