The majority of people in Afghanistan are Muslim. This however, was not always the case. It took hundreds of years for the majority of Afghans (who, it should be pointed out are a mixture of many people groups, many of whom have unique ethno-linguistic identities that are not Persian) to come to believe in Islam. Islam is inherently an Arab religion in the sense that the Muslim holy book, the Quran, is written in Arabic. The Bible or the Torah, which, though originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, when translated (well) maintains its validity as Christian or Hebrew scriptures. Muslims however, believe that unless the Quran is in Arabic it is not actually the word of god. Thus when Islam enters into a society there is an Islamization and to some extent an Arabization of the culture. Here are a few words that are examples of how people in Afghanistan who speak Dari use Arab words in their lives.
Arab/Persian:
initiating Hello- Salam (Arabic for "Peace (to you)")
responsive Hello- Wa alekum salam (Arabic for "Peace be with you as well")
title for a sultan meaning Refuge of the Universe- alempenah
one who carries favors- avatifber
incomparable or unequalled- bi-misil
immediately- derhal
prosperous or flourishing- feyziyab
god- allah
prayer- salat
alms- zakhat
pilgrimage to Mecca- hajj
head scarf- hijab
There are more overlaps. Many of the overlaps come from religiously affiliated words and were carried over into Afghanistan throughout the centuries as conversion to Islam necessitated new vocabulary.
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