Arabic in Africa: A sun that never sets

Abstract

Sons of Asia and Africa who have loved the Arabic language and devoted their lives to it—I share in their scholarly concerns and savor with them the sweetness of this language and the marvel of its eloquent inimitability.

Before standing before you in this honorable gathering, I reviewed my record and found that I have supervised more than sixty university theses, forty of which were completed by creative African students. Remarkably, I presented some of their topics to certain Arab researchers, who found them difficult and turned away without comment; whereas the African student embraced them with enthusiasm and good spirit, and carried them through in the best possible manner.

Many of these students have gone on to teach at universities in their home countries or have spread out carrying the mission of calling to God—in Sudan, Uganda, Senegal, Mauritania, Ghana, Gambia, Benin, and many other countries. All praise is due to God—abundant and gracious praise—for that.