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Small number of books published in Arabic

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Topic: Small number of books published in Arabic

Posted By: Matt Browne
Subject: Small number of books published in Arabic
Date Posted: 21 November 2010 at 3:43am

I'd like to explore the following question:

Why are so few books published in Arabic or translated into Arabic from other languages?

Some time ago I read a book by Dan Diner called

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Sacred-Muslim-World-Stood/dp/0691129118/ - http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Sacred-Muslim-World-Stood/dp/0691129118/

and he mentioned the following reports several times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Human_Development_Report - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Human_Development_Report

Some of the statistics in them are quite dramatic. Here are a few examples:

There are five times as many books translated into Greek in recent years compared to books translated into Arabic, although there are 300 million native Arabic speakers compared to 11 million Greeks.

The population of the 22 Arab countries makes up about 4.5% of the world population, but all countries combined publish only 0.8% of all books worldwide.

Although South Korea only has a population of 49 million versus 79 million in Egypt, it publishes more than 30,000 books per year compared to 2,215 in Egypt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_published_per_country_per_year - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Books_published_per_country_per_year

Most bestsellers published in Arabic sell between five and twenty thousand copies, while for languages like German, Japanese, Italian, Dutch and Danish it's usually between 100,000 and several million.

It's interesting that Iran ranks number 7 in numbers of books published per year, far more than any other majority Muslim country. How can this be explained?

In your opinion are books the key to a better future in countries like Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and Saudi Arabia? What could be done to get people to read and write more books?

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A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt

Replies:

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 9:27pm

Matt, Bernard Lewis describes this as a "failure of modernity" in his book "The Crisis of Islam". The solution might rest with increasing the literacy rates.

Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 28 November 2010 at 10:50am

Thanks for the tip. I will look into this. Dan Diner pointed out that written Arabic is basically a static language, like Sanskrit and Latin. Most new words of the various Arabic dialects do not get represented in written Arabic, because it's considered sacred.

But changing languages are the drivers of progress and vice versa. Maybe this is one of the root causes for the stagnation.

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A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 28 November 2010 at 8:54pm

I'm not sure that the stagnation of language can be a root cause in this case. The Quran itself and Arabic in general borrows words and word roots from other cultures just as other languages do, just not in such large numbers.

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 02 December 2010 at 2:24pm

Assalamu alaikum brother Matt Browne.

I doubt if there are very few books written in Arabic. In the first instance you did not state the subject matter. Referring to Islam and especially the Sunna of Muhammad, there are many books. Writing in Islam is laborious for it involves research. It is not allowed for one to speculate or guess. A lot of Islamic books have been authored by Syrians. The problem of the Muslims is their lack of interest in reading. Therefore circulation is low. This has an indirect effect in production and further research.
The Muslim Umma is not well organized. Islam must be approached and understood in the manner we learn for example medicine. There re many branches that need specialization. There are very few specialists. Another discouraging thing is the tendency of Muslims to call one a disbeliever on an issue that is not important.

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 03 December 2010 at 6:31pm

Whether you doubt it or not, it is a factual statement.

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 03 December 2010 at 10:44pm

Assalamu alaika Schmikbob.

The biggest problem with regard to you is that you are an Agnostic. With greatest respect, love and sincere wishes to you, if actually you are as defined by English dictionaries i.e. that you are doubting the existence of God your creator in stages of developments, you should not be talking. Your actions are manifest proofs against you that Allah/God exists.
Now, the fundamental issue in Islam i.e. in the teachings of Muhammad Rasulullah is that you should not talk or say something until it is essential and that you must say it in a manner than the one you are addressing could understand. One of the argument of Allah against you and mankind in general is that there is not a single atom or the minutest indivisible particle in the world that does not prove the EXISTENCE OF ALLAH!If that is the case, talking of Islam must therefore be restricted. As intelligebly argued by the sincere Christians were was man before he was created? What did he contribute in the acitivities of Allah from Monday to early Friday morning?

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 04 December 2010 at 8:09am

rememberallah, are you really going to resort to "the biggest problem with you". A bald faced ad hominem attack verses addressing the point of debate is the way of the politicians.

You should also consult something besides a dictionary if you wish to understand agnosticism. There are volumes of information available on this subject. Let me briefly expand your somewhat limited "knowledge". Agnosticism is more about "knowledge" of the existence of a god. It does not deny the possibility of the existence of a god. It merely states that it is impossible to prove it.

You said in your previous post "there is not a single atom or the minutest indivisible particle in the world that does not prove the EXISTENCE OF ALLAH". I have some news for you and it may come as a shock. Your statement does not follow the rules of logic and, since proof follows the rules of logic, your statement doesn't constitute proof of anything. Your statement is a statement of belief which is a statement of your religious convictions only. To date in recorded history nobody has successfully proved the existence of god and you certainly aren't going to do it in one line on a post in a religion discussion forum. On the day someone does successfully prove the existence of god, I will no longer be an agnostic.

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 04 December 2010 at 11:27am

Assalamu alaika Schmikbob.

It was not rememberallah, but friendship.
Your statement: Agnosticism is more about "knowledge" of the existence of a god. It does not deny the possibility of the existence of a god. It merely states that it is impossible to prove it.

Response.Therefore such books or knowledge did not come from God i.e. Revealed by Him through the intercession of angel Gabriel on that very Friday Adam was created to that very moment Allah revealed His last Message to Muhammad Rasulullah. If such knowledge came between Monday to Thursday, I have no knowledge of that and therefore cannot prove it. You know it and I will never dispute with you. It is impossible to make you believe in what you do not know. But the Book of genesis talked about the rainbow which is a covenant between Allah and mankind. Is rainbow then not a proof of the existence of Allah. Did you not find proof of Allah in Exodus for example Ex:19?

Your statement: I have some news for you and it may come as a shock. Your statement does not follow the rules of logic and, since proof follows the rules of logic, your statement doesn't constitute proof of anything.

Response: I thought you will give me the greatest shocking news of the discovery of a bacteria that survives in arsenic environment!
If you are thinking of the desire of the Children of Israel's request to Moses to see Allah face to face, then it is impossible. You will see Allah face to face on the Day of Judgement. At that moment you will remember Friendship and regret not listening to me.

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 04 December 2010 at 11:50am

My mistake rememberallah, I meant to address my last post to Friendship.

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 05 December 2010 at 7:52am

Friendship, you are using circular reasoning in your argument. That means you are using some unproven statement as one of the assumptions of your argument. Come back when you understand what that means and then we will have a logical discussion .

Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 05 December 2010 at 8:57am

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 05 December 2010 at 11:21am

Assalamu alaika Matt Browne.

Friendship, tolerance is appreciation of diversity, the ability to live and let others live, the ability to adhere to one's convictions while accepting that others adhere to theirs. Some people believe in God and others don't. Your way works best for you, different ways work best for others.

Reply: This was and is the teaching of Muhammad. Diveristy is a reflection of the bounties of Allah and should be used for the benefit of mankind and not as a stool of oppression.

The belief in God is a belief. Don't confuse it with a fact.
My Question: Belief is part and parcel of fact like a reflected image and its object i.e. real is positive. A refracted image is false and not positive. This is science. Allah is Real although you do not see him. you perceive light but you do not know it.
But please accept that others might feel about it differently.
Reflect please: What do you know about the Large Hadron Collider if not the tunnel? But scientists believe in the collision of electrons and protons and atomic bombardment. Please limit yourself to what you can understand and do not jump.
Trying to scare people that they will go to hell doesn't work in the 21st century when you meet educated people. It's also unfair and usually very counterproductive.
Reflect: The first scaring was done in 1250BC when Allah turned the river nile into blood, frogs filled nile and from there they went into houses, beds etc, gnats invaded egypt, lice, dead animals, sores, locusts and hailstones.

My question wasn't just about religious texts written in Arabic. What about science and novels?
Reply: This is an unintelligent question to ask. Yes, you could learn whatever you want to learn in German in your country. Probably, in Africa there is only one country speaking German. You should know about the effect of colonialisation and subjugation.

I find it very alarming that there are so few books written in Arabic.
Reply: I find it most alarming tht there re few books written in other languages explaining the holy Qur'an.

Question about Nigeria: when you visit a bookstore, what languages are offered? Where are these books printed?

Reply: consequence of colinialization and subjugation. We were never allowed to learn arabic.

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 05 December 2010 at 11:03pm

Assalamu alaika Schmikbob.

Please stop dodging. I am like David of the OT. I know no fear. It is your desire not to be an agnostic. You should therefore stop using circular reasoning in your argument.

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 06 December 2010 at 7:06am

Friendship, I understand that it is an excellent debating tool to throw someone argument back at them. However, what I have never seen before is someone do it in such a disjoint and utterly spacious manner. You need to get a handle on some basic debating tools before getting into a discussion on logic.

Also, there are very few "unintelligent'' questions to ask. Matt has asked a very pertinent and well thought out question to which I do not have the answer. Just because you apperently don't have the answer either is no reason to call the question unintelligent. Colonialization and subjugation might have made good excuses in centuries past but it doesn't apply today as an answer (and he's not talking about only Nigeria). Try again.

Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 07 December 2010 at 9:35am

Science relies on

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

The Quran relies on spiritual truth. These are different layers of understanding.

The LHC in Geneva relies on scientific method.

But there's one question science cannot answer: What is the ultimate origin of the natural laws? I think God is.

Some scientists claim that GUT or ToE or the multiverse explain the natural laws. But there's no way around infinite regress. What is the ultimate origin of a super law explaining natural laws? I think God is.

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A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt

Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 07 December 2010 at 9:40am

Amazon alone has over 4000 English books about the Quran. And almost 40,000 books about Islam.

Amazon in Germany has almost 6000 German books about the Quran and 16,000 books about Islam.

The numbers are similar for French, Spanish, Italian and other Western countries.

It not true that few books are published about the Quran and Islam in languages other than Arabic.

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A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 07 December 2010 at 10:04am

Assalamu alaika Matt Browne.

Assalamu alaika Matt Browne.

If we could stop at what you said and differentiate between understanding the Universe as created by Allah and understanding our limitations in understanding what Allah created in its most beautiful and perfect form as explained and emphasized in the Book of Genesis Chapter 1 and in multiple verses of the Qur'an, we should congratulate the owners of this website. What is pertinent to us is to understand the harmony of the physical world under the control of Allah. Likewise we are suppose to reflect on this perfect harmony and that He cannot create us killing and oppressing one another. If we obey His Laws we shall also live in harmony.
As regard the ultimate origin of natural laws we used to wonder with our Professor of Gynaecology the orign of uterine contractions and that immediately after delivery they cease. Yet despite all these evidences Schmikbob is yet to denounce his agnosticism.

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 07 December 2010 at 10:12am

Assalamu alaika Matt browne.

Well, we shall wait for Schmikbob's reply. Probably he has never traveled outside his county. Islam has the largest available literature. On the exegesis of the holy Qur'an alone there are over 13 different fields of specialization. I have come across only one good commentary of the holy Bible.

Posted By: schmikbob
Date Posted: 07 December 2010 at 5:40pm

rememberallah,I don't get it, what reply are you waiting for? As for agnosticism, you have yet to write anything compelling that would influence me in the slightest.

Posted By: Matt Browne
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 10:25am

Friendship, I think there is a spiritual understanding of the Universe and a scientific one. The latter talks about how. The first about why. Both the Quran and the Bible contain parables, myths and legends, such as Adam and Eve or the Night Journey. We should try to understand the deeper spiritual meanings.

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A religion that's intolerant of other religions can't be the world's best religion --Abdel Samad
Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people--Eleanor Roosevelt

Posted By: Friendship
Date Posted: 09 December 2010 at 11:58am

Assalamu alaika Matt Browne.

Indeed understanding the deeper spiritual meaning of our covenant with our creator is very important. Look at the story of Prophet Moses- a child thrown into the sea but saved by Allah, incident of the crossing of the Red sea, the drowning of Phroah, the provision of protein (quails), carbohydrate (manna) and clouds by Allah, the smoke and the shaking of mount sinai. Instead of understanding our common background and that we are brothers we prefer to kill, maim each other and make the living impoverished. Science and Allah cannot be separated. It was the Christian Roman Empire that brought all this problem in defining wrongly what Jesus came with.