Did the Arabs speak Standard Arabic in the prophet Muhammad's time?

 During the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the 6th and 7th centuries CE, the linguistic situation in the Arabian Peninsula was characterized by various Arabic dialects rather than a standardized form of Arabic. The Arabian Peninsula was home to different tribes and communities, each with its own distinct dialect.

The linguistic diversity in pre-Islamic Arabia was significant, and the dialects varied among tribes and regions. The people of Mecca, where Prophet Muhammad was born, spoke a dialect known as the Qurayshi dialect, which was one of the many Arabian dialects.

The Quran, revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of approximately 23 years, was revealed in the Arabic language. The linguistic style of the Quran was eloquent and unique, and it had a profound impact on the Arabic language. The Quran's language became a standard for classical Arabic, influencing the development of the language and contributing to its preservation.

While the Quran played a crucial role in unifying and standardizing the Arabic language, particularly in matters of religious and literary expression, the spoken Arabic dialects continued to exist and evolve. It was only later, during the Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE), that efforts were made to standardize the Arabic language for administrative and legal purposes. This standardized form, often referred to as Classical Arabic or Fus'ha (Modern Standard Arabic), became the standard for written Arabic and is used in the Quran, classical literature, and formal communication.

In summary, during Prophet Muhammad's time, there was no standardized form of Arabic as we know it today. The Quran played a crucial role in shaping and influencing the Arabic language, but it was the subsequent efforts during the Umayyad period that led to the development of a standardized form of Arabic for administrative and literary purposes.