Learning Arabic: Part 1

By Abu Bakr Salmaan ibn Nasir

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ا ا
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T h e re lig io n h a s b e e n d is to r te d a n d c h a n g e d b e y o n d r e c o g n it io n b y th e P e o p le o
f D e s ir e s
a n d In n o v a tio n s u n til th e c o m m o n M u s lim h a s c o m e to r e g a r d in n o v a tio n s a s s u n n a h s a n d
th e S u n n a h a s s o m e th in g s tr a n g e . G e n e r a tio n s o f M u s lim s h a v e liv e d in th e d a rk n e s s o f
ig n o r a n c e o f t h e Q u r ’a a n a n d o f t h e r e li g i o n o f A lla a h . T h is c a n c e r h a s e a te n a w a
y a t th e
fle s h o f th e M u s lim U m m a h le a v in g it e x tr e m e ly w e a k a n d h u m ilia te d . A n d h o w c o u ld it b e
o th e rw i s e w h e n t h e P r o p h e t (
 ‫ ) ا  و‬t o l d u s :

A l l a a h r a i s e s u p p e o p l e s b y t h i s B o o k , a n d p u t s d o w n b y i t o t h e r s . (R e p o r t e d b y
M u s l i m (n o . 8 1 7 ) , i b n M a a j a h (n o . 2 1 8 ) , A h m a d (1 / 3 5 ) , a n d a d -D a a r i m i (n o . 3 3 6 5 ) .

S o w h e n t h e U m m a h n e g le c t e d A lla a h ’s b o o k , A lla a h lo w e r e d a n d h u m i li a t e d u s a s H e
(    ‫ )     و‬i n f o r m e d u s :

T h a t is b e c a u s e A lla a h w ill n e v e r c h a n g e th e b le s s in g w h ic h H e h a s b e s to w e d
o n a p e o p l e u n t i l t h e y c h a n g e w h a t i s i n t h e i r o w n s e l v e s . [ A l -A n f a a l (8 ) : 5 3 ]

V e r ily n e v e r w ill A lla a h c h a n g e th e c o n d itio n o f a p e o p le u n til th e y c h a n g e

w h a t is in t h e i r o w n s e l v e s . B u t w h e n A l la a h w i l l s a p e o p l e 's p u n i s h m e n t , t h e r e
c a n b e n o tu r n in g it b a c k , n o r w ill th e y fin d , b e s id e s H im , a n y p r o te c to r . [A r-
R a ’d (1 3 ) :1 1 ]

S o i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t h a t w e r e t u r n t o t h i s Q u r ’a a n a n d b e o f t h o s e w h o m e m o r i z e i t a n d
s t u d y i t . A n d , s a d l y , i t i s a c o m m o n p r a c t i c e a m o n g s t n o t o n l y t h e n o n -A r a b s b u t t h e A r a b s
a s w e ll t o m e r e ly r e c i t e i t w i t h o u t c o n t e m p la t i o n o f i t s v e r s e s ! B u t t h e Q u r ’a a n i s :

A B o o k w h ic h W e h a v e r e v e a le d to y o u , fu ll o f b le s s in g s , th a t th e y m a y p o n d e r
its v e r s e s , a n d th a t m e n o f u n d e r s ta n d in g m a y r e c e iv e a d m o n itio n .
[ S a a d (3 8 ) : 2 9 ]

D o t h e y n o t t h e n p o n d e r u p o n t h e Q u r ’a a n , o r a r e t h e r e l o c k s o n t h e i r h e a r t s ?
[ M u h a m m a d (4 7 ) : 2 4 ]

D o t h e y n o t p o n d e r u p o n t h e Q u r ’a a n ? H a d i t b e e n f r o m o t h e r t h a n A l l a a h ,
t h e y w o u l d s u r e l y h a v e f o u n d i n i t m u c h c o n t r a d i c t i o n . [ A n -N i s a a ’ (4 ) : 8 2 ]

I t is a b o o k w h ic h :N o fa ls e h o o d c a n a p p r o a c h it fr o m b e fo r e o r b e h in d it; it is
r e v e l a t i o n f r o m O n e F u l l o f W i s d o m , W o r t h y o f a l l P r a i s e . [ F u s s i l a t (4 1 ) : 4 2 ]

I n i t i s g u i d a n c e f o r a l l t h e a f f a i r s o f m a n k i n d a s A l l a a h (         ‫ )و‬t e l l s u s :

A n d W e h a v e n o t r e v e a le d th e B o o k to y o u e x c e p t th a t y o u m a y c la r ify to th e m
th o s e th in g s in w h ic h th e y d iffe r , a n d a s a g u id a n c e a n d a m e r c y fo r a p e o p le

1
w h o b e l i e v e . [ A n -N a h l (1 6 ) : 6 4 ]

A n d h a v e y o u n o t h e a r d , m y d e a r M u s lim b r o th e r , m a y A lla a h g u id e y o u to th a t w h ic h
p le a s e s H im , th e w o r d s o f y o u r L o r d a d m o n is h in g y o u n o t to b e lik e th e P e o p le o f th e B o o k
b e fo r e y o u w h o n e g le c te d th e s c r ip tu r e :

H a s is n o t c o m e tim e fo r th e B e lie v e r s th a t th e ir h e a r ts s h o u ld in a ll h u m ility

e n g a g e in th e r e m e m b r a n c e o f A lla a h a n d o f th e T r u th w h ic h h a s b e e n
r e v e a le d ( to th e m ) , a n d th a t th e y s h o u ld n o t b e c o m e lik e th o s e to w h o m w a s
g iv e n th e B o o k a fo r e tim e , b u t lo n g a g e s p a s s e d o v e r th e m a n d th e ir h e a r ts
g r e w h a r d ? F o r m a n y a m o n g th e m a r e r e b e llio u s tr a n s g r e s s o r s . K n o w th a t
A lla a h g i v e s life to th e e a r th a fte r its d e a th . A lr e a d y h a v e W e s h o w n th e S ig n s
p la in ly to y o u , th a t y o u m a y l e a r n w i s d o m . [ A l -H a d e e d (5 7 ) : 1 6 -1 7 ]

S o ju s t a s A lla a h b r in g s life to th e e a r th a fte r its d e a th , lik e w is e , A lla a h is th e o n e w h o g iv e s

life to th e h e a r ts a n d h e a ls th e m a fte r th e ir d e a th . A n d th a t h e a lin g is in th is G lo r io u s
Q u r ’a a n :

O h m a n k in d , th e r e h a s c o m e to y o u a n a d m o n itio n fr o m y o u r L o r d a n d a
h e a lin g fo r w h a t is in th e c h e s ts , a n d a g u id a n c e a n d m e r c y fo r th e b e lie v e r s .
[ Y o o n u s (1 0 ) : 5 7 ]

A n d ta k e s te r n w a r n in g fr o m t h e s a y i n g o f t h e P r o p h e t (‫ )
 ا  و‬:

“ M o s t o f th e h y p o c r ite s o f m y U m m a h a r e its r e c ite r s .”

[ S a h e e h a l -J a a m i ’ n o . 1 2 0 3 ]

T h e y r e c i t e t h e Q u r ’a a n , n o t s e e k i n g t o u n d e r s t a n d i t s o t h a t t h e y m a y g a i n A lla a h ’s
p le a s u r e b u t fo r s o m e w o r ld ly g a in :

“ W h o e v e r r e c i t e s t h e Q u r ’a a n , t h e n l e t h i m a s k A l l a a h b y i t , f o r v e r i l y t h e r e
s h a l l c o m e a p e o p l e w h o s h a l l r e c i t e t h e Q u r ’a a n , a n d a s k t h e p e o p l e b y i t .”
[ S a h e e h a l -J a a m i ’ n o . 6 4 6 7 ]

S o i t i s c r i t i c a l t h e n t h a t w e r e c i t e t h is Q u r ’a a n s e e k i n g b y i t A lla a h ’s p le a s u r e . A n d i t i s
i m p e r a t i v e t h a t w e u n d e r s t a n d a n d a c t b y t h i s Q u r ’ a a n a s t h e P r o p h e t (
 ‫ ) ا  و‬s a i d ,

“ O n t h e D a y o f J u d g m e n t , t h e Q u r ’a a n a n d i t s p e o p l e w h o u s e d t o a c t b y i t i n
t h e w o r l d s h a l l b e b r o u g h t , b e i n g l e a d b y S o o r a h a l -B a q a r a h a n d A a l ‘ I m r a a n ,
w h ic h s h a ll b e a r g u in g o n b e h a lf o f t h e ir c o m p a n io n s .” [ R e p o r te d b y M u s lim ]

T h e ir c o m p a n io n s -t h a t is , t h o s e w h o u s e d t o re c it e th e m a n d s tu d y th e ir m e a n in g s a n d a c t
u p o n th e m . H o w e v e r, fo r th e o n e w h o h a s b e e n d e
p r iv e d o f th e a b ility to u n d e rs ta n d th e
Q u r ’a a n , i n a ll i t s s u b t le t i e s a n d t h e d e p t h s o f its k n o w le d g e , I fe a r th a t h e s h a ll b e
d e p r iv e d o f th is g r e a t h o n o r a n d b le s s in g . A n d th e k e y th a t w ill o p e n t h e d o o r to
u n d e r s t a n d in g t h e Q u r ’a a n i s t h e A r a b i c la n g u a g e f o r A l l a a h (    ‫   و‬  ) h a s r e v e a le d it a s
a n A r a b i c Q u r ’a a n :

2
W e h a v e s e n t i t d o w n a s a n A r a b i c Q u r ’a a n , i n o r d e r t h a t y e m a y le a r n w is d o m .
[ Y o o s u f (1 2 ) : 2 ]

T h u s h a v e W e s e n t i t d o w n a s a n A r a b i c Q u r ’a a n a n d e x p l a i n e d t h e r e i n i n
d e ta il s o m e o f th e w a r n in g s , in o r d e r th a t th e y m a y fe a r A lla a h , o r th a t it m a y
c a u s e t h e m t o h a v e a l e s s o n f r o m i t . [ T a a H a a (2 0 ) : 1 1 3 ]

A n A r a b i c Q u r ’a a n , w i t h o u t a n y c r o o k e d n e s s , s o t h a t t h e y m a y h a v e T a q w a .
[ A z -Z u m a r (3 9 ) : 2 8 ]

A B o o k , w h e r e o f t h e v e r s e s a r e e x p l a i n e d i n d e t a i l a s a n A r a b i c Q u r ’a a n , f o r
p e o p l e w h o k n o w . [ F u s s i l a t (4 1 ) : 3 ]

S o it is im p e r a tiv e , m y d e a r b r o th e r o r s is te r , th a t y o u s tr iv e in le a r n in g th is b le s s e d
la n g u a g e .

A n d in s h a a A lla a h , th e n e x t in s ta llm e n t o f th is a r tic le s h a ll c o n ta in s o m e a d v ic e s o n h o w

o n e s h o u ld g o a b o u t le a r n in g th e A r a b ic la n g u a g e .

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Learning Arabic: Part 2

B y A b u B a k r S a lm a a n ib n N a s ir

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ا ا
ن ا‬

A ll P r a is e is d u e to A lla h , w e p ra is e H im , a n d w e s e e k H is H e lp . W h o m s o e v e r A lla h g u id e s ,
th e r e is n o n e to m is g u id e h im , a n d w h o m s o e v e r A lla h m is g u id e s , th e n n o n e c a n g u id e h im
a r ig h t. I b e a r w itn e s s th a t t h e re is n o d e it y w o rth y o f w o r s h ip , e x c e p t fo r A lla h , A lo n e a n d
w ith o u t p a r tn e r, a n d I b e a r w itn e s s th a t M u h a m m a d is H is S la v e a n d H is M e s s e n g e r.

T h e b e s t o f s p e e c h is th e B o o k o f A lla h . A n d th e b e s t o f g u id a n c e is th e g u id a n c e o f
M u h a m m a d . A n d t h e w o r s t o f a f f a i r s (i n t h e r e l i g i o n ) a r e t h e n e w l y c r e a t e d m a t t e r s . A n d
e v e ry n e w ly c r e a t e d m a t t e r i s a b i d ' a h (i n n o v a t i o n ) . A n d e v e r y b i d ' a h i s a f o r m o f
m is g u id a n c e . [1 ]

Mu c h h a s tr a n s p ir e d s in c e th e fir s t p a r t o f th is a r tic le w a s p o s te d u p o n o u r w e b s ite . F o r

o n e , w e h a v e o p e n e d u p a d a ' w a h c e n t e r -c u m -b o o k s to re . A m o n g s t o u r o b je c tiv e s , a s m a n y
o f y o u a lr e a d y k n o w , is to e d u c a te th e M u s lim s a b o u t th e ir b le s s e d r e lig io n a n d to c o n v e y
k n o w le d g e o f it to th e m in e v e r y m a n n e r p o s s ib le . K n o w le d g e o f A ra b ic o p e n s th e d o o r s to
u n d e r s ta n d in g th e r e lig io n o f I s la m a n d its b o o k s . W ith o u t it, o n e c a n n e v e r h o p e fo r m o re
th a n a b a s ic le v e l o f k n o w le d g e a n d u n d e r s ta n d in g .

U n fo r tu n a te ly , h o w e v e r , m o s t g o a b o u t le a r n in g A r a b ic in th e w r o n g w a y a lto g e th e r , o r
th e y d o n o t g iv e it th e im p o r ta n c e it is d u e . F o r th is r e a s o n , I h a v e la id o u t th e fo llo w in g
g u id e fo r le a r n in g A r a b ic :

3
S e e k A l l a h 's H e l p

F i r s t , i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o s e e k A lla h 's h e lp in t h is m a t t e r b y m a k i n g d u 'a t o H i m .

A l l a h ' s M e s s e n g e r (
‫ ) ا  و‬s a i d : “ I n d e e d , w h o e v e r d o e s n o t a s k A l l a h (  

  ) ,
H e b e c o m e s a n g r y w ith h im .” [2 ]

A n d i b n ‘A b b a s re p o rt s th a t th e P r o p h e t (
‫ ) ا  و‬i n s t ru c te d h im , s a y in g : “ W h e n

y o u a s k , th e n a s k A lla h , a n d w h e n y o u s e e k h e lp , th e n s e e k h e lp in A lla h . A n d
k n o w th a t if th e u m m a h w e r e to g a th e r to b e n e fit y o u w i th s o m e th in g , th e y
w o u ld n o t b e n e fit y o u e x c e p t w ith s o m e th in g A lla h h a s a lr e a d y w r itte n fo r
y o u .” [3 ]

A n d t h is i s t h e r e a s o n w h y t h e s e r v a n t o f A lla h r e c i t e s i n e v e r y r a k 'a h o f e v e r y p r a y e r , t h e
v e r s e f r o m S u r a h a l -F a t i h a h : “ Y o u A l o n e w e w o r s h i p , a n d f r o m Y o u a l o n e w e s e e k
h e lp .”

K n o w in g W h a t Y o u 'r e U p A g a i n s t

L e a r n in g a n y la n g u a g e e n c o m p a s s e s tw o m a in fa c e ts :

* U n d e r s ta n d in g th e g r a m m a r .
* G a in in g V o c a b u la r y .

T h e g r a m m a r is th e s c h e m e a c c o r d in g to w h ic h t h e la n g u a g w o rk s . A n y g o o d te x tb o o k w ill
p e r fo r m tw o ta s k s : te a c h in g y o u th e g r a m m a r a n d a d e c e n t a m o u n t o f v o c a b u la r y . T h e
m o s t im p o r ta n t c r ite r io n fo r ju d g in g a n y te x tb o o k is its a b ility to h e lp y o u u n d e rs ta n d th e
g r a m m a r o f th e la n g u a g e . O n c e y o u k n o w h o w th e la n g u a g e w o rk s a n d b e c o m e
c o m fo r ta b le w ith th e c o n s tr u c tio n s it u s e s , y o u w ill b e a b le to u n lo c k th e d o o r to
u n d e r s ta n d in g th e la n g u a g e .

W ith r e g a r d s to v o c a b u la r y , it is im p o r ta n
g iv e y o u a s u ffic ie n t a m o u n t o f v o c a b u la r y
m a tte r w h a t te x tb o o k y o u u s e , o d d s a re th
o r 2 ,0 0 0 w o r d s . W h e n y o u c o n s id e r t h a t t
p r o fic ie n tly h a s s p e n t a life tim e a m a s s in g
t o 2 0 ,0 0 0 w o r d s if n o t m o r e , y o u m u s t u n
A r a b ic fo r a fe w h o u r s e v e r y w e e k o r e v e r y
im m e r s io n .
t to n o te th a t n o a m o u n t o f te x tb o o k s c a n e v e r
to b e p r o fic ie n t in th e A r a b ic la n g u a g e . N o
a t y o u w ill p r o b a b ly n o t le a r n m o r e t h a n a 1 ,0 0 0
h e n a tiv e s p e a k e r w h o r e a d s A r a b ic b o o k s
a r u n n in g v o c a b u la r y o f a n y w h e r e fr o m 1 0 ,0 0 0
d e r s ta n d th a t m e r e ly s tu d y in g a te x tb o o k o n
m o n th is n o t a s u b s titu te fo r a life tim e o f

H e n c e , le a r n in g th e b a s ic g r a m m a r th a t y o u w ill n e e d to b e a p r o fic ie n t r e a d e r o f A r a b ic
b o o k s is e a s y , a n d m a n y I k n o w h a v e le a r n e d it in a s little a s th r e e , fo u r m o n th s . O n c e y o u
h a v e fin is h e d th e b a s ic te x tb o o k th a t y o u h a v e s tu d ie d , y o u w ill h a v e to c o n tin u e w ith
w o r k in g o n a m a s s in g v o c a b u la r y . T h e r e is n o s p e c ific b o o k o n e c a n r e a d fo r th is . T h e o n ly
w a y t o a t t a in t h is o b je c t iv e is t o s im p ly s t a r t r e a d in g s im p le b o o k s w ith a d ic tio n a r y a lw a y s
in h a n d a n d lo o k in g u p th e w o r d s y o u d o n o t k n o w , fin a lly w o r k in g u p to m o r e d iffic u lt
b o o k s . A t tim e s , th is w ill b e d iffic u lt, b u t a s lo n g a s y o u a r e d ilig e n t, y o u w ill fin d th e e ffo r t
p a y s o ff.

4
 I t is im p o r ta n t to r e m e m b e r th a t th e m o s t im p o r ta n t o b je c tiv e is to le a r n to u n d e r s ta n d th e
Q u r 'a n . S o , i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e Q u r 'a n , o n e n e e d s k n o w le d g e o f t h e v o c a b u la r y o f
t h e Q u r 'a n a lo n g w i t h a b a s ic k n o w le d g e o f g r a m m a r . I t i s v e r y h i g h ly r e c o m m e n d e d
t h e r e f o r e t h a t a t w h a t e v e r s t a g e y o u a r e a t , y o u m a k e i t a p o i n t t o s t u d y t h e Q u r 'a n . T a k e
S u r a h a l -B a q a r a h o r A a l ‘ I m r a n , w h i c h e v e r y o u p r e f e r , a n d s t u d y i t c l o s e l y . L i s t e n t o i t
d a ily , in th e c a r , a t h o m e . R e a d fr o m it d a ily , r e a d its tr a n s la tio n , if p o s s ib le , its ta fs ir a s
w e ll. D o n o t le t y o u r s e lf b e d is tr a c te d a n d m o v e o n to o th e r th in g s , n o t e v e n o th e r p a r ts o f
t h e Q u r 'a n . L is t e n t o t h e o n e s u r a h y o u h a v e c h o s e n c o n s t a n t ly a n d c o n t i n u o u s ly . A n d r e a d
th a t o n e s u r a h c o n s ta n tly . W ith in m o n th s , s im p ly b y d o in g th is , y o u w ill fin d th a t y o u h a v e
p ic k e d u p m o s t o f its v o c a b u la r y . I n fa c t, y o u w ill b e s u r p r is e d to le a r n th a t if y o u s tu d y a l-
B a q a r a h o r A a l ‘I m r a n i n t h is m a n n e r , y o u w i ll h a v e g a i n e d e n o u g h v o c a b u la r y t o
u n d e r s t a n d la r g e p o r t i o n s o f t h e Q u r 'a n . A g a i n , I m u s t e m p h a s i z e , u s e t h e lo n g s u r a h s
b e c a u s e th e y r e ly m o r e o n c o m m o n ly r e p e a te d w o r d s th a n th e s h o r te r s u r a h s d o , s o
s t u d y i n g t h e m w i l l b e e a s i e r a n d o f g r e a t e r b e n e f i t t h a n s a y s t u d y i n g J u z ' ‘ A m m a (t h e 3 0 t h
J u z ') .

K e e p in m in d , e a c h a r e a h a s its o w n s e le c t v o c a b u la r y , if y o u w a n t to u n d e r s ta n d th e
Q u r 'a n , th e r e is a c e r ta in s e t o f v o c a b u la r y t h a t w ill c o m e in to p la y in d o in g th a t. If y o u
w a n t to u n d e rs t a n d th e H a d ith o f th e P r o p h e t (
‫) ا  و‬ th e r e is a c e r ta in v o c a b u la r y
fo r d o in g th a t. I f y o u w a n t to u n d e rs ta n d th e w r itin g s o f th e s c h o la rs , th e re a re c e r t a in s e ts
o f v o c a b u la r y fo r d o in g th a t.

A fte r t h e Q u r 'a n , t h e n e x t m o s t i m p o r t a n t th in g to u n d e r s ta n d is th e S u n n a h o f th e
P ro p h e t (
‫ ) ا  و‬. P r o b a b l y t h e b e s t b o o k to re a d fo r th a t is R iy a d h u s -S a l i h i n o f
Im a m a n -N a w a w i . T h e A r a b i c / E n g l i s h D a r -u s -S a l a m e d itio n is a v a ila b le o n o u r w e b s ite .
R e a d th e A r a b ic a n d th e tr a n s la tio n . F o r y o u U rd u re a d e rs , fre t n o t, w e h a v e it in
A ra b ic / U r d u a s w e ll. T h is w ill h e lp to g a in s o m e o f th e a d d itio n a l v o c a b u la r y y o u n e e d .

F in a lly , m o v in g o n to b o o k s o f th e s c h o la r s . I t is b e s t to s ta r t w ith e a s y b o o k s , s o h e r e is a
lis t o f b o o k s th a t I s u g g e s t fo r th e b e g in n e r to r e a d :

* K a s h f u s h S h u b u h a t , b y M u h a m m a d ib n ‘A b d u l W a h h a b . T h is i s a v e r y b a s ic , s h o r t
b o o k r e la te d to S h ir k .
* A l -U s o o l a t h -T h a l a t h a h , a l s o b y i b n ‘A b d u l W a h h a b . A b a s i c s h o r t b o o k r e l a t e d t o
th e fu n d a m e n ta ls o f th e r e lig io n .
* N e x t, o n e s h o u ld m o v e o n to S h a r h T h a la t h a t il U s o o l , th e e x p la n a tio n b y S h a y k h
i b n ‘U t h a y m e e n o f t h e p r e v i o u s b o o k .
* T h e n e x t b o o k o n th e lis t to r e a d is K ita b u t -T a w h id b y Im a m ib n ‘A b d u l W a h h a b ,
a l o n g w i t h a l -Q a w l u l -M u f i d , S h a y k h i b n ‘U th a y m e e n 's v e r y b e n e f i c i a l e x p la n a tio n o f it.
T h is is a lo n g e r b o o k a n d s ta r ts to g e t in to m o re c o m p lic a te d m a tte r s , b u t it is in th e u s u a l
s i m p le s t y le o f i b n ‘U t h a y m e e n w h ic h m a k e s h is b o o k s s o b e n e fic ia l a n d s o e a s y to
u n d e r s ta n d . A n d th is w o n d e r fu l b o o k is w it h o u t e q u a l c o n c e r n in g th e to p ic o f T a w h id a n d
is a m u s t fo r e v e r y o n e w h o c a r e s a b o u t h is D e e n .

R e m e m b e r to a lw a y s k e e p y o u r d ic tio n a r y h a n d y w h ile re a d in g th e s e b o o k s to lo o k u p
w o rd s y o u d o n o t k n o w . Y o u m a y n o t lik e it, b u t in th e e n d , th a t is th e o n ly w a y to b u ild
y o u r v o c a b u la r y a n d u n d e r s ta n d in g . T h e s e b o o k s a re p a r tic u la r ly g o o d to s ta r t o ff w ith d u e
to th e s im p le la n g u a g e a n d s ty le e m p lo y e d b y b o th Im a m M u h a m m a d i b n ‘A b d u l W a h h a b
a n d S h a y k h ib n ‘U t h a y m e e n in th e ir w r itin g s .

5
K n o w in g th e B o o k s Y o u W ill B e U s in g

F ir s t, y o u m u s t c h o o s e a te x tb o o k to u s e . T h e r e a r e m a n y o u t th e r e , b u t h e r e , o n ly th r e e
s h a ll b e d is c u s s e d :

* T h e A r a b i c C o u r s e f o r E n g l i s h S p e a k i n g S t u d e n t s , (c o m m o n l y r e f e r r e d t o a s
“ T h e M a d in a h B o o k s .” W e c a n o b t a in it f o r y o u if y o u w a n t , c a ll u s .) b y D r . V . A b d u r -
R a h im . T h is th r e e b o o k s e t is e s s e n tia lly th e s a m e a s th e b o o k s u s e d in th e U n iv e r s ity o f
M a d in a h A r a b ic P r o g r a m . T h e o n ly d iffe r e n c e is th a t a n E n g lis h k e y h a s b e e n a d d e d fo r
th e le s s o n s in th e fir s t tw o b o o k s . M o s t o f y o u h a v e p r o b a b ly h e a r d o f it. T h is s e t h a s th e
a d v a n t a g e t h a t i t p la c e s h e a v y e m p h a s i s o n Q u r 'a n i c a n d H a d i t h v o c a b u la r y . H o w e v e r , t h i s
is n o t in a n d o f its e lf a g o o d r e a s o n to b u y th is b o o k s e t. I f y o u d o n o t h a v e s o m e o n e w h o
w ill b e te a c h in g y o u , y o u a r e p r o b a b ly g o in g to h a v e a h a r d tim e le a r n in g fr o m th e s e b o o k s
e v e n w ith th e k e y s to th e le s s o n s in th e b a c k . T h e y w e r e s im p ly n o t d e s ig n e d fo r s e lf
te a c h in g . I n fa c t, th e le s s o n s th e m s e lv e s a r e c o m p le te ly in A r a b ic . T h e k e y s in th e b a c k a r e
h e lp fu l n o d o u b t, b u t fo r s o m e o n e w h o w a n ts to le a r n o n h is o w n , th e y a r e n o t s u ffic ie n t. I f
y o u h a v e s o m e o n e w h o w ill b e te a c h in g y o u o n th e o th e r h a n d , th e s e b o o k s w o r k
e x c e lle n tly . A g a in , th is is n o t to s a y th a t y o u c a n n o t le a r n A r a b ic o n y o u r o w n fr o m th e s e
b o o k s . I t is p o s s ib le . I k n o w a n u m b e r o f b r o th e r s w h o h a v e d o n e s o , b u t it is m u c h b e tte r
to u s e a b o o k th a t w a s o r ig in a lly d e s ig n e d fo r E n g lis h r e a d e r s . I f y o u a r e g o in g to u s e th is
b o o k , w h ic h m a n y o f y o u n o d o u b t w ill s in c e its p r o b a b ly a lr e a d y c o lle c tin g d u s t o n y o u r
s h e lf, th e n I h ig h ly r e c o m m e n d y o u u s e a g r a m m a r a id a s a r e fe r e n c e b e c a u s e I fin d th a t
m a n y p e o p le w h o g o th r o u g h th e fir s t tw o b o o k s c o m e o u t w ith a n e e d fo r m o r e g r a m m a r .
* M o d e r n S t a n d a r d A r a b i c , b y P e t e r A b b o u d . T h i s b o o k i s d i v i d e d i n t o a t w o -v o l u m e
s e t. I t h a s b e e n u s e d a t m a n y u n iv e r s itie s a r o u n d A m e r ic a . I t is v e r y th o r o u g h in its
c o v e r a g e o f g r a m m a r a n d in p r o v id in g d r ill m a te r ia l to h e lp d r iv e th e c o n c e p ts h o m e . I t
a ls o h a s a g o o d s e c tio n a t th e b e g in n in g o n le a r n in g h a n d w r itin g a n d p r o n u n c ia tio n . I f y o u
g e t ju s t t h e fir s t v o lu m e a n d g o t h r o u g h t h a t , it w ill g iv e y o u m o s t o f w h a t y o u n e e d , b u t if
y o u b u y th e s e c o n d o n e , th a t w o u ld b e b e tte r . T h is is a v e r y g o o d b o o k w e r e it n o t fo r th e
o b s c u r e lin g u is tic te r m in o lo g y th a t th e a v e r a g e r e a d e r w ill fin d d iffic u lt to d e c o d e o n h is
o w n . I f u s e d a lo n g w i t h a g r a m m a r a i d s u c h a s W i g h t w ic k 's , w h ic h s h a ll b e d i s c u s s e d
s h o r tly , y o u m ig h t fin d th a t p r o b le m to b e a s u r m o u n ta b le o n e . T h is b o o k is b y n o m e a n s
fla s h y . I t is n o t fu ll o f p ic tu r e s a n d fla s h y p r in t lik e th e o th e r b o o k s th a t a r e o u t th e r e , b u t if
y o u a r e a b le to g o th r o u g h it fu lly , y o u w ill c o m e o u t w ith a g o o d g r a s p o f A r a b ic g r a m m a r ,
in s h a a A lla h . A n d it is c e r ta in ly c h e a p e r th a n m u c h o f w h a t is o u t th e r e . I m y s e lf le a r n e d
A r a b ic fr o m th e fir s t v o lu m e o f th is b o o k . T h is b o o k h a s a ta p e s e t th a t is s u p p o s e d to g o
w ith it, b u t y o u a r e s u p p o s e d to w r ite to th e p u b lis h e r to r e q u e s t th e m , I a m n o t s u r e if th e y
e v e n s till m a k e th e m a v a ila b le . C o n s e q u e n tly , I n e v e r b o th e r e d to g e t th e m .
* A h la n w a S a h la n , b y M a h d i A lo s h . T h is is a n o th e r b o o k th a t is u s e d a s a u n iv e r s ity
t e x t b o o k in A m e r ic a . M o s t w ill fin d it e a s ie r a s it is fille d w ith illu s t r a t io n s a n d h a s a m o r e
“ u s e r -f r i e n d l y ” a p p r o a c h w h e r e a s p e o p l e c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e A b b o u d b o o k b e c a u s e o f i t s
“ d r y ,” a c a d e m ic s t y le a n d d iffic u lt y . T h is b o o k u t iliz e s s im p le r , e a s ie r t o u n d e r s t a n d
te r m in o lo g y fo r g r a m m a r a s w e ll a s h a v in g th e a d d e d b e n e fit o f u s in g th e A r a b ic g r a m m a r
te r m s . I t h a s a n e x te n s iv e ta p e / C D s e t to g o w ith th e le s s o n s a s w e ll. I f y o u a r e g o in g to
te a c h y o u r s e lf, G E T T H E T A P E S , G E T T H E T A P E S , G E T T H E T A P E S . I f y o u h a v e n o t
g o tte n th e id e a y e t, I m e a n G E T T H E T A P E S . T h e tr u th is , s o m e p e o p le c a n d o w ith o u t th e
t a p e s o r C D 's , b u t f o r m a n y , h a v i n g a u d i o r e in f o r c e m e n t o f w h a t e v e r t h e y a r e l e a r n i n g i s

6
e s s e n tia l. T h is b o o k h a s th e d r a w b a c k o f b e in g e x p e n s iv e , e s p e c ia lly w h e n th r o w in g in th e
c o s t o f th e C D s e t, h o w e v e r it d o e s h a v e a n u m b e r o f a d v a n ta g e s o v e r th e A b b o u d b o o k
w h i c h m a k e i t m o r e f e a s i b l e f o r u s e a s a t e a c h -y o u r s e l f t e x t b o o k .

A lm o s t a n y te x tb o o k c a n b e u s e d p r o v id e d it g iv e s y o u th e p r o p e r b a c k g r o u n d in g e ttin g
th e g ra m m a r d o w n a n d s o m e v o c a b u la r y , th e im p o r ta n t th in g is th a t y o u b e a b le to g o
th ro u g h it a n d u n d e rs ta n d it p r o p e r ly . A s e a c h p e r s o n is d iffe r e n t, n o o n e c a n d e c id e
d e fin itiv e ly w h ic h w ill fit b e s t fo r y o u .

T h e n e x t m o s t im p o r ta n t to o l fo r le a r n in g A r a b ic is th e d ic tio n a r y y o u u s e . T h e r e a r e tw o
th a t a re re c o m m e n d e d :

* A r a b i c -E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y : T h e H a n s W e h r D i c t i o n a r y o f M o d e r n W r i t t e n A r a b i c .
T h is d ic tio n a r y is th e b e s t th e r e is . P e r io d . I t is e x tr e m e ly th o r o u g h in th e v o c a b u la r y it
c o v e r s . I ts g r e a te s t a d v a n ta g e is a ls o its g r e a te s t d r a w b a c k . T h e w o r d s a r e o r g a n iz e d
a lp h a b e tic a lly a c c o r d in g to th e ir r o o t le tte r s . K n o w in g th e r o o ts h e lp s o n e to g a in a b e tte r
u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e w o r d s d e r iv e d . I t is a p r o b le m , h o w e v e r , fo r b e g in n e r s a s th e y w ill
h a v e tr o u b le fin d in g th e w o r d th e y a r e lo o k in g fo r a t tim e s u n til th e y fig u r e o u t h o w to fin d
th e r o o ts . A n d th a t is w h y th e y n e e d :
* A l - M a w r i d , b y R u h i a l -B a ' a l b a k i . T h i s d i c t i o n a r y i s o r g a n i z e d i n a s i m p l e r m a n n e r
a c c o r d in g to b a s ic a lp h a b e tic a l o r d e r . T h is m a k e s w o r d e a s y to fin d . T h e d r a w b a c k
h o w e v e r is th a t th e d e fin itio n s a r e n o t v e r y th o r o u g h . I f y o u w a n t to tr u ly le a r n th e A r a b ic
l a n g u a g e , r e l y o n t h e H a n s W e h r d i c t i o n a r y . A l -M a w r i d s h o u l d b e o n l y a s t h e l a s t r e s o r t . I
c a ll t h i s “ t h e c h e a t e r 's d i c t i o n a r y .” S u r e , y o u w i ll f i n d t h e w o r d s , b u t i f y o u c a n n o t a c c e s s
th e H a n s W e h r , y o u c a n n o t r e a lly a c c e s s th e A r a b ic L a n g u a g e . Y o u h a v e b e e n w a r n e d .

A n o th e r a id y o u w
G u id e to th e M a
th r o u g h th is b o o k
s o lid ly . I t is p r o b a
A fte rw a rd s , y o u w
in g r a in e d in y o u r
o f d ic tio n a r ie s s u c
ill w a n t is A r a b ic V e r b s a n d E s s e n t ia ls o f G r a m m a r : A P r a c tic a l
s t e r y o f A r a b ic b y J a n e W ig h tw ic k a n d M a h m o u d G a a fa r . G o in g
w ill r e a lly h e lp y o u w ith g e ttin g th e fu n d a m e n ta ls o f g r a m m a r d o w n
b ly a g o o d id e a to g o th r o u g h th is th o r o u g h ly o n c e a s a r e v ie w .
ill p r o b a b ly w a n t to r e fe r b a c k to it to c h e c k c e r ta in th in g s u n til th e y g e t
m e m o r y . T h is b o o k a ls o h a s a h e lp fu l e x p la n a tio n a b o u t th e o r g a n iz a tio n
h a s H a n s W e h r 's D i c t i o n a r y w h i c h w i ll h e lp in u s in g it m o r e e ffe c tiv e ly .

T h e r e is o n e fin a l n o te I w o u ld li k e t o m a k e w it h r e g a r d s t o t r a n s la t i o n s o f t h e Q u r 'a n . I f
y o u a re g o in g to b e s tu d y i n g t h e Q u r 'a n , t h e n t h e b e s t t r a n s la t i o n t o u s e i s p r o b a b ly t h e
S a h e e h I n te r n a tio n a l t r a n s la t io n . I ts la n g u a g e is s im p le a n d flo w s w e ll w h ile b e in g
a c c u ra te in tr a n s la tio n .

A n o th e r b o o k y o u m ig h t w a n t to u s e is E a s y D ic tio n a r y o f th e Q u r 'a n o f A b d u l K a re e m
P a re k h . T h is b o o k fo llo w s th e o r d e r o f th e Q u r 'a n a n d lis ts e a c h w o rd th e fir s t tim e it
a p p e a r s in t h e Q u r 'a n , g i v in g a s i m p le d e fin itio n o f t h e w o rd . B y t h e tim e y o u a re d o n e
w ith S u r a t a l -B a q a r a h , y o u w i l l h a v e l e a r n e d ¼ o f th e Q u r 'a n 's v o c a b u la ry . T h a t 's a c t u a lly
m o re th a n it s o u n d s w h e n y o u c o n s id e r t h a t m o s t o f th o s e w o rd s a re a m o n g s t th e m o s t
fr e q u e n tly o c c u r r i n g w o r d s in t h e Q u r 'a n . T h is b o o k is a r e la t iv e ly c h e a p a n d h a n d y to o l fo r
le a r n in g th e m e a n i n g s o f t h e Q u r 'a n .
P itfa lls to A v o id

U n fo r tu n a te ly , m a n y b r o th e r s fin d th a t th e y h it a b r ic k w a ll in te r m s o f le a r n in g A r a b ic in

7
 s p ite o f h a v in g m a d e s o m e e ffo r t to le a r n . O fte n tim e s , th is is m o r e a m a tte r o f h o w th e y
tr ie d to le a r n th a n o f h o w h a r d th e y tr ie d to le a r n . M a n y b r o th e r s w ill tr y a n d s tu d y s o m e
o f t h e s t a n d a r d A r a b i c t e x t s f o r l e a r n i n g g r a m m a r s u c h a s a l -A j r u m i y y a h . W h i l e a l-
A j r u m i y y a h i s a b e n e f i c i a l b o o k w i t h o u t a d o u b t , s t u d y i n g a n d m a s t e r i n g a l -A j r u m iy y a h
a n d o th e r te x ts lik e it is n o t e n o u g h to b e a b le to u n d e r s ta n d th e A r a b ic la n g u a g e .
R e m e m b e r , a ll y o u r e a lly n e e d to g e t s ta r te d is a n u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e b a s ic w o r k in g s o f
A r a b ic g r a m m a r . M u c h m o r e im p o r ta n t is g a in in g th e v o c a b u la r y .

W e m u s t k e e p in m in d th a t th o s e w h o u s u a lly s tu d y th e s e g r a m m a r te x ts a r e A r a b s . T h e y
h a v e s p o k e n A r a b ic th e ir w h o le liv e s . T h e y a r e a lr e a d y c a p a b le o f r e a d in g a n d
u n d e r s ta n d in g b o o k s in A r a b ic .

O n c e , I r a n in to a b r o th e r w h o w a s a s k in g m e fo r a d v ic e o n le a r n in g A r a b ic . H e h a d s o m e
u n d e r s ta n d in g , b u t w a s u n a b le to r e a d b o o k s . W h e n I a s k e d h im w h e r e e x a c tly h e w a s in
t e r m s o f h i s A r a b i c , h e b e g a n t o e x p l a i n t o m e h o w h e h a d s t u d i e d a l -A j r u m i y y a h t w i c e
w it h h is “ s h a y k h .” A n d n o w h e w a s g o in g t o b e s t u d y in g s o m e o t h e r g r a m m a r t e x t w it h h im ,
y e t h e c o u ld n o t e v e n r e a d b o o k s . I n itia lly , w h e n I tr ie d to a d v is e h im th a t h e s h o u ld w o r k
o n h is v o c a b u la r y a n d n o t r e a lly w o r r y a n y m o r e a b o u t g r a m m a r , h e r e m o n s tr a te d , “ N o ,
y o u s e e , I 'm s t u d y in g i t w i t h m y s h a y k h .” I k e p t t e lli n g h i m , “ Y e s , b u t I h a v e n e v e r s t u d i e d
i t a t a ll a n d I r e a d Q u r 'a n , t h e b o o k s o f H a d i t h , t h e b o o k s o f t h e s c h o la r s s u c h a s i b n
T a y m i y y a h a n d i b n u l -Q a y y i m , ” b u t h e w o u l d o n l y r e s p o n d w i t h , “ N o , y o u s e e , I a m
s t u d y in g it w ith a s h a y k h .” F in a lly , a ft e r a le n g t h y e x c h a n g e fille d w it h th e r e fr a in “ b u t I
a m s t u d y in g it w it h a s h a y k h ,” h e fin a lly b e g a n t o r e a liz e t h a t h is r e a l d e fic ie n c y w a s in
v o c a b u la r y .

T h is is a d ile m m a th a t m a n y b r o th e r s fa ll in to . T h e y w ill s tu d y d iffe r e n t g r a m m a r te x ts in

th e ir q u e s t to im p r o v e th e ir A r a b ic . T h e y w ill s o m e tim e s e v e n k n o w fa r m o re g ra m m a r
th a n I c o u ld e v e r k n o w o r c a re to k n o w e v e n , y e t t h e y c a n h a r d ly p ic k u p a b o o k a n d re a d .
R e m e m b e r , b e y o n d a r u d im e n ta r y u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e g ra m m a r , w h a t y o u r e a lly n e e d is
to d e v e lo p v o c a b u la r y . R e a d b a s ic b o o k s w ith th e a s s is ta n c e o f th e H a n s W e h r d ic tio n a r y
a n d in tim e y o u w ill fin d th a t y o u h a v e m a d e tre m e n d o u s p ro g r e s s , if A lla h w ills . T h is m a y
s e e m a te d io u s w a y to le a r n th e la n g u a g e ; th a t is b e c a u s e it is . H o w e v e r , it is a ls o th e o n ly
w a y .

F o o tn o te s

1 . S e e S a h i h M u s l i m (n o . 8 6 7 , 8 6 8 ) .
2 . R e p o r t e d b y a t -T i r m i d h i (n o . 3 3 7 3 ) , i b n M a j a h (n o . 3 8 2 7 ) , A h m a d (n o . 9 7 0 1 , 9 7 1 9 ,
1 0 1 7 8 ), a n d t h i s i s t h e w o r d i n g o f a t -T i r m i d h i . D e c l a r e d h a s a n b y S h a y k h a l -A l b a n i i n a s -
S ils ila h a s -S a h e e h a h (n o . 2 6 5 4 ) .
3 . R e p o r t e d b y a t -T i r m i d h i (n o . 2 5 1 6 ) a n d h e s a id , “ T h is is a H a s a n S a h ih H a d ith ,” a n d
b y A h m a d (n o . 2 6 6 9 , 2 7 6 3 , 2 8 0 3 ) . S h a y k h a l -A l b a n i g r a d e d i t S a h i h i n D h i l a l u l -J a n n a h
(n o . 3 1 6 -3 1 8 ).

S o u r c e : d k h -i s l a m .c o m