* F- pundW 1

CAjrfiy i Hi -i^ng srtd Wi iling ArisEn

Dp, rmrsn Hamis Alawiy

 $ S s' o. .

Gateway to Arabic
Book One
Dr. Imran 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 lunciation 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 the audio recording of the book.

Please note that Arabic is written from right to left.

- --

Names of the Pronunciation Arabic

letters guide letters

Alif a
1

Baa b

<.

Taa t
cu

Ihaa th

Jeem j

Ha h
C
Kha kh
C
Daal d j

Dhaal dh j
*

Raa r
j

Zaa z
*

Seen s

2
Names of the Pronunciation Arabic
letters guide letters

Sheen sh

Saad s

Daad d

Ta t _L

Za z J*

c c
Ayn t
*

Ghayn gh t
Faa f

Qaaf q (J

Kaaf k d
Laam i J

Meem m r
*

Noon n u

Haa h

Waaw w J

Yaa y <S
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.
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
10
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
14
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page,
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the Doae,
17
Write over the letters below, then continue copying
to complete the page.
Here is the complete Arabic alphabet.
Can you read all the letters?

19
Can you fill in the missing letters
in the alphabet below?

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

i) Fatha 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 fatha on each letter.

s' s' s

c o O t

s' s' s s' s'

d m -
J i

< l
s' s' *

O* U* )

s' s'

\ *
t \
The Short Vowels - continued
2

ii) Kasra This is a short diagonal stroke written below an Arabic letter.
~~ It is pronounced T, as in the English word 'bit'.

Read the alphabet below with kasra on each letter.

t o
s'
o s'
\

sS

a
J
s' s' C l
J? s' s'
J
s'

J? b
t t s' s'

0 f J &
s' s' s'

(J J J*
s' s' s'

22
The Short Vowels - Continued

c
iii) Damma This is a very small 'waaw' written above an Arabic
like letter.
__
if js pronounced 'u', as in the English word 'bull'.

Read the alphabet below with damma on each letter.

2 2 Ji

0 O O o 1

2 2 2 j*
4 .

J c c
2 2 j*

Lf V" J
2 2 JJ J!

3 t t j? J?

2 2 J* J*

d r J <3
Jl j*

iS -ft
J
23
Practise reading your alphabet with fatha,
kasra and damma (a, i, u).

****** *
*.- $
< > U i
1
l

1

1
* *
s' S'

etc
s
s 2 2
c c c c c c
J J!

J J J J J J ^ ^ ^
lT lS lS s'

******
cA cA J s'
cS /
s'
Cf U* U* U*

l3
s etc etc
$
* *

Js>

i
******
Js>
s'

r f r 'J J 'J t ii ii (J l3 (3
s'

$ s

****** J J J _& 0 0 l)
s' s' s'

Can you read the following Arabic words?

/ s' s'
C **
i\ *
he stops he thanked he read c3
s'
^ 1
j

/
he desired, he was good he understood i ^3
wished a-C ^ s'

^ x x'

he laughed he was
endowed with
J j j
s'
he wrote <_> O 4i

he joined it was known

fJl he describes
s'

24
 .

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

By itself Joined End Middle Beginning

l III L L l
*

o
o CJ3 -J

*
0 ix3 <L -4

o A
-J

c e-

c c-
*

c c-
^ a. JL. *

> i S i a- Jl i *

J J JJ J *

J j- j- 3 *

O* cT- 4>

t* i* **. &
.Ju
cT-
* The six starred 'naughty' letters cannot be joined to the For an explanation, see
left. p. 27.

** Sometimes at the end a word the taa

of letter is written 3 or 4_ which is called taa marbuta.
By itself Joined End Middle Beginning

u0 qP-AUP C^- -*
J0 Jmup U*

Js> Js- Ja- Jp

J9 U i*
Ja- Js- Jp

t 2- - -*

t &
i

<3 d- j

si dKr ^jL JL -S'

J JL J

f
^ A A
r _o

0 j-

0 *'-g-a 4- -*

J J J J > J- :

cS (^Si T$T- ''

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:

i ^
j j j I

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.

Exercise
alphabet in the boxes below,
Write out the Arabic
and draw a circle around the six 'naughty' letters. ^
Practice with the Naughty Letters

+ J

jj j + j j + <j> J + V
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters,

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

30
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters,

31
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters. Ht|

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

Practice with joining letters

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

he was active. 1

energetic
y
\
y
zr

S y y
'
,
\' s'

he was thirstv

y y ^ \d
c

y yy y y y y y y
he was oatient
v
j
i
*
^
CT

/
he stuck (s.th.'l

z'
J
y
^ w
; L-v
y
^ d^

y y
he laughed
y y
ii
c ^ J?

y y y y y y

it decreased,
became less Cz'
-3
y*
<J
v 0

34
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters.
Practice with joining letters
Copy out the words onto the lines provided, and learn how to join the letters.

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

37
Practice with joining letters
Join the groups of letters to make words in the boxes provided.
Practice with joining letters
Join the groups of letters to make words in the boxes provided.
Tanween
The three Arabic vowels, fatha, kasra and
short
damma, can be doubled, This is known as "tanween",
and it changes the sound of the vowels,

i) Tanween fatha (fathataan) 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 fatha on each letter.

br u u b

b b

u? u> u '3

u u Up Up

u to If IS

L b U
40
ii) Tanween kasra (kasrataan) Thisis 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.

o &
o i
J?

c c
&
C* &

J?
jt &

d J 4J

d
&
J
41
Tanween (Continued)

iii) Tanween damma (dammataan) 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 damma on each letter.

22 22 22 22 22

O O O S-

22 22 22 22 22

S
J c c
22 22 22 22 22

d? u* J* J
22 22 22 So

J9 Sr'
t t
22 22 22 22 22
'0
f J &
22 22

iS d
J
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, I

22 " i
bell pen LS boy ___ JLi a father

22 s s
travel __ _ ___ JS. hundred 4JL* hand 1 wLj* lion Jl^I
S5
^

^
horse __ l! j present
1
Jjfc aoat
J5 ja

mouth J
r
&

N * s s
sV] ** * u
ball
to
cherries \ p lip AJL^ never ijJI

* " J2 JJ z
king I^Jlq mountain Nl_>- carrot
jj' brother ^ t
*
r

^/ x x * 2 ,
ovramid P tree S _>c_C; camel man
* * V
a

43
The Long Vowels (Madd)

Three letters of the Arabic alphabet are used

to lengthen the sounds of the short vowels

fatha, kasra and damma, These letters are: J (S

i) Alif al-madd

Alif is used to lengthen the "a" sound of fatha into

an "aa" sound,
Note the special shape of laam when it is joined to alif

below.

Read the alphabet below with alif al-madd (the long fatha) on each letter.

s' s' s'

li 1 J b \

s' s' s'

$ t
b 1 l

s' s' s' s'

1b? l tZi l i
J

li 1 l l iIp

s' X* s'

U i

u i l r i i
s'

1 b i

h Lft

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

/ ^
d
S'
44
s'
44
s' ^
IS*
/

** x
LT* ^
LT'*
^ ^
<)
/

1*
X ^
LS^
**

** s ^
J ^ ^ /-

^ s'

45
The Long Vowels (Madd) Continued

iii) Waaw al-madd

Waaw al-madd is used to lengthen the "u" sound of damma into an "oo" sound.

Read the alphabet below with waaw al-madd (the long damma) on each letter,

s S s s
i
yr y y y j'
s St s s s

JJ y y y* y*
s s s s s
H
y? jj
s St s s s

s
s S
J*-
s
P > s s

**

y y
s s s

y JJ J*
46
Practice with Madd

47
Sukoon
A small circle called sukoon, written above a letter of the Arabic alphabet, is used to
show that the letter below has no vowel: 0 All you hear is the shortened sound of
it .

the letter, so jeem becomes kaaf becomes 'k' and sheen becomes 'sh' etc.
'j',

O f O 0 f
Try reading the following words: JlP Ju fli C
^
When there is a fatha followed by a yaa with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ay' sound.
22 0 s s Os 22 o 22 Os 0 ' $Os s Os
e '9. Jb
When there is a fatha followed by a waaw with a sukoon on it, it makes an '-ow' sound:
22 o s 22 *
o s 22 o s 22 s o s' s
s' _o ^
s' 22
f f so s
s' O
s' 22
f f O
o s
S' 22f o0 s's
f

fj* fjj
* sby (Tj j c>ji

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

jj $
The short vowels are written with shadda like this: or

Study these examples:

0 $ s ^ o ^ H j>
C
j>j* o jj
-Y*So

y. = j + j + + +
- L II
s-o ^ J

Read the words below, then copy them out onto the lines provided. 02k
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:
Os Os
t^JlS means heart, whereas ar 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.

0
J1JI s J1JI s

dlli i \S
he perished, died; he was he shaved a dog a heart
annihilated, destroyed

< > lL? ^>\j jSj jij

he was good, pleasant. he repented it was still, motionless. he slept; went to
agreeable stagnant bed, lay down

S-S- / /

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

no market; it didn't sell

J>J> s JiJi s s O \ o \

Vjr-*
shady, shaded despicable, contemptible; hitting, beating. a path, trail, track;
lowly, abject, servile striking a mountain pass

55 ^ 53 ^ s 0 s s 0 s

he poured. he insulted, reviled; some, a few after

emptied he cursed, swore

$ s is
5
cP
he offered a morning he swam he went astray. he led, he showed
drink (to someone) lost his way the way

So o \ J 1
J* Os 0 .JIJI. Os
JJLp
reason, discernment; food a molar tooth a lesson, class;
mind, intellect study

50
Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,
and also all the vowel sounds,

52
53
 Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,
and also all the vowel sounds.

f s 0

>L>cJL. olJ. lC_,

J
* . . .

2+
. . .J JUL..-J . . UUi
V J
54
55
 _* p Jss Ja_ Ja Ja

aeroplane

Ik snake grapes scorpion,

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

and also all the vowel sounds.

r 1

J- 5" * * ^

L

>-
-y 5 . . . L>-

V
56
 Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,
and also all the vowel sounds.

f >1

. .-vJ J'j- Sj. * . Us-. .

H *
..s . *
-J-?
<U-.

V J
57
58
Complete the words below by filling in the missing letter or letters,
and also all the vowel sounds.

59
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 = j!

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 a sukoon on the laam.

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

Copy out the following words on the lines provided, adding 'al' to each word.
Remember to change the two dammas at the end of each word into one damma.
J>J> .
^ > -X- >> 0 s'
t w i i
*
r i
'
. ?
1 SUa ool->PA ; JU ^flol

$ 5^ s ^ JU 0 J>J> $ s'

OS A

s' s'

Jo

61
The sun letters

The sun letters are shown above, Sun letters are written with a shadda when they come
straight after 'al'. The laam of 'al' 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 'ta', and note how you cannot hear the 'loam' at all.

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

$ s0
sJukJI
s
22 s 0 s J> S s $ s
Ailjj
S S S 9 ^ s'

- &
99 s'

2 o it s &0 $ s & S 22 s s 9 s' 0 $ s' 99 s' 0 s'

jAJsJI jJL& ApLJ( 4Pll*

J> 0 ^ -SJ* 0 ^ & 1> s H J>

*
jJI

U U
S s' 0 s' 99 s' 0 s' JJ 5) ^ J> S J>

t}j^
s it s s

J> 0 H s 0 S
*
it S
t 1 .
U <
S
*

s'

Exercise
Copy out the following words on the lines provided, adding 'al' to each word.
Remember to change the two dammas at the end of each word into one damma.
JIJ>0 s *2 s j> * S

l s'
s'

22 O S UsS *
99 s' s' s'

2$ s0 J>J> s s $ $ s' O s'

**

aJ->o aJjLU 0
'j*J

62
Exercise
Sort out the words the box below into two groups: those beginning with sun letters
in

and those beginning with moon letters, Write them in the columns provided, adding
'al' to the beginning of each word,

63
Al-alif al-maqsura
Al-alifal-maqsura is a type of alif which appears at the end of some words.
It always has a fatha before it. Read the examples below and copy them

out into your exercise book.

P S S s SS 0^0 Vs s 0

dLj
s 0 s 0 s s 0 s s s s S P

sO s O 2s 2

( l5
^^ '
j y* )

64
 J

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.

JJ JJ

X
0
/

/
.
J* J*

X
JIJ* o
X

^
++
22 s
4JL-L* +*

4 s 2
X

Jj J*
C'y
f

0^
c
-
35

Of

55
^

&J4 x'j X

0 22 2 2 J* J* o ^ J* J* J! J*
jC

tJb ^ JLut
* j *
Oil
X X

JJ J3 o J! 0 JX, ^ ^ J! J* 0
a' ~

y & yr X
s-

22 s o s 22 s J* 2
J* 2 sts X . XX
~ *
Ju
X

^ 0 ^ J! J2 S> 2 s ~8> s 0 s ^ -5 ^ o

'

2
Jo

2
^
'
-
& Cr^ X

Sf>J!

S JJ JJ JJ JJ ',2 s X
c
Jjk *V> c?'j
X
"' '
J-^ "
.

X 22 s 22s Os x JU 0 ^
*+

1-LJLk d JJ3I dJLiL-f

X X X

X X J* .z' ^ ^ Ox- o J* j* ^ J* 0 sS
.. 1

y'
X X

. / 0 22s 22 ;0 ji X X 22 ss o

^ ozjy* Joliji of^l

X X X X

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

*
^ -
Jl

0 ^P

Jl a_UI
iP

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

s' O s' S yJ /

,j\ All! Allah is Greater.

(P x -

/ 0 i
. aJJI jl>^w^ Glory be to Allah.

CP s' s' s

. aJJI U What Allah wishes. (A phrase used to

express praise or admiration).
y> s' s' 0

. aJJI jl God willing.

S3 J! O X
. A_U Ju>^>UI Praise be to Allah. (Thanks be to Allah).
x*

^ ip S 0^0 x

. aJUI I ask Allah's forgiveness.

J Si < o ^ S s o

. PUI Ml PI M 01 jLj-il I testify that there is no god except Allah.

'
S S

lP -P . S s'
y \%s'S$s^Ss'0s^
. aJUI / J a_* v i-Low>=-/> O' -C" Itestify that Muhammad is the Messenger
of Allah.

^ s' s' 0 S' s' S (p Ip X'

the blessing and peace of Allah

May be
J aJLp aJUI
^
ft-Loo a
.
\ upon him, (A phrase spoken after
mentioning our Prophet's name).

s' 0 & s' $ S S S'

jUfl-JJi aJJU ~ seek protection in Allah from the accursed

PV^
I

**
s 1 Shaytan.
* O s 2 $ s s s
.1^ aJUI lil^ *
(To a boy or man):
nrArt+lv/
greatly.
May Allah reward you

o ^

.1^ PJI iilpr

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

S ,S
. ,
s' ,
s' ,,
s' s' &
. S
_ ,
s' o
- , x
, o
V S^
S' sS o
V ^
s' s' S ' oj

Ajlif j4 aJUI A^_>- a ^_>wJlp May the peace and blessings of Allah be
'r
J **
\ upon you. (Islamic greeting),
\

. , , , ,, . O s' s' s'

. Ajlif A_UI ^*>U-vjl j^-Ss-wLpj And may the peace and^ blessings of _Allah_
be upon you too, (Reply to Islamic greeting).

66
 ^o 2 o 51 2 o /
Ninety-nine perfect names of Allah

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

67
ety-nine perfect names of Allah

J> s 0 JI J> 0 $ ^ 0

>Nl w\_A_X^Osj 1
*
y

tS o 0 $ 0

*
>ik y x

0^0 S /o J> J> 0 $ 2 s o

- ^
1 ^U\ y
SI1-wwO>-XkJ
*
y
1

0 J> 0 y 0 -& s 0 J! ^ 0

^h-X~oJ\
(

^
CA'
y

J> s 0 y y 9- 0 J1 $1 s 0 $ sO
xjLoJ! ^UcuJI d~PUI
^

S i/o
A ^ 0
5) J* J! 51

jU^JI JLs^JI
y y

> si
.
J> 51 51 2 s 0 S> s o

^ibJI wL>-LoJi j^i\

.. y

MA
J> S> J 1
s 0 \
2 ^ 0

jA wL>~l
y

S> 2 / 0 J* s 51 $> s 0

jJl*]\ . ,1 ^ - ,./? ) |

.
*

J* ^ o $ s 0 J 1
0

_J JwJl j^UJI
y y

x0 0 J* 0 J* / 2 /0 J> o $> s 0
dJULJI dJU j JjJLoJI
^ x i

AA
J> ^ 0 S s o 2 j! x J! o > ^ 0

- >-Xj2^qJ 1
*
y y
^
51 J! iJi / j! 0 0 Jt 0

y
t'^% ^
5! Jl 53 -S o J
1
o J*
,
51 y 0 -S o J! o

Jj^' ^wL_<JI
 ^

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the 0* s 0 o> 0

Merciful.
. 5?; >v

j Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,

.
o it s 4

aJJ wLo->d!
J> o s os

w The Gracious, the Merciful, Lord of the

jji Day of Judgment. O s Ip s o jj

M
I You alone do we worship, and to You 2 s0 $ : / "
.
.
s?-
:
i:sl' . (>*

Jj alone do we turn for help.

"fiS

wm
JjjH
^ sO 0 s s * SO
Guide us on the straight path,
Jgj . wfiJLwvwoJ \ - n IjwL&i
j
The path of those whom You have
0 Q s' s' s 0 s Q s
*
& s s'
favoured,
jj jji
' S s
Not the path of those who earn Your
s' & / o O s s 0 S' o O s

anger, nor of those who go astray.

iH o o

Aj

God - there is no god but Him, the

Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting.

Neither slumber nor sleep overtake

Him.

To Him belong all that is in the heavens

and all 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].