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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A History of Muslim Philosophy Volume 2, Book 7 Chapter 71: The Silver Lining, Development Of The Urdu Language, Grammar, And Literature A Rekiiah, Hindi, Hindwi, Zuban-i Dilhi, Gujri, Zuban-i Urdi-i Mu'alla­ all these names[^1] were given to Urdu at the various stages of its progress by the Muslim rulers of and other settlers in India.

It was also called "the language of the Moors."[^2] The name Hindustanis[^3] popularized by the Euro­peans was also used by some writers in the early period. Here, it would be interesting to trace the origin of the word "Urdu" and briefly give its history.

Urdu is a word of Turkish origin, found in the earlier literature in various forms, such as Ourda , Ourdah, Ourdou , and Urdu, and means "camp," "alighting place," "army post," "an army," or a "part thereof." It also means tent, camp bazaar, fort, or a royal place (cf. Nur al­Absar, MS. in the library of Dr. Mubammad Shafi', Lahore). After under­going several changes the word filtered into Persian books after the Mongol invasion of Iran.

After the invasion of Eastern Europe by Batu Khan it also entered into the languages of Europe. It was, perhaps, Babur who introduced the word "Urdu" into India, and during the reign of Akbar it was used as a term for the royal camp or the royal mint. During the subsequent periods, we find the usage of Urdi-i Mu'alla for the residential quarters belonging to Government officers (civil area) and Urdu Bazar (the market attached to this area).

It is generally admitted that the word "Urdu" as the name of a particular language is associated with one of these two later expressions. That is to say, Urdu meant the language of the royal camp. But it would be wrong to assume on the basis of this fact that the Urdu language took its origin during the period of Shah Jahan. The term "Urdu" in this special sense appears to have been in vogue since the time of Aurangzeb.

Actually it came into being soon after the invasion of India by Muslims from the North. Shah Murad of Lahore was perhaps the first writer who used the word "Urdu" for the language itself in one of his letters written in 1196/1782. The other early writers who used this word for the language were Mushafi (1211/1796) and Gilchrist (1194/1780). In a way, Urdu is not exclusively the creation of the Muslims.

Its birth is the direct result of their contact with the Hindus, who jointly with the former have developed it down to recent times.