Arabic for Beginners

Whether used as a means of self-instruction or as part of higher learning coursework, this language primer is ideally suited for those wishing to learn classical Arabic and for Muslims who wish to learn Arabic exclusively for use in their religious and spiritual practice. Designed to enhance the understanding of the Qur’an and its vocabulary that has infiltrated the whole of Arabic and Islamic literature, this workbook provides 40 easy-to-follow lessons for learning Qur’anic rather than modern Arabic. Beginning with a section on the Arabic alphabet, the text moves on to individual lessons that address one or more grammatical topics, ranging from the basics of nouns, adjectives, and prepositions to the more complex concepts of the imperative, the passive, and conditional sentence, introducing new vocabulary in the process. Accompanying translation exercises, a glossary of technical terms, and an index supplement the main text.

Professor Abdur Rahim, Director of the Translation Centre of the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex and former Professor of Arabic at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, has authored texts designed to impart a knowledge of classical Arabic through applied grammar. Each lesson, based on a conversation, illustrates distinctive language patterns. These patterns are elucidated by a variety of helpful exercises. The vocabulary ranges from classical and Quranic Arabic to modern Arabic. This series of books is currently being utilized at various schools to prepare students for the University of London (UK) GCE O-Level and A-Level examinations.