Musāhamat Ta‘llum al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah fī Tanmiyat al-Dhakā’ al-‘Aqlī

Abstract

Amid the common assumption that intellectual intelligence is primarily determined by inherent biological factors, the learning of the Arabic language presents intriguing and unexpected findings, it has been proven to play a significant role in developing problem-solving abilities, practical intelligence, and verbal integration. Arabic, which is often perceived merely as a tool for religious communication, in fact possesses a far more complex cognitive contribution, reflected its meaning-rich linguistic structure, systematic grammatical logic, and usage practices that demand precision in thinking and sharpness in analysis. This study aims to explore in greater detail the role of the Arabic language in enhancing intellectual intelligence by formulating research questions that address how the process of learning Arabic strengthens different aspects of intellectual intelligence, as well identifying which learning activities effectively promote such development. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach through literature analysis and interviews, the data were analyzed interpretively to reveal the relationship between learning activities and students’ cognitive development. The findings indicate that problem-solving skills improve through activities such as developing learning media, participating in Book Reading Competition (Qirāʾatul Kutub), undergoing TOAFL training, which requires accuracy and analytical speed. Meanwhile, practical intelligence develops through daily conversation practice (Muhādathah Yaumiyyah), reading exercises (Qirāʾah), and mastery of word transformations (Taṣrīf), all of which train cognitive flexibility. On the other hand, verbal integration is strengthened through Arabic Debate (Munāẓarah), Arabic Speech (Khiṭābah), and News Reading (Qirāʾatul Akhbār), activities that demand courage, precision in diction, and the ability to construct coherent arguments. The uniqueness of this study lies its approach, which does not limit itself to examining the role of Arabic from a purely linguistic perspective, but instead directly connects it to the three main components of intellectual intelligence through a combination of theoretical analysis and field findings, thereby producing a more comprehensive, applicable, and holistic understanding.