Arabic is a Semitic language; other closely related Semitic languages include Amharic (Ethiopia) and Hebrew. More distantly related are languages like Berber (North Africa) as well as historic languages including Phoenician and ancient Egyptian.
There are a number of ethnic minorities that speak less common languages, including a significant Armenian-speaking population. French is the most commonly taught second language in the country and many young people speak at least a minimal amount of French if they are not completely fluent. English is also commonly taught as a second language and the number of people who can speak English is slowly growing, often times at the expense of learning French.
Religion
About 60% of Lebanon's population is Muslim, primarily Shia Muslim. However, nearly all of the other 40% is Christian; these Christians adhere to numerous branches of Christianity including Maronite Catholics and Greek Orthodox among many others. Although the people are ethnically similar, Muslim adherents tend to identify as Arabs and Christian adherents tend to identify as Canaanites or Phoenicians.
Islam (the name of the religion, whose followers are called Muslims) is a monotheistic religion, whose holy book is called the Qur'an. The Qur'an is believed to be the word of God spoken through the prophet Muhammad from 609-632 CE (Common Era is preferred over AD (Anno Domini or "year of the Lord") since the Islamic world doesn't believe Jesus was the messiah). Islam believes Muhammad was the last prophet sent to earth by God, the last in a long line of prophets, which includes Moses, Abraham, and Jesus among others.