Arabic language (العربية, al'arabīya) originates from the Arabian Peninsula. Territorial expansion in the Middle Ages and dissemination of the Koran spread the Arabic language, which became the liturgical language of Islam, in Asia (Middle East and Near East), North Africa and Europe (Cyprus, Crete, Peninsular Iberian, Malta and Sicily). Spoken first by the Arabs, this Semitic language spreads geographically over several continents and extends sociologically to non-Arab peoples, and is now the official language of several international organizations.