GATEWAY TO ARABIC

Book One
Dr. lmran Hamza Alawiye

A foundation course in reading and writing Arabic

The Arabic 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 ~unciation 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 Pronunciation Arabic
letters guide letters·

AI if a

Baa b

Tao t

Tho a th

Jeem

Ha h.

Daal d J

Dhaal .
J

Roo r

Zoo z .
..)

Seen s

2
 ~~ -~-- -~- ~ -~ ----

...-----
Names of the Pronunciation Arabic
letters guide letters

Sheen sh :.
u.u
Sa ad s ~

Daad d ~
.
To t ..b

Za z j;

cAyn c
t
Ghayn g.b.
.
t
Faa f w
.

Qaaf q
..
(.,.9

Kaaf k ~

Loam J
Me em

'
m

Noon n u
.

Haa h

Waaw w

Yaa y (.S

3
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page. ,... ____
'

I I

s- QID '

l .
·'
' , ~

:;'

~
I

j
1
1

'

~
'

1
4
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
-...----

5
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
.._ ___ _

(Ib.aa)
:-
~--~~~~~~L---IJ

( Jeem ) ___~--.....

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.
,... ___ _

(Daal)

3
( .Qbaal)

8
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
.-----
( Raa )

3
( Zaa ) ~

~1
J
;!!)2

9
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
~----

( Seen )

( .s.Deen)

10
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
~----

( Saad)
1

( f?aad)
/;,titi{~i'
\. '"::.,;;'"',,,(';_,

ll
Write over the letters below, then contJnue copying
to complete the page.
..-----

(~_~a~)

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

12
 ----------

Write over the letters below, then continue copying

to complete the page. ,... ___ _

(
~II'
-

5
c~ayn) 41-
• lr:;;::;:::
li---------~---- .....;·_·'---.... <··....:"·-----#C-·- e- --~2

l..-

13
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
....----
( Faa )

( Qaaf) 5

14
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page. .,... ___ _

(Loam)

15
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
~----

(Noon) 3
47

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. ,... ___ _

( Yaa)

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 '
'
•
~
----- - ·--------------- - - - f-- -

~
~
•
- ~-- --------- -
_...... ~······
\.I'

•
-- -~-- -- -- --

~
.--4J_
-···~· --··-·
...,
1--··-·

a
J
20
The Short Vowels
The following are the three short Arabic vowels. They
are written above or below the Arabic letters.

i) Fat~a 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 fat~a on each letter. .... ___ _
/ / / / /
~
•
~ ~ 4.,...) \
~ •
/ / / / /

• •
~ ~
J ~ ~
/ / / / /

• •
..)' ~ ~ 4.1" J
/ / / / /
• •
~ ~ ~
t t
/ / / /

~
/
..
~
~ J 4J
/ / /

4.$ . J ..Jb

21
The Short Vowels - Continued

ii) Kosro This is a short diagonal stroke written below on Arabic letter.
It is pronounced 'i', as in the English word 'bit'.

Read the alphabet below with kosro on each letter.

~----

•
~ ~ 4.-.) \
~
/ / / /
• - ~

• •
.~ ~
J / / / ~ ~
• •
d'
/
uP
/
~
/
d
/
J
/

• •
~ ~
~
/ t t / /

..
~
.
~
/
~
/
J
/ / /
4J

~
/
.. J
/
.A
/

22
The Short Vowels - Continued

iii) ~?ammo 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 qamma on each letter. .,... ___ _
Jl Jl
•
Jl Jl
~
~ ~ 4..,) \
~ •
Jl Jl Jl Jl Jl
• •
~ ~
J ~ ~
Jl Jl Jl J. Jl
•
..)' 4-J" ~ ._rJ J
Jl Jl Jl Jl J.
• •
~ l; ~
t t
Jl Jl Jl Jl

~
Jl
.. '

~
~ J 4J
J. J. Jl

4.$ .. J Jb
23
Practise reading your alphabet with fat~a,
kasra and 9amma (a, i, u).
.._ ___ _
y.
:. :.
/
:.
y.
.. .. /
.. y. /
y.
£
/
£
~
/
~ ~ ~
/
~ ~ ~
. /
~
. ~ . I \
~
/
I
---------- -· .. -- ------------------------~-
f----- ----------- --
y. /
y.
. . .
/
y. /
y. /

f----------·-· -· ----------
~
/
~
C ~ C C ~ C c c c /

y. /
y.
. . /
. y. /
.
y.

~
.
~
/
.
~
'-.f '-.f
/
'-.f ) )
/
) ) )
/
)
/
- -----·-··- -- ------·-- --·------------~-- ----- -- - - - - - - - - - -
y.
J, J,
/

J,
y.
• . /
•
y. /
y.
:. :.
/
:.

/
uP uP uP /
uP uP uP /
'-.f '-.f
/
'-.f
-----. -------------------- ---- ---- --·-----------

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

y. /
y. /
. y. /
y.
J;, J;,
/

J;,
4-.J
/
4-.J
f------------ - --------------------- - - -
4-.J
t L t t ---
t- t /

y.
-~
y.
. . ..
J ~
/ /

\ /
\ \ J
/
J /
.!J ~
/
~ ~
--
--- -----------------~----- --------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1--
y. /
y. /
y. /
y. /

(.$.. (.$ .. (.$ .. j j j ~ ~ ~ 0 0 0

/ / / /

Can you read the following Arabic words?

...., ___ _

.J.
• .. /
/ !J / ~ :.
/
$!.
/ /
..
he stops '-.J
/
'-' '-.S.. he thanked
_) J he read
'.J '-'
/ / / .J. / / /
• •
he desired,
wished
~
• t_.J
/
he was good
:JJ c he understood
\~ '-.J
/

..
~

.!J
/
•
/

'-'j.J
.J. /

~
/ !J
~~
c~
he laughed he was he wrote
endowed with •
/ /

rJ t
.J. /

~cJ
•
'-.J
he joined
/
it was known
/
he describes
~ '-.S
/
..
24
Joining up Arabic letters (For an explanation, please see p. 27)

By itself Joined End Middle Beginning

\\\ L L \ *
4...)
• '--•
• =•..J• ~
• --• ..J
•

..
..
~

..
~= ...J ~

..
-- ..J

..
..
** 0 4.:.1 "- -- ..J

~
•
~·tJ
=
..
:. •
~
--
:. :.
..J

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

c ~ e-
• • • • • • •
~ ~ ~ -="- ~

~~~ wL *
• • • • • • •
~ ~~~ wL wL ~ *

J JJJ J *
• • • • • • •
J JJJ r r J '*

~t.Niu~ -~

:. :. :. :. :.
_...,._ •
jJ ~~ ~
~

*The six starred 'naughty' letters cannot be joined to the left. For an explanation, seep. 27.

**Sometimes at the end of a word the letter tao is written oor L which is called tao marbuta.
By itself Joined End Middle Beginning

wa·a·~
I I 4-- -I·Q

JP w"• .a• ..P•

I I
~ - .(2
I ..;p

_1, bbb .k.

~ t;,t;t; A. .JQ.. ~

t ~ t- _&,

• • • •

t ~ t- .A. _&,

• • •• • • •
~ ~QJ ~ .A.. J
.. .. .. ..
'-' ~ 4J- .A.. J

.:j ~ ~

J J-U J- ..L J

---
•

+
J JJJ J *
_,.
---..
Joining up Arabic letters- continued
So for, we hove learned how to write the Arabic letters when they ore not joined
together. However, Arabic words ore 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
con recognise the letters when they ore 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 ore 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 ore:

.
) J J
A normal letter written after a naughty letter cannot toke the middle form. It will toke
the beginning form instead, unless it is the lost letter of a word, in which case it will toke
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.J~Y+.J

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- ~ ~ ~ _,) '-.,..) /""" '-.,..)
•
he researched
'--

he stood firm
,;

L. ..
,;,;

•
:.
_j
,;

( . ~
,;

•
_,)
,;
:.
,;

J..:.,.,_
,;

" •,) "'"~

,;

-
,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;
:. :.
-'
•
he drank '-.,..) ~ '-.,..) ~ ~ .,;J
•.J • J • '-"
/' /' /'

,; ,;

-
,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,; ,;

w (J •

-
• • :. •
he sr.nttArArl ~ ~ _,) _1
J J

, ..
~,;,;
~
,;
..
,;

~
,; ,;
.
he left
-,_)
- _jooooo_
_,)
-- \ '-.,..)

,; ,; ,; ,;

..
,; ,; ,; ,;

.._,
,;

he covered
concealed J
...:-..w J - ~ ~

- \ "'
'-"
.,;J

29
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ,... ___~_

he athered

/ // /
• • •

he rotected
guarded

/ //
:. :.
he ex lained

30
---------------------~·-·----.

Practice with joining letters

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

,...
,/ ,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/

he shouted i-~
L-
•
'---_J - ~ ~
L
•
J ' '-'
..r:::J

,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/
• • • •
hP. hr .;..~ ~ ~ \
.,.....
• ( ~
J _J
he was proud J
L

he entered
,/~~ ,/ l ,/

>-~
,/

~- \
,/

•
.,.....
,/

~
~ ~

,
,/,/,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/

, ,
he turned uo ~
-J
~ ~
- J
~ .)
- J
~

~""1,
-
,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/

1,
he chased awav;
he repelled J
~
J
_b, ~
-'
'

,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/ ,/

•
he reoretted p.jJ p. ...L ...) p. ~ L•J
' /
' /

' /

31
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~
..-----
he remembered
/S1 ......_ s / /

~
•
/

!J
/

~
•
J J J '

/ /. / / /. / / / /
•
..) l..tb ..) l Jb ~ ~
hA n11rifiArl
'" • "• "•J

/. / / /. / / / / /
•
he took 1;...\
-L ->- ' ~
•
..,.... t
L

he thanked
/:s:::. ~
/

... ~ ~
/
·:.
/
/,J /.

:.
JJ
J
...
J .J ' v

/ // / / / / / /
• • •
y r....J
he roiserl
~'
~J
~
\._...
~
J ' \._... .J '

'

/ / / / / / / / /

• •
he claimed -~
.J
·, ....... ~
.J ' /JA y
.J '
alleged \ \ \ L

32
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ~
~----

/// / / / / / /

he fastened· lA::>- ;a • .>- •

:A • ~

he was resolute \-"' \J \ ...1

L

/ ,, :.J
:' /\ /
/
• "'1
/

•
/

he descended
went down
I
-.....~
I
-.J
+ J
~
J -/\

// / / / / / / /
• • •
he uraed incited ·~~ • A. ..::>- _l
• __( ~ ~
_.I .J J
L

///
$! ..
/ /
..
/ / / /
.
- -
' 1
he read \._9 J I ~
J _.I J '

/l/ /
•
c ,L /

~
/
•
:-\ / /
•
he washed
'-' '-' u
~

L "'

/ / / / / / / / /
• •
he dozed· he ~j
~. --&... _...)_ iJ c.. /'
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 ..)
energetic
/
u

'I I

l hP- wns thirstv

/

:. ~~
/
:.
AA
_h
/

~
/
:.
wtJ _b
/

y
u /
u /
u /
L

hP- wns nntient

_;•
. • "• ....)

3
/
..
hP- sttJck rs.th.) { ~
u·
/
-

~~ 1~--- ~ :~ l
/
---~j
/

hP- lntJnhed .::>- ~

• .,.... ~
u·
/ / ~

t
l
/ /
.. ..
/ /

..a.
/
.. /
•
/ /
. /

/~
it deer
became less u
~"
u·
.JJ. J
u·
~
-
I ~

34
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. ....., ___£f_
/ / / / / / / / /
• • • • •
he arose oot uo ~ ~ ~ .a.. ...L • .J ~. ~ t~
!,../
"' !,../
"' !,../

hA lnnkArl ot
/1/ • •
J
/

1
/
•
.J
/

_l
/J; /

L• ~
J J J

/ / / / / / / / /

hA rl' ~~ .... •
~ ~ ~
_;;, ~
!,../
\ \ \

he c:11t
/. L~ /

-'t 1 .. ~
/ /

-~
/_b /

{ ~
.
L \,...._ ~

hA tiArl
/b/, /.b.. /

__,J_
/

_1_
/.b /

( .)
/

·J ·J • J '

'

//~ ~
/ / / /
/t,
he oooeared
J\1 .....;
..a.\,1
1 J ' ~

35
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. .,.. ___~_
y.
• • •
it became small
little

/ // / /
• • • • •

/ // /
• •
he o ened

/ / / / / /
•• • •

/
. .. // /
. .. / /

he stood

36
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. .... ___ _ ~

/ / / / /

I.., 1 . . . :, 1 ~,j
/ /

he arabbed ..4 .A /fJi

JJ
seized u \

1""~
/

1 ..
/ /

~\
/
..
he turned s.th
over "' •
L.
•
~
'" •
.J
- ~
I ~

~ _L __,
/ /

~- \
/ /

he swallowed A,_ y "--'

\....... \...... • •

he orever red·
/

.. //

~
/

~ --"
/

•
/

..A
/

y
/

( ·~
/'

/fJi
he forbade \...... \......
'
/ J. / / J. / / J. /

it wos nice • ..._. • ..>- L·~ .JtJ ..,..

good, suitable u u u L
'

/ / / / / /
• • ~
he foraot • J I C .AJ
(.

'...:?, ~ /'
~ u
/'

37
Practice with joining letters
Join the groups of letters to make words in the boxes provided. ,... ___ _
he prostrated he bowed

it rained he went
/ / /
•
•
he made room/space for he was full up (food)

he accepted he sat
/

/
he was allowed, permitted

he advised he was astonished

/ / / / /
:.
../t:J ~
/
he ripened he knew
/ / / / / /
• •

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 demanded, requested

..
/
he matured; it ripened he triumphed
/
•

/ /
he spent the night awake he was quick, fast

he was sorry, regretted he abstained from

/

/ /
he was ill, unwell he gathered, assembled

•
/

he passed (an exam) he was angry

/ /
•

39
Tanween
The three short Arabic vowels, fatl)a, kasra and
9amma, can be doubled. This is known as "tanween",
and it changes the sound of the vowels.

i) Tanween fat~a (fat~ataan) __ This is two short diagonal strokes written above an
Arabic letter. It is pronounced 'on', as in the English
word 'man'. It is usually supported by an alit.

Read the alphabet below with tanween fat~a on each letter. .,... __ _

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~

~ \j lJ Lt• \
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

\~ \~ ~ ~
'J
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lp ~ ~ L-t \j
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

\j ~ '-" Ub lb
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

u Lo ~ \S li'
~ ~ ~

Lt.. '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' ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
J
• •
~ Jb ~
~ ~t ~t ~ ~

..
~
~
"~
;;..-' ~
J ~
.!J
~
~

~
~. ~
J ~
0

41
 Jl..Sl
Tanween (Continued)

iii) Tanween <:)ammo (<:)ammataan) This is two dammas written above an

Arabic letter. It is pronounced 'un', as in
the English word 'bun'.

Sometimes it is written like this:

Read the alphabet below with tanween <:)ammo on each letter.

...., __ _
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
Jl.Jl
• ~

~ ~ 4,.,)
~ •
'
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
• •
~ ~
) ~ ~
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
• •
~ 4-f' ~ d )
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.
• •
4.J ~ ~
t t
y.y. y.y. y.y. y.y.

~
..4J'
y.y.

~
~ J
y.y. y.y. y.y.

..
1.5 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. .._ __ _

~----k~--
~ //

pen
';.u boy ~l3)_ father .
\.-)\
~
~

!--------··------·~-------~--

/
•
/
. / ~ / ~~ / /

iLQVeL~-~
~
hundred ~
~
/
hand \ J. J . lion 1
.N'

f-----

'
~ // ~~
.. / /
~~ //
• .
/

jJOrSEL__~_ ~j present i.\...! ~

goat $ :£- mouth -.J
J
/
I I
~

--------·· -·----~·-···-

_b_QLL______~~~--
--~
cherries ~~ lip
~
. ..
4 Q.;,
/ /

never \:L1
~
•

~---·· ·--- -- -

~
~ // ~~-- /
~~ /

_klo_g_______ mQuntain~
•
CQrrot :)J~ brother ;-i
/
L

1---------- ·--------------·----

//
..
~// /
:.
~~ /

l.llo~
/ ~ ~ /

_pyrQmid
f-J.A tree
~
cQmel
\....~
m_an "b.'
·-..~
~

---·---~---·

43
The Long Vowels (Madd)
Three letters of the Arabic alphabet are used
to lengthen the sounds of the short vowels
fat~a, kasra and 9amma. These letters are: J

i) Alif al-madd

Alit is used to lengthen the "a" sound of fatt)a into

an "aa" sound.
I + 1
Note the special shape of loam when it is joined to alif
below.

Read the alphabet below with alif al-madd (the long fat~a) on each letter.
..._ __ _

\j
/ / /

-
~ \J L•
/ / / / /
'
'~ '~ ~
\_;..
'J
/ / / / /

Lp Lp ~ ~ \j
/ / / / /

\j
'-" ~ ~ lk
/ / / / /

u Lo ~ \S Li '

/ / /

L.. 'J LA
44
The Long Vowels (Madd) - Continued
- {~

ii) Vaa 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,. ..
~·~
,. ..
~~
,. ~
- ,.
~,. -
•
~-
,.
~
-
,. ~
-,.
~
-,.
.
~·)
,.

• •
~
- ,.
~
- ,.
~
- ,.
~
- ,. ~
- ,.
..
4$
- ,.
•
~,.
- J- ,.
~
- ,. ~
- ,.
'

4$.
- ,. '-?J ,. ~
- ,.
45
The Long Vowels (Madd) - Continued
-
Q {C.

iii) Waaw al-madd

Woow ol-modd is used to lengthen the "u" sound of 9ommo into on "oo" sound.

Read the alphabet below with woow al-modd (the long c;iommo) on each letter.
....., __ _

y:
y.

y
..
•
y.

y ..
y. y.
~
J-! J'
y. y. y. y. y.
• •
JJ J~ J~ F F
y. y. y. y. y.
• •
J4' ~ ~ ~ JJ
y. y. y. y. y.

_JJ
•
J-'-
•
J-'- ya, ~
y. y.

y
J. y.
..
y.
..

~
•
y j-4 _JJ
y. y. y.

y.. JJ ~
46
Practice with Madd
Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided. ...,. ___ ~

.. .
Jl Jl /

~.. J

47
Sukoon
A small circle called sukoon, written above a letter of the Arabic alphabet, is used to
0
show that the letter below it has no vowel:_ _ . All you hear is the shortened sound of
the letter, so jeem becomes 'j', kaaf becomes 'k' and sheen becomes 'sh' etc.

Try reading the following words:

0 ~ 0
. .. 0

When there is a fatha followed by a yaa with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ay' sound.
/ 0/

e.g.

When there is a fatha followed by a waaw with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ow' sound:
. /
.. .
0 /
.
\Y '-'.Y (_JJ
Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided. ~---~

.J. .J. 0 / .J. .J.

(w 0
..d0/
~

.J. .J. / /

~6~~
0 .J. .J. / 0 .J..J.
.. ·~...
0/

/
~ /
l

.J. .J. / 0 /

48
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 / ~-& ~ ~~ 0 ~
~ ~

_r. J + + w• YJ - w• + w• + - + + \
/
=
~
J /
J \' \ \

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 hearL 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 he shaved a dog a heart

annihilated, destroyed

/ //

JS~ ...liJ
he was good, pleasant, he repented it was still, motionless, he slept; went to
agreeable stagnant bed, lay down
f----· -·------··----~~--------------~-----1------------------------'-~

/ /

clay, soil a fig (of merchandise) it found he intended

no market; it didn't sell
·---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - j

.
Y_rP
/ /

shady, shaded despicable, contemptible; hitting, beating, a path, trail, track;

lowly, abject, servile striking a mountain pass

/ 0 /

l
-.
he poured,
. ~

he insulted, reviled; some, a few after

emptied he cursed, swore
----. ·-·----·-------·--------------+-----·--------..,.,.--.,-~··_ ·_
·--,-;

~ ~
he offered a morning he swam he went astray, he led, he showed
drink (to someone) lost his way theway <
--------~----------------·-----ll----------------.,-,.,---'----"7-~
0 .-~J. () ,.,-..
' i .•
dJ~--
/

reason, discernment; food a molar tooth a lesson, class;

mind, intellect study

50
 minaret lion

desk cheese

..
J2J2,-oJ2
~ ..
map

J2J2 o,-

...
C-.J

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

. .. .
-~
•
~- -~ • • '-...~. • y _r.-J· • wW • •

• • \.1 ..
~ .)-· • • ...k.;? ~l . •
•
._j~.~
•

51
(c
furniture triangle fox

y.y. y. Y.Y. _,.o _,.

:.
\Y ~

mosque radish

y.y. 0 /

crocodile meat pigeon

y.y. / 0

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

vJ

• • • ..>t:...:>-
• ..L .. ~ J-. •
.J . . L .. 1 ~L ...
vJ
..
• • _l_. • _.4 ~ j-· . ..~ ~-
• •
~-·
52
c~~-..L_...L_·~~) c (t t- .
..,>,:,...

watermelon peach cucumber bread

'~
;;
. . 0 / ;; /

L.;..
;;o;
.
c.r- j ..
/
_r:.>-

grasshopper cockerel

;; 0 / ;; ; 0;

~ '-'~. .
shoe sweetcorn

;; 0
;..•
~~

Complete the wor.ds below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

•
~-
•
• • ~ ~.
• • Jl:-· •
•
_;-':-• • •

. .
'-".
• •~• • -~ • . j-· • ~- • ~ >-· • • ...::>-

53
cd u----) c jj-j-j)
------~
c JrrJ )
carrot cherries feather

bread gazelle giraffe

squirrel eagle pineapple

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

/ 0 / /

'--'~·.
• •
~\_) . . ~-- _)\. -~ j . .S

.
. ·~·.
• •
• • .-.J JlL.. .-.J • . uur
/

J. .
/

.....Y
•
•

54
 --
:.

lion sun
cub

beans onions

egg table molar

tooth

~/

~~
0
.
~/

iWL
o_.,
(:,?.:;tI
y.y._.,
0..~
.
/ 0 y.y. 0
•
/ /
·-= I
/
d.rP /

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

..o. .. .
Y)-· .\.; • • ~ "--· .......;....)
J_r• • J-. .....J
•

. .. .• ..
~-
•
• .~. • _.o
"--· . _r· • • ~- .~ • -~ ..
55
wall watermelon birds aeroplane

;; ;;

)~

spectacles antelope

envelopes

square grapes scorpion.

;; ;>' ;; ;>' 0
. ;>'

.
'----:_c y~

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

. . :. ..
• . )-::-· • ..
lS. • • • ·--· .. • 0l.
.....) .....) • . r'-· •

• •
"=-- _,._.
..
o. •
l>-
r'-· • • • ·/ • • • • ......) • • •

56
 wrist parrot crow gazelle

.
~J

mushrooms whistle elephant

plum hedgehog bag, briefcase train

.. ..
jljl / /

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

I))

j\j-. ..0 _) • • _,_p y\_r .. .lk-..

>-· .--.J
• • •

. .S _;1-..
. ..
. .->-
... _r. • • _;_j ~
•

57
 c J J-...LJ )
window sugar ball book

tail heart lioness

jljl o,....
·~
.
eraser scissors banana .

/
.. JlJl,....o,....

oj_r

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

o~. ~
I))
.. .J .. . '"--"'• l:... . •
• • • • O__r. 0 J..r· •

..Oy-• .. • .. •
•
r-· .J • ._J
.. ~
'---·
•
.J • • • ..>r:..J

58
 spider

present

fruit teeth

.. ..
jljl, 0 / jljl

0~i
;0 /

0-*
Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,
and also all the vowel sounds.

.. . La>- -.L • . -.L.

•
~· OJ-· .J • • I • • ·J
..
u~.
•
• r-·~ .L.~r _r· • _,4 ~.
• •

59
 puppy

y.y. 0 /' y.y. 0 /

:.

kitten hand

bed eye

y.y. 0 /

Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,

and also all the vowel sounds.

:;s:. .\.b ..0~)• ..

.~
• ·r • • O_.r• _.r•

..o • <J)
..
• . _r:- • • ._;., • • ._? • .~ -L . •

60
The moon letters

The Arabic word for 'the' is 'al' (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 'al' is followed by a word beginning
with a moon letter, then 'al' is written with asukoon on the loam.

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

~ 0 / 0; ~~ 0 / y. ;0 / 0; ~~ ;0 /

~~~~
. . ~J~J'\ ~· ~Ji

~ / / 0; ~~ //
.
y.~ / ~

~\~ ~ ~y.

~ 0; ~y.

~\~ ~
y.y. /
..
/

~ 0 0; y.y. 0

fl_r>J \ ~ fly..>-
/ /

Exercise
Copy out the following words on the lines provided, adding 'al' to each word.
Remember to change the two 9ammas at the end of each word into one 9amma.
y.~ / ~y. ;Y. ~~ 0;

J~
, • • l!

y\~
., > ~ l

...
/;
~""'' '"
·,
,, ~~~
/

y.~/

o~LwJ
/ ~~ 0
.. y.~k~
/
~.r
/
.
~y.

...u.
/ y.~ 0 ~ y.y.
.. y.

~ ~~

61
The sun letters
. ""'" ·," ' ; " ',. . ',' . " '

J Q J;, j;, ~ (._p? ~ J j,) ~ ~~ ~

The sun letters ore shown above. Sun letters are written with a shadda when they come
straight after 'all. The loam of 'all does not take a sukoon. Instead/ it becomes a silent
letter.

In the first example below/ 'taajun/ (a crown) becomes 'at-taaju/ (the crown). Notice
the strong sound of the 'to// and note how you cannot hear the 'loam/ at all.

Once again/ 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/ adding 'all to each word.
Remember to change the two 9ammas at the end of each word into one 9amma.
~~ 0 / ~~ / J ;.j /

•• \I ...,__
~~
..
H _;-!.__rW
/
0
·~)
~ /

~~ 0 / ~~ / / ~~ / / /

~~~
rJ ~

~~ / 0 / ~~ / / ~~/ 0 /

~ ~_,lb 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
'al' to the beginning of each word.

Sun Letter Words Moon Letter Words

/ 0 ;SJ /

;)..5' ~J\

63
Al-alif al-maqsura
Al-alif al-maqsura is a type of alit which appears at the end of some words.
It always has a fatt)a before it. Read the examples below and copy them
out into your exercise book.

» / __9. ~/
~

'-.>'~'
/

..
/
f.!

Jl
//
/

~y ~ ~
/ / 0 ,..o ~/

~ /
~~~ ?
~
/ / 0 __9.

~
/
•
~~~a-4
~~I
~
~/ __9. ,.._y.
.. //

~_;-A l>_r ~_)

~
/ 0 ,..o __9. 0 __9. / /

~\ '-.>'~ ~
,..o __9. 0 0

~
/ 0 / /

~~\ ~

~ ~ ~/ ~/

.~~~\ ~_) ~\
/ / / // / / 0
•
-'-.>'~ J1>- l>jj\
.. /
~ /

/ 0 / 0 / ,..o ~ ~ . ~

~..Uij
/ / / / / / /

-~~\ ~..U\J
• f.!

(.?' -'-.>'¥ _) JJ
/ /

....-o ..- o )2,., Jl

( ~"~\ oJ_,-)

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.

JI.Jl / /
~
..
JI.Jl 0 /

Jl Jl Jl Jl JI.Jl 0/ Jl Jl Jl Jl

ifj)_)
~
...wt
....
/
•

u~'
• J!

JL
Jl Jl
•
>-~ .. /

Jl Jl Jl Jl

~ ~~
..
\ ..w...w-w
+

J!.J!./ J!.J!.

65
Reading practice
Read the following familiar Islamic phrases and learn their meanings.

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the

Merciful.

Allah is Greater.

;;; "' "' oJI

.ill\ 0~ Glory be to Allah.

What Allah wishes. (A phrase used to

express praise or admiration).

God willing.

;;; Jl 0 / 0/

. ill .L...>JI Praise be to Allah.(Thanks be to Allah).

/;;;
.. Jl 0/0 /
J!

. ill\ f I ask Allah's forgiveness.

.., • -: 1 .. \

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).

;;; / 0 ;;; / ;;; Jl Jl /

. ~)\ 0\,b~:..J\ ~ ill~ ~ _yi I seek protection in Allah from the accursed
Shaytan.
,... / ,.. / "" ,..
~o....- Jlu:J ""' ,.,,..
.\~ill\~~~ (To a boy or man): May Allah reward you
greatly.
~0,.; Jl~ //

.\~ill\~~~ (To a girl or woman): May Allah reward you

greatly .

• ~ ~"'~j"'
J •
JJ \ ~~j"' r-'~
,.
('~I-;..._ ~ ~~
\
o May the peace and blessings of Allah be
upon you. (Islamic greeting) .

.~ ~;) ,.JJ \ ~~J ~~I

\
~ "SQ~j 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 'al-' is a
sun letter or a moon letter.

~ / 0 ill

~)\
~ ill

~)\
/

-& ~ 0 ~ ill / 0 ~ / 0

J~l .) Li;J\ ~I

~ / 0 ~ /ill
~I . \')LJ\
~ ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0

c ...... Q~\ ~r-JI

~ / 0

~I
. ..
~ / 0 ~ ill

~I ~I
..
~ / 0

~I
/

~ ill ~ / 0

... :.rq
'-...J ~I /

~ ~ 0

~I
. .. .

67
 · nine perfect names of Allah

,J / 0 jl jl 0

·.·.e~\;'
~\ ..
~I
0 jl 0

.. ;'
~\
.. /

0 ,J 0 jl /0 jl jl 0

~\
.. ,., ~W\
,.,
~\ ..
~I
0 jl 0 jl / 0

~\
. ;'
J\}\
.. ;' .. ~\
. ..
/ / jl 0 jl ,.o

J~\ ~U\ .
.. ;' /,

~\
jl / 0 jl ;;i

~\_,.H .J~ € .:J\.

~­

/ /

jl / 0

~W\
Jl ,.oJl o

I' c~\
;'

jl / 0

~\
/

~}I
,.o oJl o Jl ,..,. Jl ,..,oJlo
.. U\ ~\~~ ~\
~·
.. ;' / /
)
/ .. /

/ / 0 jl ,J~ ,.Jl 0 ,J / 0

- J~\ j~
/
\ ~\ ~·\
..
jl~ ,.Jl

i~jlj
0 0 jl 0

/
_;-j.-<J\ ~\
..
/

J~~~\
jl 0 jl 0 Jl oJl o
~\ (5~\

68
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the
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

alon~ 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

/ -.)~. i1i "--, ....... 0 0,// . . . .9 0 / 0 0 ...... '
anger, nor of those who go astray. · . • \I ·- t \ )J l
~ ~ • c. . ~:. _ \\ .·
·eft~
,...
.J~~··Y~~
,.. ,.
. ,..,

God - there is no god but Him, the

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 any-
thing 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].