Roots Run Deep: Celebrating a Rich Linguistic Heritage by Sofia Herrera

HISPANIC—from the root word Hispania, it refers to the regions of Iberia, and ultimately the language there, too. Is the Spanish language the main unifier for those with Hispanic heritage? Much of the food, music, and culture of Latin America originate from three different continents and centuries of cultural diffusion under colonization—and Spanish remains the common language. For one month in the United States, we celebrate “Hispanic” heritage, a label that is inherently linked to Imperial Spain, which colonized the majority of Latin America up until the countries’ respective independence days in the early 19th century. In discussions of hispanidad, I want to emphasize an overlooked part of Hispanic heritage in this shared language. Instead of focusing on a violent aspect of history and the losses that come with it, let us instead celebrate a time and place where culture and language were exchanged without repression, and the legacy it holds for Hispanics, Muslims, and individuals of both identities today. 

Less than a century after the establishment of Islam, Muslims had crossed the vast expanse of North Africa to reach the Iberian Peninsula, a region in modern day Spain and Portugal. In 755, Abd Al-Rahman established the Umayyad caliphate there, and by the 10th century, Córdoba in southern Spain became a city of culture and a center of learning and education. It had running water, extensive libraries, prestigious universities, well-paved and well-lit streets, numerous shops, hundreds of baths, a strong army, and astounding wealth—just a few of the wonders that resulted from the Muslim presence in Iberia. Latinos retain this heritage in their culture, architecture, and—most notably—in the language.  

Arabic brought to Spanish a profound and extensive linguistic legacy. Part of this descends from the Arab cultural cultivation of poetry, which in turn highlights the linguistic miracles of the Quran. But even non-Muslim luminaries, laymen, and political figures across the region recognized its esteem and power. Arabic was the foundation of Al-Andalus, the name for this region of Iberia, and its intricacies and eloquence remained in the Spanish language today. Words such as aceite (az-zeit), fulano (fulān), algodón (al-quṭn), camisa (qamīṣ), hasta (ḥatta), and thousands of others originate in Arabic equivalents. Today, first names like Omar or Guadalupe and last names like Medina or Alcala are familiar in Latin communities. Language itself is essential as a means of communication, and Spanish has preserved its rich Arabic heritage.  

This unification of culture and history is often cited as the reason that the number of Latino Muslims has exponentially increased in recent decades. For many of us, becoming Muslim is like a return to roots and honoring a brilliant part of our heritage. Before centuries of violence, cultural repression, and exploitation under colonization, there abounded religious tolerance, scientific innovation, enlightened education, and cultural exchange under the Islamic caliphates. Colonization cast a long shadow and drew deep scars in the societies of Latin America, affecting everything from colorism to classism to genocide—but there was a time when the Spanish language was not used for oppression, but rather, for uplifting diverse voices and encouraging educational pursuits: a beautiful tradition inherited from a linguistically-fortified Arab culture. 

However, this mutual history is not the sole cause for the rising number of Latino Muslims in the US. When I ask my revert friends, Latino or not, about why they converted to Islam, they cite multiple reasons: the discipline, the miracles of the Quran, the peacefulness of practicing. A common adage is that “it just makes sense”. Many of the practices associated with Islam, such as fasting, charity, dhikr1, and daily prayers at determined times have been proven to have positive effects on lifestyle, aiding in people’s quality of life, physical health, and overall satisfaction with everything they have. Latinos may have the added appeal of a Muslim heritage, but Islam truly is a religion for life.  

This Hispanic Heritage Month I want to celebrate something more than just independence from colonial powers. Being Latino is not choosing one part of heritage over the other or denying one part of history in favor of another; I believe it to be more about celebrating our own individual cultures and then learning more about what unites us. We can explore the linguistic legacy that Arabic bestowed upon the Spanish language, and we can also use language as a way to connect and reach others’ minds and hearts. I want to celebrate the diversity of the ummah and encourage fellow Muslims to not only study more the beautiful language of the Holy Quran, but also to recognize the brotherhood that Islam advocates for all of us. Just like words, everyone has roots that run deep, bringing honor and dignity to our individual identities. 

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Sofia Herrera is a graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a major in International Studies and minors in Arabic and Latin American & Caribbean Studies. A passionate linguist and global citizen, she speaks five languages and is studying more.