Lesson One

[Expergefactionist]

As-salaamu ‘alaikum…

Welcome to our Introductory Arabic Lessons.

In these lessons we would learn the Arabic alphabets, how to pronounce them, how to join them to make words.

Arabic language is very easy, but as it is the case with any other language, practise is what makes a difference.

If you think you are going to learn Arabic by simply understanding a few concepts here and there, then you are mistaken.

Arabic is not learnt over night. It takes YEARS.

I started learning Arabic over 12 years ago, and continue to learn and practise. I can never claim that I have learnt Arabic.

Learning Arabic requires a lot of patience and perseverance. Therefore, if one’s intention is sincere, and he is determined, provided that he fears Allah in open and secret, Allah will give him the understanding of the Arabic language, and open up for him the many venues to learn various other sciences, and thereby raising his rank in Allah’s sight.

It is only a person with the aforementioned qualities, who can really enjoy the recital of the Quran and feel how the companions felt when they heard the Quran, the literal Word of God.

Some brothers informed me that when the recited the Quran after they had learned Arabic, it was, as if Quran came to life.

May Allah make us all from those who persevere, make our intentions purely for His sake, instil in our hearts the necessary Taqwa in open and secret and thereby grant us the understanding of His religion.

Arabic has 28 alphabets.

I have listed them below along with their sounds.

The first exercise is to commit these letters to memory along with their sounds.

Of course, this deserves a lot of practise on your own, off-the-net in your own spare time.

Also, do take note that I will NOT be listing the names of these alphabets, but merely what they sound like. Once we are familiar with the sounds, we can then familiarise ourselves with what each of the alphabets are called. (Yes, this approach is quite phonic)

1- ا – a as in Apple
2- ب – ba as in Bat
3- ت – ta as in Tin
4- ث – tha as in Thunder
5- ج – ja as in Jeep
6- ح – Ha is similar to Hospital, but a lot heavier, from the throat
7- خ – Kha as in the Scottish Loch
8- د – da as in Doll
9- ذ – dha as in That
10- ر – ra as in Ring
11- ز – za as in Zoo
12- س – sa as in Sun
13- ش – sha as in Shoe
14- ص – Sa like Sun but a lot thicker
15- ض – Da is like Doll but a lot thicker
16- ط – Ta is like Tan but a lot thicker
17- ظ – Dha is like That but a lot thicker
18- ع – ‘Aa is like Apple but a lot thicker
19- غ – Gha is a mixture of G and H, and it sounds as if your are gargling
20- ف – fa as in Far
21- ق – Qa is like Kite but a lot thicker
22- ك – ka as in Kite
23- ل – la as in Lamb
24- م – ma as in Mother
25- ن – na as in Noon
26- ه – ha as in Hospital
27- و – wa as in Wonder
28- ي – ya as in Young

Notice that there are some letters that sound quite similar, yet the difference between them is that one is normal, and the other is pronounced very thick.

ح – Ha is similar to Hospital, but a lot heavier, unlike ه
ص – Sa like Sun but a lot thicker, unlike س
ض – Da is like Doll but a lot thicker, unlike د
ط – Ta is like Tan but a lot thicker, unlike ت
ظ – Dha is like That but a lot thicker, unlike ذ
ع – ‘Aa is like Apple but a lot thicker, unlike ا
ق – Qa is like Kite but a lot thicker, unlike ك

Refer to the following helpful link with respect to pronunciation:
http://abcsofarabic.tripod.com/alphabetpage.htm

Having understood the above, the first exercise we should do is putting different letters together to make various sounds.

DO NOT worry about joining the letters YET. Simply put the letters next to each other to make the following sounds. Although, if you do end up joining them, then well and good! Remember, ARABIC IS WRITTEN FROM RIGHT TO LEFT!

Do not yet worry about vowels either.

Do note that small English letters represent normal Arabic letters, whereas capital English letters represent thicker/heavier Arabic letters:

dha = ذ
Dha = ظ

Examples:

bat = تب
nad = دن
khaD = ضخ

Try the following yourselves:

1) bal
2) thar
3) jan
4) HaQ
5) khan
6) dak
7) dhaS
8) rab
9) zaf
10) sar
11) shab
12) SaH
13) Daj
14) ‘Ath
15) Ghaz
16) fam
17) Qa’A
18) kan
19) lab
20) mah
21) naQ
22) haz
23) yaTh
24) aDh

[ibn 'abd al-jabbaar]

as-salaamu 'alaikum

here is my attempt. i have done them as in the examples, with the arabic text from left-to-right as opposed to the conventional right-to-left.

1) bal = لب
2) thar = رث
3) jan = نج
4) HaQ = قح
5) khan = نخ
6) dak = كد
7) dhaS = صذ
8) rab = بر
9) zaf = فز
10) sar = رس
11) shab = بش
12) SaH = حص
13) Daj = جض
14) ‘Ath = ثع
15) Ghaz = زغ
16) fam = مف
17) Qa’A = عق
18) kan = نك
19) lab = بل
20) mah = هم
21) naQ = قن
22) haz = زه
23) yaTh = ظي
24) aDh = ضا

[aaliyah]

Asalaam alayukum warahmutallahi wabarakatahu,
Here is my attempt:
1) bal = ب ل
2) thar = ثر
3) jan = ج ن
4) HaQ = ح ق
5) khan = خ ن
6) dak= دك
7) dhaS= ذص
8) rab=ر ب
9) za= ز ف
10) sar= س ر
11) shab= ش ب
12) SaH=ص ح
13) Daj=د ج
14) ‘Ath= ع ث
15) Ghaz= غ ز
16) fam= م ف
7) Qa’A= ق ع
18) kan= ك ن
19) lab=ل ب
20) mah= م ه
21) naQ= ق ن
22) haz= ه ز
23) yaTh=ي ث
24) aDh= ا ذ

[Logic lover]

Assalamu alaikum.
Here are my attempts:
1) balبل
2) tharثر
3) janجن
4) HaQحق
5) khanخن
6) dak دك
7) dhaSدص
8) rabرب
9) zafزف
10) sarسر
11) shabشب
12) SaHشح
13) Dajضج
14) ‘Athعث
15) Ghazغز
16) famفم
17) Qa’Aقر
18) kanكن
19) labلب
20) mahمه
21) naQنق
22) hazهز
23) yaThىط
24) aDhاض

[Umm Ahmed]

1) bal = ب ل
2) thar = ث ر
3) jan = ج ن
4) HaQ = ح ق
5) khan = خ ن
6) dak = د ك
7) dhaS= ذ س
8) rab= ر ب
9) zaf = ز ف
10) sar = س ر
11) shab = ش ا ب
12) SaH = ص ح
13) Daj = ض ج
14) ‘Ath = ع ث
15) Ghaz = غ ز
16) fam = ف م
17) Qa’A = ق ع
18) kan = ك ن
19) lab = ل ب
20) mah = م ح
21) naQ = ن ق
22) haz =ح ز
23) yaTh = ى ظ
24) aDh = ا ض

Inshaa Allah thats allright, my children were all saying where is the مد الف

[Umm Ahmed]

As salaam alaykum

Are we waiting for more to join ? whats the next part ?

[Umm-Layth]

1) bal
2) thar
3) jan
4) HaQ
5) khan
6) dak
7) dhaS
8) rab
9) zaf
10) sar
11) shab
12) SaH
13) Daj
14) ‘Ath
15) Ghaz
16) fam
17) Qa’A
18) kan
19) lab
20) mah
21) naQ
22) haz
23) yaTh
24) aDh


بل
ثر
جن
حق
خن
دك
ذس
رب
زف
سر
شب
صح
ضج
عث
غز
فم
قع
كن
لب
مه
نق
هز
يث
اظ

[Expergefactionist]

as-salaamu 'alaikum...

jazakumAllahu Khairan and well-done for those who tried!

You all seem to have the right idea, although, you did make errors distinguishing between thick letters and normal letters.

Remember, thick letters are represented by capital english letter.

Therefore, s = س
and S = ص

d = د
while D = ض

Apart from that you all seem to have got the idea. But you still need lots and lots of practice in your own spare time.

Make it a routine: 15 mins a day, take a piece of paper, join two random Arabic letters together, then render the sound into English.

The idea is to get used to letters and sound.

Anyone had any questions with respect to this lesson? Or can we move on?

[Umm Ahmed]

Wa alaykum as salaam

Jazak Allah Khairan. I am ready to move on InshaAllah

[Logic lover]

Assalamu alaikum respected brother.
I am ready to move on (not that I think I am well enough to move on).
JazakAllah.