Arabic For Special Purpose in Nigeria: A Case of Heath-Workers’ Perceptions on the Usefulness for Communication and Healing

Abstract

This study looked into the usefulness of Arabic in hospital settings, focusing on three areas: addressing locations within the hospital, communication through Arabic loan-words and Arabic recitations and supplications from the Qur’an and Hadith in healing. A descriptive survey was conducted at Muslim Hospital in Kishi, Oyo State, Nigeria with 124 staff members including doctors, nurses and other health workers. Data was collected through a 15-item questionnaire validated by experts with a reliability coefficient of .78 obtained through Cronbach’s alpha statistics.The findings showed that health workers see Arabic as useful for addressing locations within the hospital as Arabic inscriptions help in navigation and beautify the hospital. Similarly, Arabic loan-words facilitate communication with commonly used phrases like “Assalaamualaykum” and “Jazakumul-Lahu khairan”. Arabic recitations and supplications from the Qur’an and Hadith are also recognized for their role in healing and well-being. T-test analysis showed no significant gender difference in the perceived usefulness of Arabic for navigation, communication and healing. This is contrary to previous studies that suggested gender-based language preference in healthcare settings. Based on these findings, the study recommends that Arabic inscriptions and Qur’anic verses be formally integrated into hospital signage to improve accessibility and create a spiritually supportive environment. Training programs should also be introduced to equip health workers with basic Arabic skills for better communication and patient interaction. Future research should extend beyond Kishi to explore the implication of Arabic in healthcare services across different regions.