Islamic knowledge should be obtained from qualified scholars and teachers. However, there are times when one is in a situation that they do not have access to teachers, and in this case, one should strive their best to learn the basics until such a time as they can find a teacher. There are also many good books that are tried and true in helping a person gain knowledge step by step. Again, sometimes people are in situations where they do not have the knowledge or resources to obtain those books.

Therefore, there have been many online efforts at presenting Islamic knowledge in a medium that is universally accessible. The writings contained in this blog are simply a reference for those who have neither the time, the money, nor the access to teachers, to be able to gain some knowledge until such time as they can find the appropriate offline resources. It is a presentation of a recommended course of study for those who are beginning their quest for Islamic knowledge.

I. The Quran

A. Level One - Everyday Worship

1. Sciences of the Quran - Basic Facts

i. What is the Quran?

Meaning of “The Quran” - “Al Qur`aan” literally means “The Recitation” and is the revelation given to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel.

Content of the Quran - The Quran is not the words of Muhammad, nor Gabriel, nor the wise writings of righteous people passed down through the ages, but the literal “Words of God”, just as the Torah was the precise revelation of God given to Moses and the Gospel was the literal Words of God given to Jesus (neither of which exist in their original form to this day).

Transmission of the Quran - The Quran was memorized and recited in the lifetime of the Prophet, and it was written by the time of his death. It was reported to us in “tawaatur” form, which means that many people transmitted it the exact same way in each link of the chain of transmission and its authenticity is guaranteed.

ii. What are the benefits of reading the Quran?

Reading the Quran is reading the revelation of God to mankind. It contains the history of God’s Religion as well as the Divine Laws to be upheld by the righteous in this world. It contains wisdom and spiritual guidance and outlines the way to God.

Reciting the Quran (by reading or memory) is an act of worship. The Prophet mentioned to us that each letter read gives 10 rewards (hasanaat) and it was reported that the one who struggles to read it gets double the reward. Every Muslim needs to memorize and recite the Opening Chapter (Suratul Faatihah) in their prayers and should have some of the small chapters memorized to recite in the prayers as well.

Practicing Muslims should read from the Quran daily. What is considered worship is to read the actual words in Arabic, the original language. However, the aim is obviously to understand what is being read, to reflect upon the meanings and to put into practice in one’s life and for this translations are useful.

iii. How should one approach the Quran?

As the Quran is the Word of God, it should be treated with respect. One should be ritually pure when touching it and should sit in a good upright position and focus their attention on reading it. The Quran should be kept in a place of respect and not simply thrown together with other books or household items.

2. Recitation - Basic Reading

It is expected that every person can obtain a copy of the Quran with both the original Arabic text as well as the meanings. In addition, some copies contain transliteration (the pronunciation of the Quran using English letters) as well as exegesis (explanations based on classical texts). Therefore, the student is expected to have their own copy of the Quran for personal use. Although there are good sites out there that present the Quran in digital format, including quranicrealm.com, it is still a MUST for everyone to get a copy of the Holy Book for themselves. It is one of the few things every Muslim must own.

Now, there are many good training books (by the name of “Al Qaa’idah”, or basic training method) that will give you a method to learn and become proficient in reading the Quran. If you can get one of those, those are the best things to get. You can order a good one by emailing this address: easyarabic@yahoo.com.

If you don’t have a training book, you can use the presentations below to learn and practice reading on your own until you find a teacher.

Reading the Quran is specific because it contains “tashkeel”, or vowellation marks to help ensure the person who reads it, reads it correctly. Thus, if one learns the basic letters and can connect them, they can read phonetically. One should still read the translation for the meaning.

i. The Arabic Alphabet

a. Individual Letters

(image from wikipedia)

These are the basic letters of Arabic, which is read from right to left. I will give a more accurate pronunciation than the transliteration listed here:

Letter = Pronunciation (Transliterated)

Alif = aa (long vowel)

Baa` = b

Taa` = t (soft “t”, made by tapping the tip of the tongue on the place the front teeth and gums meet)

Thaa` = th (hard “th” like “throw”)

Jeem = j

Haa` = H (hard “h” made by scraping the back of the throat)

Khaa` = kh (also made by scraping the back of the throat)

Daal = d (soft “d”, made by touching the tip of the tongue to the place the front teeth and gums meet)

Dhaal = dh (soft “dh” like the “th” in the word “this”)

Raa` = r (slightly rolled)

Zaa` = z

Seen = s

Sheen = sh

Saad = S (velarized “s”, very thick, similar to “sauce”, made by curving the base of the tongue down and touching the tip just behind the front teeth)

Dhaad = DH (velarized “d”, very thick, made by curving the base of the tongue down and pressing the tip behind the front teeth)

Taa` = T (velarized “t”, very thick, made by curving the base of the tongue down and tapping the tip behind the front teeth, expelling the sound with a push)

DHaa` = DH (velarized “dh”, very thick, made by curving the base of the tongue down and bringing the front along the teeth, expelling a slightly buzzing sound)

‘Ayn = ‘ (a sound made in the back of the throat, not scraping or closing the throat)

Ghayn = gh (scraping the back of the throat)

Faa` = f

Qaaf = q (very thick, made in the back of the throat)

Kaaf = k

Laam = l (as in “limit”, not as in “tall”)

Meem = m

Noon = n

Waaw = w (as a consonant)

oo (as a long vowel)

Haa` = h (soft “h”, made by air coming from the chest)

Hamzah = ` (stoccato break in sound, placed on top of all long vowels: such as ta`man, bi`sa, mu`min)

Yaa` = y (as a consonant)

ee (as a long vowel)

Of course, hearing the pronunciation as well as practice are necessary. (I don’t offhand know of a link where you can hear them for free, but there are a number of books/casettes/courses out there.)

b . Letter Connection

As Arabic is a fluid language, its letters flow from right to left. Therefore, it is necessary to learn what each of the individual letters looks like in connected form. Below is a chart showing how letters look at the beginning, middle, and end of words. (image from ajma.com)

ii. Vowel Marks

There are 3 basic vowel marks in Arabic. The short vowel marks are:

1. FatHah: denoted by a short line over the letter, which corresponds to the short vowel “a”

Example: 1st line, 1st word, 1st letter - the letter is ['a], the word is ['an]

2. DHammah: denoted by a small “Waaw” (resembling the number 9) over the letter, which corresponds to the short vowel “oo” (NOT “o”) - it is the full sound of “oo” but not held as long as the English “oo” (compare: the “oo” in “food” is held for 2 counts; the Arabic “oo” is more like the sound made by “ui” in the word “suit”)

Example: 1st line, 8th word, 3rd letter - the letter is ['oo], the word is [mas'oood]

3. Kasrah: denoted by a short line under the letter, which corresponds to the short vowel “ee” (NOT “e”) - it is the full sound of “ee” but not held as long as the English “ee” (compare: the “ee” in “feet” is held for 2 counts; the Arabic “ee” is more like the sound made by the first “e” in “eternal”)

Example: 1st line, 2nd word, 2nd letter - the letter is [bee], the word is [`abeee]

Long vowels are 3, corresponding to the short, but are letters:

1. Alif - if unvoweled, and following a letter with “faTHah”, makes the sound “aa” (held for 2 counts)

Example: 2nd line, 2nd word, 1st/2nd letters - the long vowel is [qaa], the word is [qaala]
2. Waaw - if unvoweled, and following a letter with “DHammah”, makes the sound “ooo” (held for 2 counts)

Example: 1st line, 8th word, 3rd/4th letters - the long vowel is ['ooo], the word is [mas'oood]

3. Yaa` - if unvowled, and following a letter with “kasrah”, makes the sound “eee” (held for 2 counts)

Example: 1st line, 2nd word, 2nd/3rd letters - the long vowel is [beee], the word is [`abeee]

Sukoon - To denote a letter which is unvowlled, or “at rest”, there is a small mark, sometimes similar to the opposite of a waaw and sometimes a circle, which shows that the letter is to be “rested upon”.

Example: 1st line, 1st word, 2nd letter - the letter at rest is [n], the word is ['an]

Dipthongs - These are merely letters which shift in sound as they are pronounced. They occur when fatHah precedes one of the other two vowels which are at rest. There are two cases: when fatHah comes before the letter “waaw” with sukoon, and when fatHah comes before the letter “yaa`” with sukoon.

Examples:

Dipthong with Waaw: 4th line, 2nd word, 1st/2nd letters - the dipthong is [yaw] (the word is [yawman])

Dipthong with Yaa` : 2nd line, 8th word, 2nd/3rd letters - the dipthong is [lay], the word is ['alayhi]

Nunation - It is a trademark of Arabic that to denote different cases in grammar, the vowelling changes. Most words carry “nunation”, so called because of the sound of “noon”, “n”, made when pronouncing the vowelling. Nunation (called “tanween” in Arabic) occurs when you see the vowelling doubled. So you can have “fatHataan”, “DHammataan”, and “kasrataan” (meaning “two fatHas” and so forth). You simply add a “n” sound to the end of the vowel.

Examples:

Nunation with FatHah: 4th line, 2nd word, 3rd letter [man] (the word is [yawman]

Nunation with DHammah: 6th line, last word, 3rd letter [yoon] (the word is [shaqeeyyoon]

Nunation with Kasrah: 1st line, 8th word, last letter [deen] (the word is [mas'ooodeen]

Tashdeed - This occurs when a letter (not the vowel, as in tanween) is doubled. So for example, instead of writing “n” with sukoon and then another “n” with fatHah following it, they combine it into one “noon” with a mark resembling a “w” and the appropriate vowel to accompany it.

Example: 1st line, 4th word, 3rd letter - starting with the vowel before [arra] (the word is [`arraHmaan]

These are the basics of reading Arabic text with vowel marks. Of course, this theoretical knowledge is enough for the highly motivated person to pick up the Quran and dilligently struggle to apply it, however, it is recommended you find a teacher, order a book with the exercises, and listen to recitations of the passages so that you may more easily and practically master Quranic reading.

3. Memorization - Short Chapters

One can certainly memorize chapters of the Quran before learning to read, through audio tapes or cd’s. Here is a site where one can stream or download audio recitations of the Quran: quranicaudio.com. However, it may be better to memorize after learning to read. Again, knowing a few short surahs is a must for every Muslim to properly recite their prayers. The following is a list of recommended short surahs to memorize, with the Opening Chapter being mandatory. You should memorize these from an instructor, audio recitations, or your own copy of the Quran (some people also do this through their qaa’idah books).

i. Surah #1 - Al-Faatihah (The Opening)
ii. Surah #103 - Al-’Asr (Time)
iii. Surah #104 - Al-Humazah (The Slanderer)
iv. Surah #105 - Al-Feel (The Elephant)
v. Surah #106 - Quraish (The Tribe of Quraish)
vi. Surah #107 - Al-Maa’oon (Small Kindnesses)
vii. Surah #108 - Al-Kauthar (The Fount)
viii. Surah #109 - Al-Kaafiroon (The Disbelievers)
ix. Surah #110 - An-Nasr (Victory)
x. Surah #111 - Al-Masad (The Palm Fiber)
xi. Surah #112 - Al-Ahad (The One)
xii. Surah #113 - Al-Falaq (Daybreak)
xiii. Surah #114 - An-Naas (Mankind)

II. Arabic

Arabic is the language that the Quran was revealed in. Thus, although it is not necessary, it is important for Muslims to try to learn Arabic so that they can recite the Words of God in their original form, with understanding. Furthermore, the narrations of the Prophet are also in Arabic, are are any prayers he taught us. As well, of course, Islamic scholarship is done through the Arabic medium. Of course, you can always use translations, but there is a special pleasure in understanding things in their original form, and thus come closer to the origins and to God.

Learning a language is a skill, not just information. That is why to get anywhere, you should get a teacher, either a native speaker who can guide you or a proper teacher of the language, so that you can avoid mistakes and apply the information that you learn. Practice is the only way one can acquire the language. The following presentation is a reference for those who wish to learn, and of course, one should seek out help and practice on their own.

One should note that every language requires 4 basic skills: listening (understanding the language auditorily), speaking (being able to communicate orally), reading (both phonetically and with comprehension), and writing (both handwriting as well as composition).

A. Level One: Everyday Worship

This level presents a guide for those who are merely familiarizing themselves with Arabic for the purpose of worship. If you would like to understand the Quran, be able to write down prayers in the original Arabic, and gain the basic language skills to understand and pronounce the basic vocabulary of Islam, this is a good start.

i. Reading

Arabic reading is different from reading Arabic in the Quran because although there may be some vowel marks (tashkeel) in some specific books or texts, by in large, the words are left unvowelled. A person is expected to know the pronunciation of the word and be able to vowel it according to basic grammar. This introduction to reading is at a very basic level, with the primary intent being understanding, not perfection in grammar. You may see the portion regarding Quranic reading to learn how to read phonetically, but at this point I would urge you to practice gaining vocabulary and familiarizing yourself with the common words used in the Quran etc. A good book for this is “Language of the Quran”, which is probably available for online order.

This level is also not intended for deep study and therefore it is recommended to use translations, to begin noticing the words used most often, and to see them in their context of usage. You should also ask if you do not understand a word and write down the meaning (pictures are best, to increase thinking in Arabic rather than English) or make a list of words you are interested in learning.

Recommended Study: Read 1 pg./day from the Quran, book of Hadith, etc. using the translation to build vocabulary and usage. Try making a list of “frequently used words” and review them daily. Begin a new list the next week and keep your collection of words as a documentation of your study.