‫بسم هللا الرمحن الرحيم‬

Aliah University
Common Course for All UG/PG Programs

Subject Code: AISUGAU01/PGAUC01/UCCUGAU01

Arabic and Islamic Studies

Arabic
Prepared By: Obaidur Rahman

Arabic Language

‫اللغة العربية‬
Arabic is a living language, spoken and written by more than 400 million people, in
countries stretching from the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula, to North Africa, and
across Asia. What’s more, Arabic is considered a sacred language for more than a billion
Muslims, and a language which has contributed massively to our society.

Arabic is currently an official language in 22 countries, and has spread both orally and
through literature thanks to its long history.

Previously used by the pre-Islamic Arabic tribes for their poetry, the development of the
Muslim religion saw the Arabic language transformed from one of Arab culture, into the
sacred language of Islam as well.

The History and Evolution of the Arabic Language

Arabic belongs to the Afro-Asian language family, which includes more than 300
languages which all have their own writing, vocabulary, and dialects.

The first written trace of the Arabic language is an inscription from the 4th century AD
which was found in the Syrian desert.

Arabic is a poetic language, and includes many different dialects. Its literary style reflects
the cultural heritage of the different tribes.

Today however, the Arabic language (especially Classical Arabic) is especially associated
with the Muslim religion.
1
The Quran tells us that from 610-632 AD the Prophet Mohammed received messages
from God via the archangel Gabriel, in what is now Saudi Arabia. Arabic is
considered to be one of the oldest languages in the world with a wealth of
knowledge that Archeologists to this day are still trying to uncover. Importance of
Arabic has roots going back as far as the sixth century. The Middle East has a rich
storytelling history that has produced some of the most remarkable stories such as
the Arabian Nights, Ali Baba, and Aladdin. Arabs have also made significant
contributions in such areas as mathematics, navigation, belly dancing, astrology,
and architecture.

2
 Arabic Alphabets
Pronunciation Name Alone
A আ Alif
‫ا‬
Baa
B ব ‫ب‬
Taa
T ত ‫ت‬
S/Th স Saa/ Thaa
‫ث‬
Jeem
J জ ‫ج‬
Haa
H হ ‫ح‬
Kh খ Khaa
‫خ‬
D দ Daal
‫د‬
Zaal/ Dhaal
Z/ Dh য ‫ذ‬
R র Raa
‫ر‬
Z য Zaa
‫ز‬
Seen
S স ‫س‬
Sheen
Sh শ ‫ش‬
Sw স্ব Swaad
‫ص‬
Dhwaad/ Zwaad
Z/ Dh য/ দ্ব ‫ض‬
Tw ত্ব Twaa
‫ط‬
Z/Zw য Zwaa
‫ظ‬
3
 A‘ আ Ayn
‫ع‬
Ghain
G/ Gh গ ‫غ‬
Faa
F ফ ‫ف‬
Q ক Qaaf
‫ق‬
K ক Kaf
‫ك‬
Laam
L ল ‫ل‬
M ম Meem
‫م‬
N ন Noon
‫ن‬
Haa
H হ ‫ه‬
Wau
W/O ও/ উ ‫و‬
I/Y ই/ য় Yaa
‫ي‬

4
 ‫‪Different shapes of Arabic Alphabets‬‬
‫‪Final‬‬ ‫‪Middle Initial‬‬ ‫‪Name‬‬ ‫‪Alone‬‬
‫‪A‬‬ ‫ـ ــا‬ ‫‪Alif‬‬
‫ا‬
‫‪Baa‬‬
‫‪B‬‬ ‫ــب‬ ‫ـ ـب ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫بـــ‬ ‫ب‬
‫‪Taa‬‬
‫‪T‬‬ ‫ـ ــت‬ ‫ـ ـ ـتـ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫تـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ت‬
‫‪Saa/ Thaa‬‬
‫‪S/Th‬‬ ‫ــث‬ ‫ـ ـثـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ثــ‬ ‫ث‬
‫‪J‬‬ ‫ـ ــج‬ ‫ـ ـ ـج ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫جــ‬ ‫‪Jeem‬‬
‫ج‬
‫‪Haa‬‬
‫‪H‬‬ ‫ـ ــح‬ ‫ـ ـ ـح ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫حـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ح‬
‫‪Khaa‬‬
‫‪Kh‬‬ ‫ــخ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـخ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫خـ ـ ـ‬ ‫خ‬
‫‪D‬‬ ‫ـ ــد‬ ‫‪Daal‬‬
‫د‬
‫‪Zaal/ Dhaal‬‬
‫‪Z/ Dh‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــذ‬ ‫ذ‬
‫‪Raa‬‬
‫‪R‬‬ ‫ـ ــر‬ ‫ر‬
‫‪Zaa‬‬
‫‪Z‬‬ ‫ـ ــز‬ ‫ز‬
‫‪S‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــس‬ ‫ـ ـسـ‬ ‫ســ‬ ‫‪Seen‬‬
‫س‬
‫‪Sheen‬‬
‫‪Sh‬‬ ‫ـ ــش‬ ‫ـ ـش ـ ـ‬ ‫شـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ش‬
‫‪Swaad‬‬
‫‪Sw‬‬ ‫ـ ــص‬ ‫ـ ـصـ ـ ـ‬ ‫صـ ـ‬ ‫ص‬
‫‪Z/ Dh‬‬
‫ـ ــض‬ ‫ـ ـضـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ضــ‬ ‫‪Dhwaad/‬‬
‫‪Zwaad‬‬
‫ض‬
‫‪Twaa‬‬
‫‪Tw‬‬ ‫ـ ــط‬ ‫ـ ـ ـط ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫طـ ـ‬ ‫ط‬

‫‪5‬‬
 ‫‪Z/Zw‬‬
‫ـ ــظ‬ ‫ـ ـظ ـ ـ‬ ‫ظـ ـ ـ‬ ‫‪Zwaa‬‬
‫ظ‬
‫‪Ayn‬‬
‫‪A‬‬ ‫ـ ــع‬ ‫ـ ـع ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫عــ‬ ‫ع‬
‫‪Ghayn‬‬
‫‪G/ Gh‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــغ‬ ‫ـ ـ ـغ ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫غــ‬ ‫غ‬
‫‪F‬‬ ‫ـ ــف‬ ‫ـفـ‬ ‫فـ ـ ـ‬ ‫‪Faa‬‬
‫ف‬
‫‪Q‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــق‬ ‫ـ ـ ـق ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫قـــ‬ ‫‪Qaaf‬‬
‫ق‬
‫‪Kaf‬‬
‫‪K‬‬ ‫ـ ــك‬ ‫ـ ـك ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫كـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ك‬
‫‪L‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــل‬ ‫ـ ـلـ ـ ـ‬ ‫لـ ـ ـ‬ ‫‪Laam‬‬
‫ل‬
‫‪M‬‬ ‫ـ ــم‬ ‫ـ ـ ـمـ ـ ـ‬ ‫مــ‬ ‫‪Meem‬‬
‫م‬
‫‪Noon‬‬
‫‪N‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــن‬ ‫ـ ـ ـن ـ ـ ـ‬ ‫نـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ن‬
‫‪Haa‬‬
‫‪H‬‬ ‫ـ ــه‬ ‫ـ ـ ـهـ ـ ـ‬ ‫هـ ـ ـ‬ ‫ه‬
‫‪T/ H‬‬ ‫ـ ـ ــة‬ ‫)‪Ta (Round‬‬
‫ة‬
‫‪Hamza‬‬
‫‪A‬‬ ‫ئ‬ ‫ؤ‬ ‫أإ‬ ‫ء‬
‫‪waaw‬‬
‫‪W/O‬‬ ‫ــو‬ ‫و‬
‫‪I/Y‬‬ ‫ــي‬ ‫ـ ـيـ ـ ـ‬ ‫يــ‬ ‫‪Yaa‬‬
‫ي‬

‫‪Identify the Letters‬‬

‫نصير‬ ‫منير‬ ‫سبيل‬ ‫عرف‬ ‫كتب‬ ‫بيت‬
‫غرقد‬ ‫كهف‬ ‫بيضة‬ ‫ثعلب‬ ‫قفص‬ ‫غشي‬
‫كبير‬ ‫نجم‬ ‫قمر‬ ‫شمس‬ ‫حجر‬ ‫لطيف‬
‫الهند‬ ‫كولكاتا‬ ‫جامعة‬ ‫مدرسة‬ ‫قلم‬ ‫خلق‬

‫‪6‬‬
 ‫الحركات‬
Signs

َ َ َ
‫و‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬
Zammah ‫الضمة‬ Kasrah ‫الكسرة‬ Fathah ‫الفتحة‬
O/U, োা I িা A/ া
u/ o ‫ا‬ E ‫ا‬ A ‫ا‬
Bu ‫ب‬ Bi ‫ب‬ Ba ‫ب‬
Tu ‫ت‬ Ti ‫ت‬ Ta ‫ت‬
Thu/ Su, ‫ث‬ Thi/ Si ‫ث‬ Tha/ Sa ‫ث‬
Ju ‫ج‬ Ji ‫ج‬ Ja ‫ج‬
Hu ‫ح‬ Hi ‫ح‬ Ha ‫ح‬
Khu ‫خ‬ Khi ‫خ‬ Kha ‫خ‬
Du ‫د‬ Di ‫د‬ Da ‫د‬
Zu ‫ذ‬ Zi ‫ذ‬ Za ‫ذ‬
Ru ‫ر‬ Ri ‫ر‬ Ra ‫ر‬
Zu ‫ز‬ Zi ‫ز‬ Za ‫ز‬
Su ‫س‬ Si ‫س‬ Sa ‫س‬
Shu ‫ش‬ Shi ‫ش‬ Sha ‫ش‬
Swu ‫ص‬ Swi ‫ص‬ Swa ‫ص‬
Dhu/ Zu‫ض‬ Dhi/ Zi ‫ض‬ Dha/Zi ‫ض‬
Twu ‫ط‬ Twi ‫ط‬ Twa ‫ط‬
Zwi/ Zi ‫ظ‬ Zwi/Zi ‫ظ‬ Zwa ‫ظ‬
U/O ‫ع‬ E’ ‫ع‬ A’ ‫ع‬

7
 ‫غ ‪Gu‬‬ ‫غ ‪Gi‬‬ ‫غ ‪Ga‬‬
‫ف ‪Fu‬‬ ‫ف ‪Fi‬‬ ‫ف ‪Fa‬‬
‫ق ‪Qu‬‬ ‫ق ‪Qi‬‬ ‫ق ‪Qa‬‬
‫ك ‪Ku‬‬ ‫ك ‪Ki‬‬ ‫ك ‪Ka‬‬
‫ل ‪Lu‬‬ ‫ل ‪Li‬‬ ‫ل ‪La‬‬
‫م ‪Mu‬‬ ‫م ‪Mi‬‬ ‫م ‪Ma‬‬
‫ن ‪Nu‬‬ ‫ن ‪Ni‬‬ ‫ن ‪Na‬‬
‫ه ‪Hu‬‬ ‫ه ‪Hi‬‬ ‫ه ‪Ha‬‬
‫و ‪Wo‬‬ ‫و ‪We‬‬ ‫و ‪Wa‬‬
‫ي ‪Yu‬‬ ‫ي ‪Yi‬‬ ‫ي ‪Ya‬‬

‫‪Practice‬‬

‫دخ ل‬ ‫سجد‬ ‫كسب‬ ‫وجد‬ ‫حصل‬ ‫بـ ل غ‬ ‫درس‬

‫خطف‬ ‫كرم‬ ‫بـخ ـل‬ ‫ع لم‬ ‫رحم‬ ‫لعب‬ ‫شرب‬
‫س ئل‬ ‫بعث‬ ‫ه دي‬ ‫نصر‬ ‫صحف‬ ‫فقد‬ ‫ك تب‬
‫فأ ْهل ْكناه ْم فأ ْسق ْيـناكـم ْوه‬ ‫أنْـجز‬ ‫ب‬
‫ثـ ْعل ْ‬ ‫بـ ْعثـر‬

‫‪8‬‬
 َْ
Sukun ‫السكون‬
Where the vowel is absence
Ub ‫ب‬
ْ‫ا‬ Ib ‫ب‬
ْ‫ا‬ Ab ‫ب‬
ْ‫ا‬
Ut ‫ت‬
ْ‫أ‬ It ‫ت‬
ْ‫أ‬ At ‫ت‬
ْ‫أ‬
Uth ‫ث‬
ْ‫أ‬ Ith ‫ث‬
ْ‫إ‬ Ath ‫ث‬
ْ‫أ‬
Ujj ‫أ ْج‬ Ijj ‫إ ْج‬ Ajj ‫أ ْج‬
Uh ‫أ ْح‬ Ih ‫إ ْح‬ Ah ‫أ ْح‬
Ukh ‫أ ْخ‬ Ikh ‫إ ْخ‬ Akh ‫أ ْخ‬
Udd ‫أ ْد‬ Idd ‫إ ْد‬ Add ‫أ ْد‬
Udh ‫أ ْذ‬ Idh ‫إ ْذ‬ Adh ‫أ ْذ‬
Ur ‫أ ْر‬ Ir ‫إ ْر‬ Ar ‫أ ْر‬
Uz ‫أ ْز‬ Iz ‫إ ْز‬ Az ‫أ ْز‬
Us ‫س‬
ْ‫أ‬ Is ‫س‬
ْ‫إ‬ As ‫س‬
ْ‫أ‬
Ush ‫ش‬
ْ‫أ‬ Ish ‫ش‬
ْ‫إ‬ Ash ‫ش‬
ْ‫أ‬
Usw ‫ص‬
ْ ‫أ‬ Isw ‫ص‬
ْ ‫إ‬ Asw ‫ص‬
ْ ‫أ‬
Uzw ‫ض‬
ْ ‫أ‬ Izw ‫ض‬
ْ ‫إ‬ Azw ‫ض‬
ْ ‫أ‬
Utw ‫أ ْط‬ Itw ‫إ ْط‬ Atw ‫أ ْط‬
Uz ‫أ ْظ‬ Iz ‫إ ْظ‬ Az ‫أ ْظ‬
U’ ‫ع‬
ْ‫أ‬ I’i ‫ع‬
ْ‫إ‬ A’a ‫ع‬
ْ‫أ‬
Ug ‫غ‬
ْ‫أ‬ Ig ‫غ‬
ْ‫إ‬ Ag ‫غ‬
ْ‫أ‬
Uf ‫ف‬
ْ ‫أ‬ If ‫ف‬
ْ ‫إ‬ Af ‫ف‬
ْ ‫أ‬
Uq ‫أ ْق‬ Iq ‫إ ْق‬ Aq ‫أ ْق‬
Uk ‫أ ْك‬ Ik ‫إٍ ْك‬ Ak ‫أ ْك‬
UL ‫أ ْل‬ IL ‫إ ْل‬ Al ‫أ ْل‬
Um ‫أ ْم‬ Im ‫إ ْم‬ Am ‫أ ْم‬
Un ‫أ ْن‬ In ‫إ ْن‬ An ‫أ ْن‬
9
 Uh ‫أ ْه‬ Ih ‫إ ْه‬ Ah ‫أ ْه‬
Woo ‫أو‬ Iw ‫إ ْو‬ Aw ‫أ ْو‬
Ui ‫أ ْي‬ EE ‫إي‬ Ai ‫أ ْي‬

Practice
Bal ‫ب ْل‬ Sal ‫س ْل‬ Hajj ‫ح ْج‬
Fahad ‫فـه ْد‬ Balad ‫بـل ْد‬ Qul ‫ق ْل‬
Hablun ‫ح ْبل‬ Rasoolun ‫رسول‬ Abdun ‫ع ْبد‬
Qaala ‫قال‬ Feehi ‫فيه‬ Ba’labak ‫ك‬
ْ ‫بـ ْعلب‬
Ihdina ‫إ ْهدن‬ Yaumi ‫يـ ْوم‬ Bismi ‫ب ْسم‬
Magzoobi ‫مغْضوب‬ Nastayeenu ‫ن ْستعي‬ Na’budu ‫نـ ْعبد‬

10
 ‫ التنوين‬Tanween/ Noonation
ٍ َ

‫ إٍ = إ ْن‬،‫ أ= أ ْن‬،‫أ= أ ْن‬

Un ‫أ‬ In ٍ‫إ‬ An ‫أ‬
Bun ‫ب‬ Bin ٍ
‫ب‬ Ban ‫ب‬
Tun ‫ت‬ Tin ٍ
‫ت‬ Tan ‫ت‬
Sun ‫ث‬ Sin ٍ
‫ث‬ San ‫ث‬
Jun ‫ج‬ Jin ‫ٍج‬ Jan ‫جا‬
Hun ‫ح‬ Hin ‫ٍح‬ Han ‫حا‬
Khun ‫خ‬ Khin ‫ٍخ‬ Khan ‫خا‬
Dun ‫د‬ Din ‫ٍد‬ Dan ‫دا‬
Zun ‫ذ‬ Zin ‫ٍذ‬ Zan ‫ذا‬
Run ‫ر‬ Rin ‫ٍر‬ Ran ‫را‬
Sun ‫س‬ Sin ٍ
‫س‬ San ‫سا‬
Shun ‫ش‬ Shin ٍ
‫ش‬ Shan ‫شا‬
Swun ‫ص‬ Swin ٍ
‫ص‬ Swan ‫صا‬
Zun ‫ض‬ Zin ٍ
‫ض‬ Zan ‫ضا‬
Twun ‫ط‬ Twin ‫ٍط‬ Twan ‫طا‬
Zun ‫ظ‬ Zin ‫ٍظ‬ Zan ‫ظا‬
Un ‫ع‬ In ‫ٍع‬ An ‫عا‬
Gun ‫غ‬ Gin ‫ٍغ‬ Gan ‫غا‬
Fun ‫ف‬ Fin ‫ف‬ٍ Fan ‫فا‬
11
 Qun ‫ق‬ Qin ‫ٍق‬ Qan ‫قا‬
Kun ‫ك‬ Kin ‫ٍك‬ Kan ‫كا‬
Lun ‫ل‬ Lin ‫ٍل‬ Lan ‫ل‬
Mun ‫م‬ Min ‫ٍم‬ Man ‫ما‬
Nun ‫ن‬ Nin ‫ٍن‬ Nan ‫ن‬
Hun ‫ه‬ Hin ‫ٍه‬ Han ‫ها‬
Wun ‫و‬ Win ‫ٍو‬ Wan ‫وا‬
Yun ‫ي‬ Yin ‫ٍي‬ Yan ‫ي‬

َ
Shaddah or Tashdeed / ‫ التشديد‬.‫الشدة‬
“shaddah”. The Alphabet with “shaddah” is joined with the former alphabet and
will be pronounced twice like the alphabet “s” in “dis-solve”. SHADDAH
(TASHDEED) (repeater) Doubled consonant. It is an indication of double consonant
e.g. in English irregular, innocent

‫ب ِب‬ ِ ِ
Abbu ‫اَ ْب ب =اَب‬ Ibbi ْ ‫ ا ِب = ا‬Abba ‫ب‬
َ +‫ب‬
ْ +َ‫َب = ا‬
َّ ‫أ‬

Summa ‫ث َّـم‬ ‫َرَّد َد‬ Habbaba ‫ب‬

َ َّ‫َحب‬
Raddada

Iyyaka ‫إِ ََّّي َك‬ Tubbun ‫تب‬ Haqqan ‫َحقًّا‬

Amma ‫َع َّم‬ ‫َح َّج‬ Khaffafa ‫َّف‬
َ ‫َخف‬
Hajja

12
 HURUF-E ILLAT

‫الحروف العلة‬
Vowels / Weak Letters

‫ي‬ ‫و‬ ‫ا‬

Yaa Wau Alif

Maddah
long Vowels Letters “Maddah Letters”
Madd means to stretch, to pull, The Maddah Letters (long Vowels Letters) will be
prolonged for the duration of one Alif or two Harakah and the duration of one Alif/
two Harakah is two seconds.
There are three letters of Maddah. These are: alif (‫)ا‬, yāʼ(‫ )ي‬or wāw(‫ )و‬The rule has
the following conditions:

1. Alif Maddah: when Alif is silent and the letter before Alif has a Fatha (َ) on
it, then the letter Alif is called Alif Maddah and will be prolonged / stretched
for two measures of Harakah (for two seconds). If there is fathah before alif
letter then the Alif is called alif-maddah, will be pull equal to two harakah or
one Alif ( duration of alif or two Harakah is two seconds)

2. Wāw Maddah: when wāw has a Jazm/Sakoon and the letter before wāw has
a Dammah on it, then this wāw is called wāw Maddah and will be prolonged
for two measures of Harakah (for two seconds). If there is Dammah before
wāw Sakin then the wāw is called wāw-maddah, will be pull equal to two
harakah or one Alif ( duration of alif / two Harakah is two seconds)

3. Ya Maddah: when yā has a Jazm/Sakoon and the letter before yā has a Kasra
on it, then this yā is called yā Maddah and will be prolonged for two
measures of Harakah (for two seconds). If there is Kasrah before yā Sakin
then the wāw is called wāw-maddah, will be pull equal to two harakah or
one Alif ( duration of alif / two Harakah is two seconds)

13
 Sun Letters and Moon Letters
In Arabic, the consonants are divided into two groups – the Sun-letters ( ‫حروف‬
‫ )شمسية‬and Moon-letters (‫)حروف قمرية‬. This classification is based on whether or
not they assimilate the definite article al ‫ال‬.
When the definite article is assimilated into the Sun-letters and it loses its
distinctive sound. As a result, the sound at the beginning of the word is doubled.
(Given Shaddah).
ّ Ar Rahman. The merciful-a name of Allah
For example: (‫)الرحمن‬

Whereas, the definite article retains its distinctive sound when it comes before one
of the Moon-letters.
‫أ‬
For example: (‫ )اْلرض‬Al- Arz, The earth.

The Sun and Moon letters might seem tricky, but they are really easy.

Keep in mind: It’s all about pronunciation.

The Rule Is In The Name

The Arabic term for Sun-letters is (‫ )الحروف الشمسية‬and in Al Shams, you don’t
pronounce the ‫( ل‬Lam). As for the “Moon-letters”, it is (‫) الحروف القمرية‬, and for Al
Qamar, the ‫( ل‬Lam) is pronounced.
There are 28 consonants in the Arabic alphabet. Exactly half are Sun, and half are
Moon.

Sun Letters. )‫(الحروف الشمسية‬

The 14 Sun-letters are: (‫ﺕ‬, ‫ﺙ‬, ‫ﺩ‬, ‫ﺫ‬, ‫ر‬, ‫ﺯ‬, ‫ﺱ‬, ‫ﺵ‬, ‫ﺹ‬, ‫ض‬, ‫ﻁ‬, ‫ﻅ‬, ‫ل‬, ‫)ﻥ‬.
ّ
ّ the merciful-a name of Allah. (‫)الضىح‬
(‫)الرحمن‬ the morning brightness.

The 14 Moon-letters are:

( ‫أ‬, ‫ﺏ‬, ‫ﺝ‬, ‫ﺡ‬, ‫ﺥ‬, ‫ﻉ‬, ‫ﻍ‬, ‫ف‬, ‫ﻕ‬, ‫ﻙ‬, ‫ﻡ‬, ‫و‬, ‫ﻱ‬, ‫)ه‬. Arabs usually memorize this rhyme that
contains all the Moon-letters.
َ ْ َ َ َ َّ َ ْ
‫ف ع ِق ْي َمه‬ ‫( ِابغ حجك وخ‬which roughly translates to: ‘Perform Haj and be vary of
quarrel’).
Examples of words that begin with moon letters are:
‫أ‬
(‫ )اْلرض‬the earth.
ْ
(‫ )الخلق‬the creation.
ْ
(‫ )القيامة‬the day of judgment.
ْ
(‫ )الكتاﺏ‬the book.
14
 ‫الن ِكَرُة‬
َّ ‫الم ْع ِرَف ُة َو‬
َ
Al-Ma'rifah & An-Nakirah
DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE NOUNS IN ARABIC
LANGUAGE.

The Nouns (‫ )األسماء‬in Arabic language can be divided into two types: which are
Definite (‫ )معرفة‬and Indefinite Nouns (‫)نكرة‬.

The Indefinite Noun (‫)النكرة‬

Indefinite noun (‫ )النكرة‬in Arabic are the nouns which are not referring to a specific
name of a person, animal, place, or thing. The indefinite noun can be formed in
Arabic language by adding one of the signs of Tanween.
The indefinite Nouns is always indicated by the use of article (a) or (an) to show
that the item is not known before the period of discussion.

examples: ‫ كتاب‬A book, ‫ كتاب جديد‬A new book. ‫ رجل‬A man.

The Definite Noun(‫)المعرفة‬

In Arabic Language, the definite noun is known as (‫)المعرفة‬. It is the type of noun
that is referring to a specific name of a person, animal, place or thing. Hence, this
means you are referring to the name you have already known before or have in
mind.
The (‫ )ال‬definitely makes a word definite, while Tanween, such
as: fathataan (ً), kasrataan (ً) and dammataan (ً) make a word indefinite*. A
word cannot have both (‫ )ال‬and tanween attached to it at the same time.

15
Sometimes people's names have tanween on their end, This is called exceptional
to the rules.
The Definite noun can be identified in many ways among which are:

1. The definite Nouns formed with the addition of (‫( )ال‬article The) to the
beginning of the noun. ‫ الولد‬The boy.

2. The definite Nouns formed by the use of pronoun (‫)الضمير‬, ‫ هو‬He

‫ هي‬She

3. The definite Nouns formed by the use of The Proper Noun (‫)العلم‬
‫ يوسف‬Yusuf,
4. The definite Nouns formed by the use of The demonstrative Pronoun ( ‫اسم‬
‫)اإلشارة‬, ‫ هذا‬This, ‫ هذه‬This.

5. The definite Nouns formed by the use of Relative Noun (‫)اسم الموصولة‬
‫ الذى‬That, ‫ التى‬That

6. The definite Nouns formed by the use of (‫)يا‬, ‫ يا‬O you! ‫ اجلس يا ولد‬Sit down
you boy!
7. The definite Nouns formed by Adding Indefinite Noun to definite Noun ( ‫المضاف الى‬
‫)معرفة‬. ‫ قميص‬A Shirt, ‫ قميص أحمد‬Ahmad’s shirt

16
 Part of Speech in Arabic Grammar
‫أقسام الكالم‬

There are 3 parts of Speech in Arabic Grammar. Every word that we read/speak will fall
into following 3 categories,

i. Ism (‫)اسم‬
ii. Fa'il (‫)فعل‬
iii. Harf (‫)حرف‬

1. Ism (‫)اسم‬
Ism in Arabic Grammar can be compared to nouns in English language. e.g. ‫كتاﺏ‬, ‫فاطمة‬, ‫ ﺯيد‬etc.
To identify ‫ اسم‬from an Arabic sentence there are few signs, which we will discuss now.

ُ
Signs of Ism (‫)عالمات االسم‬:
There are multiple signs of a word being Ism. But here we will discuss 5 of them which are as
follows,
ََ
i. ‫( علم‬Proper Noun). If the word is Proper noun or name of human or animal or any
َّ ْْ ْ َ
things. It will be Ism (Noun). E.g. ‫ َس َّي َارة‬،‫ َمكه‬،‫ ِهند‬،‫ُمح َّمد‬

ii. ‫( دخول ال‬Alif Laam)

If we find ‫ ال‬on any word then that word is Ism e.g. ‫( الحمد لِل‬All praise and gratitude belongs to
Allah)

iii. ‫( التنوين‬Tanween) If we find tanween on a word then that word is Ism e.g. ‫جاء‬
‫( زيد‬Zaid Came)

iv. ‫( دخول حرف الجر عىل الكلمة‬Harfe Jaar)

17
If we find Harf Jar before any word then that word is Ism e.g. ‫( من البيت‬from house). Here, house
is Ism as it is followed by Harf Jar (‫)من‬
v. )‫ أيها‬،‫( دخول حرف ندا (يا‬Harfe Nida)
If we find Harfe Nida before any word than that word is Ism. E.g. ‫يا م ِالك‬

2. Fa'il (‫)فعل‬
Fa'il in Arabic grammar can be compared to verbs in English language
e.g. ‫ أخرﺝ‬،‫ يذهب‬،‫كتب‬

Signs of Fa'il (‫)عالمات الفعل‬:

There are multiple signs of a word being Fa'il. But here we will discuss 4 of them which are
as follows:
َ‫أ‬
i. ‫دخول قد‬: If we find ‫ قد‬before a word then it is ‫ الفعل‬e.g. ‫قد ﺫهب‬, ‫قد أفلح‬.
Note: This sign works with both Fa'il Madhi (‫ )فعل ماض‬Past Tense. and Fa'il
Mudhari (‫ )فعل مضارﻉ‬Present and Future Tense.

‫ن‬
ii. ‫السي أو سوف‬ ‫دخول‬: If we find Seen (‫ )السي‬Or Sawfa (‫ )سوف‬before a word then it is ‫الفعل‬
e.g. ‫ سأذهب‬Or ‫سوف أذهب‬.
Note: This sign works with ‫ فعل مضارﻉ‬only.

ْ َ
iii. (‫ لن‬، ‫دخول ( لم‬: If we find ‫ لم‬before a word then it is ‫ الفعل‬e.g. ‫لم أﺫهب إىل البيت‬
َ ‫َل ْن َي َن‬
‫ال‬
Note: This sign works with ‫ فعل مضارﻉ‬only.

iv. ‫دخول تاء المتكلم‬: If we find ‫ تاء المتكلم‬at the end of a word then it is ‫ الفعل‬e.g. ‫ ﺫهبت‬OR
‫خرجت‬.
Note: This sign works with ‫فعل ماض‬
ّ ّ ُ َ
v. )‫ ﻥ‬:‫ (نوﻥ المشدﺩ‬If we find ‫ ﻥ‬at the end of a word, it is ‫ فعل‬e.g. ‫ليق أول َّن‬

3. Harf (‫)حرف‬
Harf in Arabic grammar can be compared to prepositions in English language. e.g.
ْ
‫ِمن‬ Min From ‫إل‬ Ila To
‫حت‬ Hatta Until ‫عىل‬ A’la On
‫ن‬
‫و‬ Wa And ‫ِ ِف‬ Fee In
‫ب‬ Baa By ‫ك‬ Kaaf As

Signs of Harf (‫)عالمة الحرف‬: There are No Signs for Harf

18
 ‫س ِميَّةُ والجملة الفعلية‬
ْ ‫ا ْل ُج ْملَةُ اال‬
The Nominal Sentence and The Verbal Sentence –

In Arabic language there are two types of sentences:

1. The Nominal Sentence meaning / ‫ الجملة االسمية‬Al ĵumla tul Ismiyya/ - this sentence starts
(mostly) with a noun.
2. The Verbal Sentence meaning / ‫ الجملة الفعلية‬Al ĵumla tul Feliyya/ - this sentence starts
(mostly) with a verb.
Please read the following carefully and note the difference between the sentences:

The Nominal Sentence The Verbal Sentence

"Al ĵumla ُ َ ْ tul Ismiyya" "Al
ُ َّ ْ ĵumla
ُ َ ْ ُtul Feliyya"
َّ ْ ُ ْ ْ
‫الجملة االس ِمية‬ ‫الفع ِلية‬
ِ ‫الجملة‬
ْ َ ‫أ‬ ْ َ ‫ﺫهب أ‬
Arabic .‫أحمد ﺫهب إىل الج ِامع ِة‬ .‫أحمد إىل الج ِامع ِة‬
Transliteration Ahmadu dhahaba ilal Jāmiati Dhahaba Ahmadu ilal Jāmiati
Literary Reading Ahmad went to the university Went Ahmad to the university
ْ ْ
Arabic .‫المد ِّرﺱ خرﺝ ِم أن ف أص ٍل‬ .‫خرﺝ المد ِّرﺱ ِم أن ف أص ٍل‬
Transliteration Al mudarrisu kharaĵa min faŝlin Kharaĵa al mudarrisu min faŝlin
Literary Reading The teacher went out of a class Went out the teacher of a class
Two of the sentences in the above table are the nominal sentences and the other two are verbal
sentences.
A nominal sentence is called “Al ĵumla tul Ismiyya and a verbal sentence is called Al Jumla tul
Fe’liyya.

19
 ‫الجنس‬
The Gender
The gender ‫س‬
ْ
‫ن‬ ‫الج‬ of noun ‫م‬ ْ ‫ اال‬in Arabic is either masculine ‫ ُم َذ َّكر‬or feminine ‫م َّؤ َّنث‬.
‫س‬ ُ The
َّ َ ُ ِ ِ
َ َ َ
masculine ‫ المذ َّكر‬is the basic form; therefore, it does not require a marker ‫عالمة‬. The
َ ُ ْ َ ََ
feminine ‫المؤنث‬ is derived from the masculine; it requires a feminine marker ‫عَل َمة تأ ِنيث‬. There
are two types of masculine: real masculine and unreal masculine. Likewise, the feminine has
three types: real, unreal, and marked. This post explains the masculine and feminine forms of
nouns in Arabic.

ْ َ َّ َ ُ
Real Masculine ‫ق‬
ِِ ‫المذكر الح ِقي‬:
The real masculine noun is the noun that refers to a human or animal male, such
ُ َ َ َ ْ َ
as ‫‘ َرجل‬man’, ‫‘ َولد‬boy’, ‫‘ ُمح َّم َد‬Mohammed’, ‫‘ ط ِب ْيب‬male physician’, ‫‘ ُمهن ِدس‬male engineer’
َ َْ َ ُ ُ
, ‫اجر‬ َ
ِ ‫‘ ت‬businessman’, ‫‘ أسد‬lion’, ‫‘ ِح َمار‬donkey’, ‫‘ كلب‬dog’, ‫‘ ج َمل‬male camel’, ‫‘ ع ْصفور‬male
sparrow’ and so forth.
ْ َ َّ َ ُ
Real Feminine ‫ق‬
ِِ ‫المؤنث الح ِقي‬:

20
Theَ real feminineَ noun is َthe nouns that refers to a human or animal female, such
َ ْ َ َ ْ َ
as ‫‘ ِا ْم َرأة‬woman’, ‫‘ فتاة‬girl’, ‫اط َمة‬
ِ ‫‘ ف‬Fatimah’, ‫‘ ط ِبي َبة‬female
َ physician’, ‫‘ ُم َم ِّرضة‬nurse’, ‫‘ ُم َهن ِد َسة‬female
َ َ َ ْ َ َ
engineer’, ‫اج َرة‬ ِ ‫‘ ت‬business women’, ‫‘ ل ْب َوة‬lioness’, ‫‘ أتان‬female donkey’, ‫‘ كل َبة‬bitch’, ‫‘ ناقة‬female
camel’, ‫ورة‬ َ ‫‘ ُع ْص ُف‬female sparrow’ ‫‘ َز ْي َنب‬Zainab’ and so forth.

ْ َ َْ َ َ َّ َ ُ
ِِ ‫ غي الح ِقي‬/ ‫المذكر المجازي‬:
Unreal Masculine ‫ق‬
The unreal masculine noun is the noun that is treat as a male human or animal, but it is not one,
such
َ َْ ََ ْ َ َ َ َ
as ‫‘ ِكتاب‬book’, ‫‘ نهر‬river’, ‫‘ قلم‬pen’, ‫‘ بحر‬sea’ ‫‘ ق َمر‬moon’, ‫‘ باب‬door’ ‫‘ َس ْيف‬sword’, ‫‘ ها ِتف‬phone’,
َ
‫‘ ح َّمام‬bathroom’ and so on. Most learners of Arabic assume that these nouns are masculine
forms since they don’t have a final feminine suffix marker (see below), but that is not always the
case, as there are nouns that don’t have the feminine marker, but they are feminine, as seen
below.
ْ َ َْ َ َ َّ َ ُ
ِِ ‫ غي الح ِقي‬/ ‫المؤنث المجازي‬:
Unreal Feminine ‫ق‬
The unreal feminine noun is the noun that is treat as a female human orُ animal, but it is not one,
َ ْ ُ َ َّ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ ْ ‫‘ َع ْ ن‬eye’,
such as ‫‘ صورة‬picture’, ‫‘ سيارة‬car’, ‫‘ شمس‬sun’, ‫‘ صحراء‬desert’, ‫‘ نار‬fire’, ‫‘ أذن‬ear’, ‫‘ رجل‬leg’, ‫ي‬
َ َ َ
‫‘ طاولة‬table’, ‫‘ دار‬house’ and so forth. Although some of these nouns don’t have the feminine
marker, but they are still treated as feminine.

While it is easy for a native speaker to tell whether the noun is masculine or feminine (given
their intuition), learners of Arabic should learn the gender of these words as they come across
them. This is the best learning strategy.
‫َّ ْ ن‬ َّ َ ُ
Marked Feminine ‫ظ‬
ِ ِ ‫المؤنث اللف‬:
While masculine nouns are not marked for masculinity, feminine nouns are. The marked
‫َّ ْ ن‬ َّ َ ُ
feminine ‫ظ‬ِ ِ ‫المؤنث اللف‬, which literally means verbally marked feminine, but in reality it is not
feminine, is the noun that has the feminine marker but it refers to a masculine noun. This is
َ َ َ
especially common ُ in the case of proper nouns, such as ‫‘ ح ْمزة‬Hamzah’, ‫ُم َعاوية‬
َ َ َّ َ َ ََ
‘Mu’awiyah’, ‫‘ أسامة‬Osama’, ‫‘ زكرياء‬Zakaria’, ‫‘ عَلء‬Ala’a’ and alike. These nouns end in ‫ ـة‬taa
marbutah and alif and hamzah, which are feminine markers, but they are masculine.

ْ ْ َّ ََ
Signs of Faminity / Feminine Marker Suffixes ‫عَل َمات التأ ِنيث‬:
1. ‫ التَّاء المربوطة‬at-taa’ al-marbuTah: ‫ ـة‬/ ‫ة‬
It is the most common feminine marker in Arabic. Its addition to the end of nouns is
accounted for as follows:

i. It is intrinsically part of a nouns that refer to female entity, as in these

examples:

’window‘ ‫نافلذة‬ ’car‘ ‫سيَّارة‬ ’garden‘ ‫حدليقــة‬ ’Aisha‘ ‫عائلشــة‬

21
 ii. It is added to adjective / nouns to derive the feminine form from the masculine,
as in these examples below. By dropping the ‫ ة‬/ ‫ـة‬, we get the masculine form.

’female worker‘ ‫عامل لــة‬ ’female doctor‘ ‫طبليبــة‬ ’female teacher‘ ‫أستاذة‬

’female Muslim‘ ‫مسللمــة‬ ’beautiful – fem. form‘ ‫جمل يلــة‬ ’female scientist‘ ‫عاللمــة‬

2. ‫ أ للف التَّأ لنيث المقصورة‬alif at-ta’niith al-maqSuurah: ‫ـى‬

It is a feminine marker in the following cases:

i. The masculine form of adjectives that are weighed (in the Morphological
Measure) as ‫ فعَلن‬is weighed as ‫ فعلى‬in the feminine (i.e. ending in alif
maqSuurah), as in these examples:

Feminine form Masculine form

‫عطشــى‬ ’thirsty‘ ‫عطشان‬

‫كسلــى‬ ’lazy‘ ‫كسَلن‬

‫جوعــى‬ ’hungry‘ ‫جوعان‬

ii. The masculine form of a comparative noun (adjective) that is weighed

as ‫ أفعل‬is weighed as ‫ فعلى‬in the feminine, as in these examples:

Feminine form Masculine form

‫كبرى‬ ’bigger than‘ ‫أكبر‬

‫عظمــى‬ ’greater‘ ‫أعظم‬

‫صغرى‬ ’smaller‘ ‫أصغر‬

’pregnant‘ ‫حبلــى‬

’Salma – name‘ ‫سلمــى‬

22
 3. ‫ أ للف التَّأنليث الممدودة‬alif at-ta’niith al-mamduudah: ‫ اء‬/ ‫ـاء‬
It is a feminine marker in the following cases:

i. The masculine adjectives that are weighed as ‫ أفعل‬are weighed as ‫ فعَلء‬in the
feminine, as in these examples:

Feminine form Masculine form

‫حمراء‬ ’red‘ ‫أحمر‬

‫عميــاء‬ ’blind‘ ‫أعمى‬

‫حولـاء‬ ’cross-eyed‘ ‫أحول‬

ii. Feminine nouns and adjectives that naturally end ‫ ـاء‬/ ‫ اء‬alif mamduudah, as in
these examples:

’desert‘ ‫صحراء‬

’chameleon‘ ‫حل ربــاء‬

’beautiful‘ ‫حسنــاء‬

’sky‘ ‫سمــاء‬

23
 ‫( الضمائر‬Zamayer)
Pronouns
Attached Meaning Singular / Gender of Meaning: Un- Person:
Pronoun: Plural / person: attached
Dual Pronoun:
‫ي‬ My Singular Masculine or
Feminine
I
‫أ ََن‬ 1st

‫َن‬ Our Plural Masculine or

Feminine
We
‫ََْنن‬
‫َك‬ ‫ت‬َ ْ‫أَن‬
Your Singular Masculine You 2nd

‫ك َما‬ Your Dual Masculine You

‫أَنْـت َما‬
‫ك ْم‬ Your Plural Masculine You
‫أَنْـت ْم‬
‫ِك‬ Your Singular Feminine You
‫ت‬ ِ ْ‫أَن‬
‫ك َما‬ Your Dual Feminine You
‫أَنْـت َما‬
‫ك َّن‬ Your Plural Feminine You
َّ ْ‫أَن‬
‫ت‬
‫ه‬ His Singular Masculine He
‫ه َو‬ 3rd

‫َها‬ Her Singular Feminine She

‫ِه َي‬
‫ُها‬ Their Dual Masculine and
Feminine
They
‫ُهَا‬
‫ه ْم‬ Their Plural Masculine They
‫ه ْم‬
‫ه َّن‬ Their Plural Feminine They
‫ه َّن‬

24
 (‫ اسم اإلشارة‬ism ul-ishara)
Demonstrative Pronoun

Generally, demonstrative pronouns َ are words like ‘this’ and ‘that’. In Arabic, they are called
َ َ ُ َ ْ
‘demonstrative nouns’ ‫أسماء اإلشارة‬. A demonstrative noun by itself is an ambiguous word until
defined by a subsequent word. As regards gender, a demonstrative pronoun is either masculine
or feminine. As for number, it is either singular, dual, or plural. As to reference, it refers to a
noun that is close, a noun that is far, or a noun that is neither close nor far. This post explains all
these aspects.

Demonstrative Noun (for near)

All Demonstrative Noun

NUMBER/ GENDER NOUNS OF INDICATION MEANING

Singular masculine, close ‫هذا‬ This
Singular masculine, far ‫ﺫ’ ِلك‬ That
Singular feminine, close ‫ه ِذ ِه‬ This
ْ
Singular feminine, far ‫ِتلك‬ That
Dual masculine, close ‫هذ ِاﻥ ـ هذ أين‬ These two
Dual masculine, far ‫ﺫا ِنك ـ ﺫ أي ِنك‬ Those two
Dual feminine, close ‫اﻥ ـ هت أي‬ ِ ‫هت‬ These two
Dual feminine, far ‫أ‬
‫تا ِنك ـ تي ِنك‬ Those two
Plural masculine, close ‫ُ هؤْل ِء‬ These
Plural masculine, far ‫أوْل ِئك‬ Those
Plural feminine, close ‫ُ هؤْل ِء‬ These
Plural feminine, far ‫أوْل ِئك‬ Those

25
 ََ
‫ ( هذا‬hadha ) has the following properties:
1. it is used to point at something
2. it is used for something that is near
3. it is used with the masculine
4. it is used with the singular
5. it is used to point at something that has intellect or something that has no intellect
6. it is definite
ََ
‫ ( هذ ِه‬hadhihi ) has the following properties:
1. it is used to point at something
2. it is used for something that is near
3. it is used with the feminine
4. it is used with the singular
5. it is used to point at something that has intellect or something that has no intellect
6. it is definite

EXAMPLES:

As we can see we say HADHA MUHAMMADUN ( This is Muhammad ) for singular, masculine,
near with intellect, and HADHIHI AAMINATU ( This is Aminah ) is used for indicate that it is a
female, singular, near with intellect.

َ َ
‫ ( ذ’ ِلك‬dhalika) has the following properties:
1. it is used to point at something
2. it is used for something that is far/ distant
3. it is used with the masculine
4. it is used with the singular
5. it is used to point at something that has intellect or something that has no intellect
6. ‫لب‬it is definite
َ ْ
‫ ( ِتلك‬tilka ) has the following properties:
1. it is used to point at something
2. it is used for something that is far/ distant
3. it is used with the feminine
4. it is used with the singular
5. it is used to point at something that has intellect or something that has no intellect
6. it is definite
EXAMPLES:

26
As we can see, in blue, the first one says DHALIKA MUHAMMADUN. ( That is Muhammad ) and is
used for someone far, masculine, singular with intellect, the second one is DHALIKA KITABUN. (
That is a book ) used for something far, singular, masculine and it is an object.

In pink we see 2 examples too: TILKA AAMINATU: ( That is Aminah ) and it is used for a female,
singular, far and with intellect. And the second examples says: TILKA SAYYARATUN. (That is a car)
and is used for feminine noun, something far, singular and is an object.

27
 Days of the Week / ‫أيام األسبوع‬
ْ ََْ َ
Sunday Yawmul Ahad ‫ي ْو ُم ال ْحد‬
Monday Yawmul Isnain ‫ي‬ ‫َي ْو ُم ْاإلث َن ْ ن‬
َ َ ُ َْ
Tuesday Yaumus Sulasaa ‫الثَلث ِاء‬ َ ْ ‫َي ْو ُم‬
Wednesday Yawmul Arbia’ َ ْ
‫يوم الر ِبع ِاء‬
ْ َ ْ َ
Thursday Yawmul Khamees ‫ي ْو ُم الخ ِميس‬
ُ ْ َ
Friday Yawmul Jumua’h ‫ي ْو ُم الج ُم َع ِة‬
ْ َّ ُ ْ َ
Saturday Yawmus Sabt ‫السب ِت‬ ‫يوم‬

Numbers in Arabic, 1-10

‫لصفر‬ Sifar 0
‫احد‬ ‫و ل‬ Waahid 1
‫الثنا لن‬ Isnaani 2
‫ثَلثة‬ Salasah 3
‫أربعة‬ Arba’ah 4
‫خمسة‬ Khamsah 5
‫ست َّة‬
‫ل‬ Sittah 6
‫سبعة‬ Sab’ah 7
‫ثمانلية‬ Samaniyah 8
‫تلسعة‬ Tis’ah 9
‫عشرة‬ Asharah 10

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 Colors in Arabic

‫أَ ْل َوان‬
Arabic Pronunciation English Colours
ْ‫َأ ْب َيض‬ Abyaz White
ْ َ
‫أ ْس َود‬ Aswad Black
ْ َ‫َأ ْخ ن‬
‫ض‬ Akhzar Green
ْ‫َأ ْح َمر‬ Ahmar Red
َ َ
‫أ ْصف ْر‬ Asfar Yellow
ْ َْ
‫أز َرق‬ Azraq Blue

‫َو ْر ِد ْي‬ Wardi Pink

ُ
‫بن ِّـ ْي‬ Bunni Brown

‫َر َم ِاد ْي‬ Ramadi Gray

ْ ‫َب َن ْف َس‬
‫ج‬ Banafsaji Purple
ِ ِ

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