GATEWAY TO ARABIC

Book One

Dr. Imran Hamza Alawiye

A foundation course in reading and writing Arabic

The Arabi.c Alphabet

In order to learn any language, one must first master the alphabet and be able to read, write and pronounce it correctly.

Below on the right is the Arabic alphabet. The pro hunclctlon column in the middle is only a rough guide and should not be relied on toe heavily. Ask an Arabic speaker to' help you master the sounds of the letters, or listen to he audio recording of the book.

Please note that Arabic is written from right to left.

....----

Names of the letters

Pronunciation guide

Alif

a

Boo

b

Too

t

Thoo

th

Jeem

Ho

h

.

Dool

d

Dhool

Roo

r

Zoo

z

Seen

s

Arabic letters

J

.

J

.

..)

2

.... ----

Names of the Pronunciation Arabic
letters guide letters
Sheen sh :.
u.u
Saad s ~
Daad d .
~
To t Jo
.
Za z j;
CAyn C t
Ghayn g.b. .
t
Faa f .
w
Qaaf ..
q i.J
Kaaf k ~
Loam J
Meem m ,
Noon .
n u
Haa h
Waaw w
Vaa y LS 3

Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to compl.ete the page, . ~
.....----

QID I
s- ,
I .
"
, ,~
..
•• \:,;
~
~
~
~
I
~
_1
.' 4

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

....----

4

4

5

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page,

... ----

:-

~~~~~~~~L_ __ IJ

(fuaa)

( Jeem ) 1 __ .....

6

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

.....----

7

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page,

.... ----

(DOOI)

8

3

(.Qb001)

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

.-----

( ROO)

3

• 1l-------'--'''___;;'~0'~::'-~''-~i--j--4-

( ZOO)

9

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

~----

( Seen)

( .s..been )

10

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

~----

1

( ~aad )

( /§.t:iti{~i'

;"':':.0/:;-'';'',,,;1''''

(9aad)

11

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page,

.... ----

12

(~_~a~)

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

"

11---- ... ---- ... ---- ,..;.;; ..... ;!'i;..;;" ~

....----

13

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

....----

( Faa)

5

( Qaaf )

5

14

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

.....----

2

15

(Loam)

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

~----

(Noon) 3 ~

16

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

....----

(Haa)

•

(waaw)

17

Write over the letters below, then continue copying to complete the page.

....----

C Vaa)

18

Here is the complete Arabic alphabet. Can you read all the letters?

--------------~ ---_

Start here!

~----

-J--

..

..

19

Can you fill in the missing letters in the alphabet below?

--E- ,
,
J.
•
~ ~
-
-----_._-------------- --_,_-
.
•
~ ~ ......
~
- ~- - ---- ----- - \..I"
•
--~-- -- -_--
-_
----"
\ ..
- ... ~. --4J_
-~
-_ .. _.
ti
_,J'
..-----

20

The Short Vowels

The following are the three short Arabic vowels. They are written above or below the Arabic letters.

i) Fothc

This is a short diagonal stroke written above an Arabic letter.

It is pronounced 'a', as in the English word 'cat'.

Read the alphabet below with totho on each letter.

.... ----

,.... ,.... ,.... ,.... ,....
• ~
~ ~ ~ 4...,) \
•
,.... ,.... ,.... ,.... ,....
• •
J ~ ~ ~ ~
,.... ,.... ,.... ,.... ,....
JP • •
d' . ._? 4..f' J
,.... ,.... ,.... ,.... ,....
• • ~ ~
~ t t
,.... ,.... ,.... ,.... ,....
~ J ~ ..
~ 4J
,.... ,.... ,....
4.S J ..Jb
.. 21

The Short Vowels - Continued

ii) Kasra

This is a short diagonal stroke written below an Arabic letter.

It is pronounced 'i', as in the English word 'bit',

Read the alphabet below with kasra on each letter.

~----

• ~ \
~ ~ 4...J
• ~
-
;" ;" ;" ;"
• •
J .~ ~ ~ ~
;" ;" ;"
d' • •
0" ~ ...t J
;" ;" ;" ;" ;"
• • ~ ~
~ t t
;" ;" ;"
~ J ~ .. .
~ 4J
;" ;" ;" ;" ;"
.s J ..Jb
..
;" ;" ;" 22

The Short Vowels - Continued

iii) Dornrno

This is like a very small 'waaw' written above an Arabic letter.

It is pronounced 'U', as in the English word 'bull'.

Read the alphabet below with dornrno on each letter.

..... ----

Jl s s s ~
•
~ ~ ~ 4..,) \
•
s s s Jl Jl
• •
J ~ ~ ~ ~
s s s ; Jl
JP oP ~ •
...r J
; s s ; ;
• • 1; ~
~ t t
Jl s s s s ,
~ J ~ ..
~ 4J
; ; s
4.S J Jb
.. 23

Practise reading your alphabet with tctho. kasra and dornrno (a, l. u).

....----

Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
:. :. :. .. .. .. £ \ s.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I I
. . . ~
;' ;' ;' ;'
-_.---_------_.'_ .. --- .. ------------.---.---".--------~- f----- ----------- --
Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
~ ~ ~ . . ·
L ~ L L ~ L C C C
;' ;'
f------------- ------------
Yo ;' Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
. . . . . .
'-.f .r .r ) ) ) ) ) ) ~ ~ ~
;' ;' ;' ;'
--.--- ... -, .. -.--"'------.-- ... --.--------.----~-" .. -.-_ .. -- ----------
Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
1, 1, 1, • . • :. :. :.
o" uP uP uP uP cr" .r '-.f o:
;' ;' ;' ;'
-~.----~.---.--- _'----'-,.", -- ... -~----.---------- ---- -_._ -----_ ... _------
Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
. . . . . · J;, J;, J;,
LJ LJ LJ t L t t t- t
;' ;'
f------------ --------------------_--- _-- ---
Yo ,/ J J J --~ ~ Yo ,/
.!J .. .. ..
\ \ \ ~ ~ ~
;' ;' ;' ;'
-------------.------------~-------.---------.-.- .. ------------------- 1-- --
Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/ Yo ,/
.s .s .s j j j ~ ~ ~ 0 0 0
.. .. ..
;' ;' ;' ;' Can you read the following Arabic words?

... ----

.J. "" "" !J"" "" "" ""
• .. ~ :. $! ..
he stops '-.J '-' '-.S he thanked .J J he read , .J'-'
..
,/
"" "" "" .J. "" "" ""
• •
he desired, ~ t_.J he was good 0 J C he understood \~ '-.J
wished •
/' /'
~
"" "" "" .J. "" "" !J
he laughed .!J • ..
'-' • ..
C .r" he was .J.J he wrote ~ ~
endowed with •
/'
"" J "" J .J. .J. ""
.. •
he joined '-' C it was known \ t_ he describes '-.J uP '-.S
..
/' /' 24

Joining up Arabic letters (For an explanation, please see p. 27)

By itself

Middle

Beginning

Joined

End

\ \ \

L

L

\

4...J ,-- . ..J ~ -- ..J
=
• • •• • • •
~ ~,"J ~ .. ..
= -- ..J
.. 4;.j .. ..
** 0 "- .. ..J
--
• . .:. • :. :.
~ ~·tJ ~ -- ..J
= ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
C ~ ~
• • • • • • •
~ ~ ~ -="- ~
~. ~ ~ wL *
• • • • • • •
s ~~ ~ wL wL ~ * J JJJ J *
• • • • • • •
J JJJ r .r: J <*
~ttNIu~ -~

jJ :. :. :. :. :. •
~~ cr: _...,_ ~ * The six starred 'naughty' letters cannot be joined to the left. For an explanation, see p. 27.

** Sometimes at the end of a word the letter tao is written a or L which is called tao marbuta.

*

By itself Joined End Middle Beginning
WQ·Q·~ .Q
i , 4- -:
JP • • • ~ ·12 ..;p
W,,·Q ..p
- :
: :
_1, bbb .k.

~ fQt;ta JQ.. .JQ.. ~ t ~ t- _&,
• ~ • • •
t t- .A. _&,
• • • • • • •
~ ~QJ ~ .A.. J
.. ~ .. ..
'-' .. .A.. J
4J-
.:j ~ ~
J J-U J- ..L J •

---

+

J JJ J 1- J *
4,,$ ~ ss: --- _,
.. ..
..
- - Joining up Arabic letters - continued

So far, we have learned how to write the Arabic letters when they are not joined together. However, Arabic words are usually written in a joined-up form. Most letters of the Arabic alphabet can be joined on either side. The shape of each letter changes according to its position within a word. These different forms must be learnt so that one can recognise the letters when they are combined together to make words.

Each letter has four forms: beginning, middle, end and by itself. On the previous two pages you will find a table showing how each letter is written according to its position in a word.

The 'Naughty' Letters

There are six 'naughty' letters which refuse to join on to any letter after them (in other words, to the left of them). However, they do allow other normal letters to join them from the right. The 'naughty' letters are:

--'

.

J

J

A normal letter written after a naughty letter cannot take the middle form. It will take the beginning form instead, unless it is the last letter of a word, in which case it will take the 'by itself' form.

Exerc'ise

Write out the Arabic alphabet in the boxes below, and draw a circle around the six 'naughty' letters.

.....----

CD




~ -> 27

Practice with the' Naughty' Letters

• •

-W ~~ + ~

• •

J-, ~ J +-'

• •

y_)~y+_)

What happens when both the letters are naughty?

• •

_)_) ~ _) + _)

• •

_)_) ~ _) + _)

• •

-'~ ~ -' + ~

• •

~-' ~ ~ + -'

28

Practice with jOining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

... ----

,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
:. :. :.
he looked for' ~ ~ ~ _,) ~ '7' ~
he researched '-- •
,; ,;,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
" .. :. ,," :. J..:""_ ,) "'"~
he stood firm _j ~ _,) "
• • •
,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
+ :. :.
he drank ~~ ~ - ~ ~ , .,;J
+J • J • - ~
,- ,- ,-
,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
+ + • + (J
:. W
he sr.nttArAri ~ - ~ _,) _1
J J .-
~,; ,; ~ ,; ,; ~ ,; ,;
, .. .. ..
he left ,.J _jooooo_ _,) \ ~
- - --
,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
...:-..w .. \ '" .. _, .,;J
he covered - ~ ~
concealed J J .- ~ 29

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

.... ----

he othered

/ // •

/ •

he rotected

guarded

/ //

:.

he ex ioined

30

•

:.

---------------------~.-.-.--.

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

~----

,/ ,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
i-~ + + ..r:::J
he shouted "... - ~ ~ ,
L- '---.J L J '-'
,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
+ + + +
;.~ s + ~
hE"! bo ~ \ .".... '-
he was proud J .J J L
,/~~ ,/ l ,/ ,/ ~ \ ,/ ,/
>-~ + ~
he entered ."....
~ ~ -
,/,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
he turned uo ~ , ~ ~ , ~ .) , ~
-J - J - J
~'/1, ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ 1,
he chased away; ~ - _b, ~ ,
he repelled J J -
,
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
p.JJ ...L + ~ (+j
he reoretted P. ...) P.
, '" , '" , '" 31

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

.... ----

/s1 / / / !J /
S • •
he remembered ....._ ~ , ~
J J J
/ <, / / /. / / / /
•
hA nllrifiAri '" J lJb " J 1 Jb " J ~ ~
• • •
<, / / /. / / / / /
1~' -L ->- , • • t
he took ~ .,...
L
/~ / s: / / /'J /.
:. ,:. :.
he thanked .. ~ .. ~ , JJ
J J .J V
/ // / / / / / • /
• •
he roiserl ~ , ~ ~ , y r....J ,
~J \,_. J \,_. .J
,
/ / / / / / / / /
..... s- ., ~ • /It Y •
he claimed ...... , ,
alleged \ .J \ .J \ L .J 32

" I;';

:'1 Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters.

~----

""" " " " " " "
he fastened' IA:':>- ;a • .>- :t •
• ~
he was resolute \....1 \_J \ ...I L
" \" :' "\ " " /1 " "
• /,
he descended , :,J , . J •
went down -....I -_J ~ J -
"" " " " " " " "
• • •
he uraed incited .~~ • A. ..>- • _l ~ ~
_l
....I _J J L
"" " " " " " " "
$! .. , .. 1 ..
he read \...9 - oJ , { ~
J ....I , J -
"l" " "L " " : \ " "
• • •
he washed C .s. ~ c-
'-' '-' - u L
" " " " " " " " "
• • c- /,
he dozed' he ~j ~. --&... __J_ ~
was sleepy '-" '-" U L 33

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided/ and learn how to join the letters. ~

..... ----

hA wnc:. nrtivA

U

'"

energetic

hP- WClS thirstv

'" t '"

:. ~ C

U

hP- wos ootlent

•

_;.

:.

•

...J

hP- stuck (s.th.)

U

..

•

3

'"

..

{ ~

-

~~ 1 ~ ,/ :~ 1 ,/ '/~j ,/
• • ~
hP- louohed ~ »- ~ .,...
~ U'
'" '"
t
[
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
.. . .. • .. /~
it deer ~ o • ..a. .JJ.. J ~ I ~
became less U U· U· - 34

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. p£f

..... ----

/ / / / / / / / /
• • • • • ~ .tl
he arose cot uo ~ ~ ~ ..a... ...L _.J ~.
!",..I '" !",..I '" !",..I
/1/ / 1 / / /1; /
• • • L· ~
hA innkAri ot J .J _l
J J J
/ / / / / / / / /
~~ • .» _;;, ~
hA riO .... ~ ».
\ \ \ !",..I
/. L~ / 1 / /' /1, /
.. ..
he ~llt ~ ~ -~ { ~
L L ~
/h:/, /.b_ / / /b / /
hA tiAri __"J_ _1_ '" .J ,
.J .J • J
,
//~ ~ / / 1; / / /t,
he oooeored ..a. , ~
J\,1 J \,1 J 35

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

•

.... ----

,;' ,;' ,;'

. ..

Yo

•

•

•

,;' •

,;' •

it became small

little

,;' ,;',;' • •

,;' •

,;' ,;',;' •

he 0 ened

,;' ,;',;' • •

,;' ,;' ,;'

• •

,;' ,;',;'

. ..

he stood

36

Practice with joining letters

Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~

.... ----

"" "" "" :' 1 "" "" ~,j "" ""
he arabbed ,-,1 .... ..4 .A JJ fa
seized U \
"" 1"" "" 1 "" "" ~ \ ""
~ .. ..
he turned s.th '" L. ~ '" .J I ~
• • • - ~
over
~ "" .i. "" "" ~ \ ""
he swallowed A..... _J Y ",,-,
\._. \...... • - •
"" """" "" "" "" "" "" "'"
he orever red' .. ~ ~ • ..A Y ( .~ fa
.-I.
he forbade \._ \._ ,
"" J. "" "" J. "" "" J. ""
it wcs« nice • ..._. • ~ L·~ .JtJ ..,..
good, suitable U U U L
,
"" "" "" "" "" ""
• • I C (. ~
he foraot • J .AJ
't..:?"" ~ ~ U
/' /' 37

Practice with joining letters

Join the groups of letters to make words in the boxes provided.

....----

he prostrated

it rained

/' /'

he made room/space for

he advised he was astonished
/' /' /' /' /'
t: _/t:J ~
;"
he ripened he knew
/' /' /' /' /' /'
•
• he accepted /'

;"

he was allowed, permitted

•

he bowed

he went

/' •

•

he was full up (food)

he sat

38

Practice with joining letters

Join the groups of letters to make words in the boxes provided.

~

..... ----

he withdrew, pulled out

it was short

J1

.. ..

,/ •

it was numerous he emptied; he finished

he endowed with

..

,/

he matured; it ripened

,/

he spent the night awake

,/

he was sorry, regretted

,/ he was ill, unwell

•

,/ he passed (an exam)

39

,/ ,/ ,/

• •

he demanded, requested

he triumphed

,/

he was quick, fast

he abstained from ,/

•

,/

he gathered, assembled

he was angry ,/

,/ •

Tanween

The three short Arabic vowels, totho. kasra and dcrnrno. can be doubled. This is known as "toriween". and it changes the sound of the vowels.

i) Tanween totho (tothotoon) __ This is two short diagonal strokes written above an Arabic letter. It is pronounced 'an', as in the English word 'man'. It is usually supported by an alif.

Read the alphabet below with tanween totho on each letter.

..... ---

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ \j lJ L ~
\
•
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
'0 ,~ ,~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Wt 'j
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
\j ~ '-" Vb lb
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
U Lo ~ \S U'
~ ~ ~
L 'J lA
.. 40

Tanween (Continued)

ii) Tanween kasra (kasrataan)

This is two short diagonal strokes written below an Arabic letter. It is pronounced 'in', as in the English word 'win'.

Read the alphabet below with tanween kasra on each letter.

• ~ \
~~ ~ 4",.,)
• ~
~ ~ ~ ~
• •
J ~ ~ ~C ~C
.~ ~ ~
d' • •
uP ~ ._rJ J
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
• • Jb ~
4..J ~t ~t
~ ~ ~
~ J .!J ..
,,~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
"
.s J 0
..
~ ~ ~ ..... ---

41

Tanween (Continued)

J1..S1

iii) Tanween dornrno (dornrnotocn)

This is two dammas written above an Arabic letter. It is pronounced 'uri'. as in the English word 'bun'.

Sometimes it is written like this:

Read the alphabet below with tanween dornrno on each letter.

.... ---

y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. JlJl
• ~ ~
~ ~ 4"".,) ,
•
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
• •
) ~ ~ ~ ~
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
J" • •
'-'" '-' ~ )
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
• • ~ ~
4.J t t
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
~ J ~ ..
~ 4J'
y.y. y.y. y.y.
I..S J 0
.. 42

Practice with tanween

Practise reading the following words that have been written with tanween. Copy each word out onto the empty line below the word.

....---

~ ..-..- ';.u ~13J- ~
~ ____ k~ __ pen boy father ,-,I
.
~
I------- .. ----- ..... ~- ... ----~--

..- ..- ..- ~ ..- ~~..- ..-
• .. \ ..1. J 1 .N\
i(QveL~_~ hundred ~ hand lion
~ ..- ..
~
f-----

,
~ ,;,,- ~~ ..- ..- ~~ ..-..- ..-
.. ~ • .
JJ 0 rse _____ ~_ ~j present i.\...! goat $ :£- mouth _.J
J .. \ \
..- ~
-----------_ .. -.----~ .. -, ... -
..-~ ~~ ~ \:L1
..- ..-
_b_QLL ______ ~~~-- .. . .
cherries lip 4 Q .;, never
•
~
~--- ..• , .. -.----- .. --, ,_
~ ~ ..-..- ~~..- ..- ~~ ..-
_klO_Q_ ______ mQUntain~ corrot ~ brother ;-i
• :JJ L
".-
1---------- .--------------.----
..-..- ~// ..- ~~..- ..- ~ ~ ..-
.. :. cornet l.llo~ 'L- ,
_pyrQmid f-J.A tree ~ m_an
\0...1 • ...1
~
---.--.~---.
43

The Long Vowels (Madd)

Three letters of the Arabic alphabet are used to lengthen the sounds ot the short vowels totho. kasra and dcrnrno. These letters are:

J

i) Alif al-madd

Alit is used to lengthen the \\0" sound of totho into an \\00" sound,

Note the special shape of loam when it is joined to alif below,

\ + 1

Read the alphabet below with alif al-madd (the long torho) on each letter,

.... ---

,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
-
~ \j \J L ,
•
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
'J \~ .. \~ \_;.. ~
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
Lp ~ ~ ~ 'J
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
\j '-" ~ li Lb
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
U Lo ~ \S' Li ,
,/ ,/
L lj LA
.. 44

The Long Vowels (Madd) - Continued

(~

-

ii) Yaa al-madd

Yaa al-madd is used to lengthen the "i" sound of kasra into an "ee" sound.

Read the alphabet below with yaa al-madd (the long kasra) on each letter.

..... ---

• ~,
.. ..
~ 4$ 4$ ~
.. e
- /' - /' - /' - /'
• •
'-?J ~.~ ~~ is" .s"
.. ..
/' /' /' - /' - /'
~ • ~.
~ ~ ~
.. .J
- /' - /' - /' - /' /'
• • ~ ~
~ ~ ~
- /' - /' - /' - /' - /'
J ~ ..
• ~ ,
4$ .s"
- /' - /' - /' - /' - /'
4$. ,-?J ~
- /' /' - /' 45

The Long Vowels (Madd) - Continued

Q

(t:.

-

iii) Waaw al-madd

Waaw al-madd is used to lengthen the "u" sound of dornrno into on "00" sound.

Read the alphabet below with waaw al-madd (the long dorrrno) on each letter.

Yo Yo Yo Yo ~
•
.. .. J'
y: Y Y J-!
Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo
• •
JJ J~ J~ F F
Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo
~ • •
rc ~ ~ JJ
Yo Yo Yo Yo Yo
• • ya, ~
_JJ J-'- J-'-
Yo Yo J. Yo Yo
Y ~ .. ..
• _JJ
y j-4
Yo Yo Yo
y.. JJ ~ .... ---

46

Practice with Madd

Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided.

Jl Jl ;'

.. .

~

.. )

47

....---~

•

Sukoon

A small circle called sukoon, written above a letter of the Arabic alphabet, is used to show that the letter below it has no vowel:_o_ . All you hear is the shortened sound of the letter, so jeem becomes 'I'. kaaf becomes 'k: and sheen becomes 'sh' etc.

Try reading the following words:

° ~

°

°

. ..

~

e.g.

When there is a fatha followed by a yaa with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ay' sound.

When there is a fatha followed by a waaw with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ow' sound:

;' 0;, .. .

'-'.Y

.

(_JJ

.

ry

Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided.

~---~

.J..J. / / 0 .J..J. / 0 .J..J. 0/
~6~~ ~ ..
l • ~
i ...
,; ,; .J..J. / 0 /

..

O~:JJ

.J..J. / 0 /

.J..J. 0 /

48

-

.J..J. 0/

.. ~

( 0 d

Shadda

Shadda is a symbol written above a letter to show that the letter has been doubled and therefore sounds stronger.

The symbol for shadda looks like this: __

The short vowels are written with shadda like this: or

----~~----------~-------

Study these examples:

..... ---

~ 0 ~ ,/ ,/ 0 ,/ ~~ s ~~ 0 s
,...
~ ~
_r. = J + J + w YJ - w + w + J r' - r + r + ,
• • •
" ~ " Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided.

•

49

....---~

•

Similar sounding letters

As you will have realised by now, some pairs of Arabic letters have similar sounds, so extra care must be taken to pronounce each letter correctly. Below are some pairs of words which illustrate this point. Incorrect pronunciation would change their meaning. For example:

0/ 0/

~ means heort. whereas ~ means dog!

. .

Practise reading the words below and copy them into your exercise book. When you feel confident that you can tell the difference between the similar sounds, ask your Arabic teacher to test you by reading them aloud to you as a dictation exercise.

he perished, died; he was annihilated, destroyed

he shaved

he was good, pleasant, agreeable

he repented

--------------~~---------~---------+--

..-

clay, soil

..-

a fig

--------------------------------1-

a dog

a heart

..-

shady, shaded

l . ~

- .

he poured, emptied

~

he offered a morning drink (to someone)

--------~- -----

reason, discernment; mind, intellect

..-

despicable, contemptible;

lowly, abject, servile

he insulted, reviled; he cursed, swore

~

he swam

JS~

it was still, motionless, stagnant

,/ ,/,/

.li J

he slept; went to bed, lay down

,/,., ,/

~

(of merchandise) it found no market; it didn't sell

he intended

.

YrP

Y.J~

a path, trail, track; a mountain pass

hitting, beating, striking

some, a few

he went astray, lost his way

o

food

..-

a molar tooth

50

minaret

map

desk

JlJI"oJl

..

~

. .

lion

JIJI 0"

c__,

...

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds .

.. . ~ • wW .
~. .. y _r.-J .
. ~ • • '--~. • • •
..
• \.j . ..k.;? ~l . •
.. ._j~.~
• ~ .r: • • •
• 51

(c ~~ ~) (c ~) ( :. ~ :. :. )
~ ~ "-' _._ ...)

furniture triangle fox y.y. y.

:.

ry

y.y. /0 /

~

mosque

y.y. 0 /

meat

crocodile

y.y. / 0

~ L /'

radish

pigeon

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

VI
J-. • . . L .. , ~L ...
• • • ..>t:...:>- wL .. ~ .J
•
VI
_l_. .. ..~ ~. ~ ..
• • • _.o ~ j- .. •
• 52

( . . . ) (t »
~ ..L ..L ~ . .
c ,.>,:...

watermelon peach cucumber bread ;; 0 '"

~

shoe

» s s 0;

'-'~

. .

'~ ;; o '" ;y. '" ;;0;
. . L.;.. .
CJ>" j .. .rr":
'"

grasshopper cockerel sweetcorn

Complete the wor.ds below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

• • Jl:- . ~.
~ ~. •
• • • • .r+ . • •
•
. ~ ..
'-" . ~ • • . .r: • ~. • . ~ >- • • • ...::>-
• • • 53

carrot

squirrel

cherries

feather

bread

gazelle

giraffe

eagle

pineapple

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

", 0 ", ~ .. ",
'--'~ .. ~\_) .. _)\. .~ j .. 5
• •
JlL.. ", J. · ",
• • . u u, •
.. ._$;
.. ~ .. • • .-.J .-.J •
• 54

beans

:. --

sun

frog

~'" 0

~~

.,.. .,..

.,.. ..

~

.,..

egg

lion cub

55

onions

table

y-y-.,.. '" 0

.. I ~ ...

o~

molar tooth

y)- . . \_; .. .. J-.
o. • • ~ 4.... . ...;....) cr r: • .....J
... •
.. ~. .. • ..
.~. • _.o 4.... «s-, .~ . .~
• · .r: • • • •
.. Y-Y- 0

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

wall

watermelon

square

envelopes

birds

aeroplane

;; s s

J~

spectacles

antelope

grapes

scorpion,

;; ,/

'---_:.s;-

.

;; ;>' 0 ;>'

..

y~

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

0l. :. ..
• . )-::-. • .s: • • • .--. ._) . _) • · _rA- . •
.. •
..
• .. • l>-
_rA-. ·f • o. ._)
• • • "=-- _,._. • • • • • •
• 56

( i.J .. .. ) (cJ . . .;) ( . . . )
IJ- .A... J ~ .A... t c Jt.. .s-

wrist parrot crow gazelle .

~J

mushrooms

whistle

elephant

train

plum

bag, briefcase

hedgehog

.J..J. .J.o .J.

J_j_r.

.J..J. • .J. 0 .J.

~

.J..J.;, ;'

.. ..

~

...

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

,;J J\j-.
.. y\_r. · · Lk-. ·
>-. .--.J • e _) .. _,_p
• •
.. s _;1... · .. ..
· • · _r. • • _;_j ~ . .->-
• 57

window

tail

sugar ball book

heart

jljl 0/

.. ~

.

t)J
o~. ~ .. .J .. . '-"' l:... .
• • • O__r. o J__r . • •
• •
.. .. • .. •
0_r. • r- . .J • ._J ~ '---. .J • • • ..>r:..J
.. • eraser

lioness

scissors

/ ..

banana.

jljl/o /

ojy

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

58

coffee

spider

present

fruit

teeth

jljl /0 /

0~i

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

.. .. La>- -.L . . -.L.
• 0)- . . J .J
cr=: • • , • •
u~. • .l.~r ..
• r-.~ _r . • _,4 ~. •
• 59

bed

eye

puppy

y.y. 0 ,/

hand

kitten

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters, and also all the vowel sounds.

/'
:;S:. .\.1, .. ..
. ~ • <r:" • • O~). O_.r. _.r •
.;J
._? .. .. -L .
• · _r:- • • . _;., • • O. • .~ • 60

The moon letters

The Arabic word for 'the' is 'or (alif followed by loam). It is not written separately. Rather, it joins onto the word it defines.

The Arabic alphabet is divided into two groups of letters: the moon letters and the sun letters. The moon letters are shown above. When 'or is followed by a word beginning with a moon letter, then 'ol' is written with asukoon on the loam.

In the first example below, 'arnabun' (a rabbit) becomes 'al-arnabu' (the rabbit). Note how the tanween at the end of a word without 'ai' changes into a single short vowel once 'ai' is added. e.g. arnabun becomes al-arnabu.

~ 0 / 0/ ~~ 0 /

~\~~

. .

Exercise

~ / / 0/ ~~ / /

~\~ ~

~ 0/ s s

~\~ ~

y,y, / /

..

y, /0 / 0/ ~ ~ /0 /

~J~J'\ ~' ~Ji

y,~ / ~

..

~y.

~ 0 0/ y,y, 0

fl_r>J\ ~ fly..>-

/ /

Copy out the following words on the lines provided, adding 'ol' to each word. Remember to change the two dornrnos at the end of each word into one cornrnc.

y,~ /

J~

~y, /

s s / Y,

y\~

~~ 0

y,~ 0 ~

61

Y,~k~

.

The sun letters

• ",I" '," , ; " ,'" • , " . " '

J Q J;, j;, ~ [_p? ~ J j,) ~ ~~ ~

~t The sun letters are shown above. Sun letters are written with a shadd a when they come ~; straight after 'all. The loam of 'all does not take a sukoon. lnsteod. it becomes a silent ~> . letter.

f··'

In the first example below I 'toojun' (a crown) becomes 'ot-toolu' (the crown). Notice the strong sound of the 'tall and note how you cannot hear the 'loami at all.

Once oqcln. the tanween at the end of a word without 'or changes into a single short vowel once 'or is added. e.g. taajun becomes at-taaju.

Exercise

Copy out the following words on the lines provided I adding 'all to each word. Remember to change the two dornrnos at the end of each word into one dornrno.

~~ 0 ,; ~~ ,; J. ;.j / ~~
H ,. 1\ ..
_r..__rW '~J ..,_ ~
u
" "
~~ 0 ,; ~~,; ,; ~~ ,; ,; ,;
rJ ~ ~~~

~~ ,; 0 ,; ~~,; ,; ~~,; 0 ,;
~ ~Jlb o~j
'" 62

Exercise

Sort out the words in the box below into two groups: those beginning with sun letters and those beginning with moon letters. Write them in the columns provided, adding 'or to the beginning of each word.

Sun Letter Words

/' 0 ...-

;A.5' ~J\

Moon Letter Words

63

AI-alif al .. maqsura

AI-alif al-maqsura is a type of alif which appears at the end of some words. It always has a totho before it. Read the examples below and copy them out into your exercise book.

/ 0 /0 ~ 0

~\

I
~ / /
i! Jl
lS~\
,/
~/ / //
.. ~
~
/ 0 /0 ~/
~~~ ?
~ ~
/
•
~
/Jl / /
..
lSf ~_)
~ Jl / /
lS~ ~
~ / 0 /
~ ~ / / / // ~ .~~~\ / ~/ / 0 ~/
• Jl>- lSjJ\ ~_) ~\
. lS~ c+
..
,/ ,/
/ 0 / 0 / /0 / ~ / / / / ~ / . ~ /
.~~\ • i! ~..u\) .lS¥ JJ ~..u\J
C?\
_)
,/ ,/
/0 ..- 0)2/ jl
Csl>-"~ \ 0 Jr ) 64

Reading practice with hamza

Below are examples of hamza in its various forms and positions. Read the words out loud and copy them into your exercise book.

/

\ ~ + ~ ~

~~~

..

JlJlo / I

:.

>.-~

..

JlJl / /

~

..

Jl Jl 0 I s Jl Jl~ s

>.-l. ~ if j)_)

JlJl 0/

.LJt

....

/

Jl s s Jl

• • J!

u~,

JL

Jl Jl

•

>.-~

... ".

Jl Jl Jl Jl

s s : s s

65

Reading practice

Read the following familiar Islamic phrases and learn their meanings.

;;i / / 031

.wl 0~

;;i 31 0 / 0/

.w ~I

/;;i 31 0/0/

wI . . J!

.., . -: ... \ . f

;;i /' o;;i / ;;i 31 31 /

. ~)I 0\,b~:..JI o" w~ ~ yi

"..,/;' ,. r' "..

~o/ )luJ /' //

.I~ wI ~I~

~o/ Jl~ //

.I~ wI ~I~

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

Allah is Greater.

Glory be to Allah.

What Allah wishes. (A phrase used to express praise or admiration).

God willing.

Praise be to Allah.(Thanks be to Allah).

I ask Allah's forgiveness.

I testify that there is no god except Allah.

I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

May the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him. (A phrase spoken after mentioning our Prophet's name).

I seek protection in Allah from the accursed Shay tan.

(To a boy or man): May Allah reward you greatly.

(To a girl or woman): May Allah reward you greatly .

• ~ ~I ;"'-y!/ /.j/ . f II ~/ ':._)/ j/ ~J1 0 .. // J1r..J;;i (I

...._, l) ~..__,.... .Y~ May the peace and blessings of Allah be

,. upon you. (Islamic greeting) .

. ~ 8";) ill I ~~) ~ ~ I ~ SO~) And may the peace and blessin9s of Allah

,. , be upon you too. (Reply to Islamic greeting).

66

Ninety-nine perfect names of Allah

Read the beautiful names of Allah listed below and copy them into your exercise book, separating them into two groups according to whether the letter after the initial '01-' is a sun letter or a moon letter.

~ ,; °

~\

..

s ~ 0

C ... · Q ~\

..

~ ,; °

~\

. ..

~ ,; °

~\

~ iii

,-...J q ... .r

~ ~ °

~\

. .. .

-& ~ °

J~\

~\ J0_Lj\

~ iii

~\

..

~ ,; °

~\

;'

~ ,; °

~\

;'

~ iii,; °

Li;J\ .J

~ ,; ° iii

~)\

s iii

~)\

;'

~ ,; °

~\

s ,; iii

\~\

~ 0 ~ °

~rJ\

67

ne. perfect names of Allah

~I

........

o .J. 0

~\

.. ,

o jl 0

~\

.. ....

/0

.. U\ ~.

.. ....

jl /0

~W\

/

J\}\

......

/ / jl 0

J~\

.. ....

~\

jl /ojl 0

I,Q~\

....

ojl 0 jl /

~\~~

.... ....

/ / 0 jl

- J~\ j~

/

ii)'jlj

....

jl 0 jl 0

~\

jl jl 0

~\

..

o jl 0

~\

......

jl jl 0

~\

..

~I

..

jl / 0

~\_,J\

....

jl / 0

~W\

jl /ojlo

~\ )

....

jl~ /jl 0

~\ \

s e /jl 0

_;- j.-<J\

J~~~\

jl / 0

~\

.. .

jl /0

~U\

.

....,

jl ;;i

.J~ € .:J\

~ .

..

....

jl / 0

~\

....

~}I

......

.J. / 0

~,\

..

o jl 0

~\

......

jl ojl 0

l>~\

68

In the name of Allah, Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,

The Gracious, the Merciful, Lord of the. Day of Judgment.

You alone do we worship, and to You alone do we turn for help.

Guide us on the straight path,

The path of those whom You have favoured,

Not the path of those who earn Your anger, nor of those who go astray.

God - there is no god but im, Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting.

slumber nor sleep overtake

To Him belong all that is in the heavens and ail that is on the earth.

Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?

He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot encompass anything of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].

His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and he never wearies of guarding and preserving them, for He is the Most High, the Supreme [in glory].