Basic Arabic Reading

• The first level in a series of courses designed to take you from no knowledge of Arabic to a high-level proficiency.
• Set the foundations for learning Arabic, the language of divine revelation
• Learn the Arabic alphabet and vowel markings
• Practice reading these letters when joined into words
• Learn how to properly articulate sounds
• Become familiar with basic rules of Qur’anic recitation
• Apply your new-found knowledge to reading the Qur’an
• Each section of this course is limited to only 15 students, ensuring a hands-on learning experience.

• There are no prerequisites. Prior familiarity with Arabic is not required or expected.
• Students are required to have a working headset microphone.
• Estimated Commitment Per Week: 2-3 hours for core requirements
• Learn how to make sure your computer is ready.

Part 1: Staged Reading: Learning to read by formulaic identification and repetitive articulation of individual consonants and vowels in words.

• Lesson 1: The Arabic Alphabet
• Lesson 2: Joining Letters
• Lesson 3: Diacritical Accents (Vowels)
• Lesson 4: Stage Reading Formula
• Lesson 5: Nunation
• Lesson 6: Long Vowels
• Lesson 7: Silent Letters
• Lesson 8: Soft Consonants
• Lesson 9: The Hamza
• Lesson 10: Doubled Letters (Shadda)

Part 2: Fluent Reading + An Introduction to Tajwid Rules: Learning how to look at a word and being able to read it immediately.

• Lesson 11: Stopping at the End of a Word (wuquf) and Closing Ta (ta' marbuta)
• Lesson 12: Unarticulated Long Vowels
• Lesson 13: Diacritical Long Vowels
• Lesson 14: The Enabling Hamza (hamzat al-wasl)
• Lesson 15: Sun & Moon Letters
• Lesson 16: Lengthened Long Vowels (madd)
• Lesson 17: Doubled Nun and Double Mim
• Lesson 18: Merging the Silent Nun into Ya and Waw (Idgham)
• Lesson 19: Merging the Silent Nun into Lam and Ra (Idgham)
• Lesson 20: Hiding the Silent Nun (Ikhfa)
• Lesson 21: Hiding the Silent Mim and Turning the Silent Nun into a Hidden Mim (Iqlab

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “Everything in existence prays for the forgiveness of the person who teaches the Qur’an – even the fish in the sea.”  In order to access the Qur’an, you must first know how to read Arabic, the language of divine revelation. Knowledge of Arabic brings Muslims closer to their religion, so that they are able to pray with focus and understand what they are reciting. The first step of this journey is to learn how to read the Arabic script.

Traditionally, Muslim children were taught how to read the Qur’an even if they could not speak or understand Arabic. Many Muslims raised in non-Muslim lands—whether converts or otherwise—are no longer taught this vital religious skill, and only realize its importance later in life. But it’s never too late to learn.

In Basic Arabic Reading, you can set the foundations for learning Arabic through learning how to read the Qur’an and any other vowelled Arabic text through a method that is unique in the English-speaking world. Based on traditional, time-tested methods of learning how to read the Qur’an that are used in the Indian subcontinent, the technique used in the course is the best and most solid way to learn how to read. Enhancing the repetition and memorization needed to learn how to read are lessons that provide a theoretical background to the rules of reading drawing from advanced books of tajwid (Quranic recitation) and Arabic morphology.

The script taught in this course is the standard Arabic script used in copies of the Quran printed in the Arab world, specifically the standard King Fahd Saudi mushaf. Students who instead learn the Indo-Pak Quranic script are seriously hampered in their ability to learn the Arabic language further down the line.

This course is also unique because it also teaches a number of important tajwid rules that other reading courses don’t cover. These rules are necessarily for properly reciting the Quran, and many of these rules are needed even for reading standard Arabic texts correctly. Thus, this course serves as a gateway to both SunniPath’s Miftah Arabic curriculum and to future tajwid courses.

By the end of this course, you will be able to perfectly read any vowelled Arabic script, including copies of the Quran.

• Pre-recorded lessons will be taught by Shaykh Hamza Karamali.
• Weekly live sessions with conducted by the Associate Teacher.
• Printable course slides will add structure to lessons.
• Assignments and exams will test your knowledge.
• Each section of this course is limited to only 15 students, ensuring a hands-on learning experience.
• All live sessions will be recorded, so that you can hear lessons that you may miss or review key concepts.
• All course material is taken from classical traditional texts of tajwid (Quranic recitation) and morphology.
• You will be given online materials and tools with which to learn.
• You will be provided recordings of all materials requiring reading practice. These recordings have been done by an expert Quran reciter with ijaza in tajwid.
• You can post questions and engage in discussion in the course forum.
• The Associate Teacher will hold weekly office hours.

• "I can now read the Quran, Alhamdulillah. I have taken 3 beginning courses at different institutions, I have been living in an Arabic speaking country for the past 7 years. But only after taken this course can I now fully read Arabic."
  Apryl McDowell
  Homemaker, Hampton, US
• "I would recommend this course because it really does take you from no knowledge of reading the Arabic (Quran) to reading Arabic quite fluently by the end of the course."
  Runi Motin
  Biomedical Scientist, Cambridge, UK
• "I would recommend this course highly to others, even those who have some knowledge of Arabic, because it teaches proper pronunciation and recitation of Quran, and gives a good foundation for further studies in both tajweed and Arabic, as well as basic tajweed rules for those who do not study further."
  Minerva Kalenandi
  Disabled, Hillsboro, USA
• "I would recommend Arabic 101 to anyone in the introductory phase of Arabic, Tajweed, anyone who needs brushing up on their pronunciation, or anyone wanting to get closer with the Quran and Allah (swt). The teachers were excellent, the curriculum in a well ordered and timely manner, and the versatility of schedule selection was great, alhamdulilah."
  Andrew Coates
  Turners Falls, USA
• "I would recommend this course to others because it really helped to solidify my understanding and recitation of the Quran."
  Ameena Nasir
  Graduate Student, Tamarac, USA
• "I would recommend as it teaches Arabic reading even to one with no knowledge of Arabic reading."
  Rishath Rias
  Software Engineer, USA
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because it improves ones understanding and practice of tajweed and terms used. Also having a teacher to hear one's annunciation very important to know if one is correct.”
  Surena Bte Ngagan Salby
  Registered Nurse, Perth, Australia
• “It is systematic, thorough and convenient. I did not think I would be able to read the Qur'an in such a short period of time. Therefore I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to read the Qur’an in Arabic.”
  Kebba Mass
  Nursing, Atlanta, USA
• “Although I got some training in Arabic via my mother and Sunday school classes that I took in my childhood, but this class was greatly beneficial for me because I learned a lot of reading rules that I was previously unaware of. Besides that, I learned about the importance of regular Qur'anic reading and this class offered the perfect opportunity to incorporate this into my life.”
  Muhaafiz Khan
  Teacher, Washington DC, USA
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because of how quickly one can learn to read Arabic. And at a flexible pace that's compatible with working a full-time job. The ARB101 course is exceptional. I had NO knowledge of the Arabic language prior to the class, and can now [very slowly] make it through an entire page of Quran. Sh. Abu Omar Borras is very good at encouraging students, and being knowledgeable of what level each particular student is at in his or her recitation.”
  Corey Peagler
  Burbank, USA
• “I would recommend this course because there is nothing better than being taught how to read the Glorious Qurán by wonderfully patient teachers. May Allah reward them for their patience and kindness.”
  Mostafa El-Gashingi
  University Student, Sydney, Australia
• “I made incredible progress very quickly and the structure and content of the course is the best of all the Arabic classes I have ever taken. Ustadh Abu Omar teaches in a gentle and most encouraging manner, and always with a smile!”
  Mahbuba Miah
  Sussex, England
• “I would recommend this particular course to others because of the excellent online video tutorials, the online exercises, and the live sessions.”
  Ruhul Amin Choudhury
  Electrical Engineer, Springfield, USA
• “I would recommend this particular course because you learn one of the most essential things in your worship: that is your right pronunciation of the Quran and dua in Arabic.”
  Nadia Amin
  Mummy, Kristiansand, Norway
• “It will help you learn the rules for reading Arabic for those who have never had true formal training or who don't know Arabic at all.”
  Tariq Ameer
  Dispute Analyst, Woodbridge, USA
• “Insha'Allah I would recommend this course to others because of the importance to recite correctly. This course is a great way to fit it in to our own schedule and from the comfort of our home. I know other mothers who lose out because of their children. Also, the course was well paced and Ustadh Borras was very encouraging and patient. Sh. Hamza's prerecorded lessons were masha'Allah very clear and concise. Ustadh Borras was amazing, very patient with us, and very encouraging, also gave useful tips. I look forward to subsequent courses on Arabic with both teachers, may Allah bless them and their loved ones!”
  Nosheen Ayyub
  Software developer, Manchester, UK
• “It was beneficial in increasing reading spead and learning rules of tajweed.”
  Lisa Ismail
  Mother, Knoxville, USA
• “Even though I could read Arabic before, I found the course useful. I wanted to consolidate and strengthen my previous knowledge of reading and I felt that I needed a good foundation before trying to learn advanced stuff. So now I have greater confidence and my reading of Qur'an has improved from before, which is very important.”
  Hassan Ismail
  Student, Bradford, UK
• “I would recommend this course to others because it was carried out in a very professional manner. The means used was different and easy to understand.”
  Rafeek Nakooda
  Accountant, Durban, South Africa
• “I would (and already have) recommended this particular course to others because the course content was very detailed. The professors taught well. The staff was very helpful and understanding. There is flexibility as far as the class time so even if someone has a job they can still fit it into their schedule. The instructors were wonderful! They were easy to understand and follow.”
  Fatima Niazi
  Pharmacist, Philadelphia, USA
• “I would recommend Intro to Arabic Reading to others because it is an excellent method for improving one's reading and introducing tajweed.”
  Fatima Larson
  Registered Nurse, Seattle, USA
• “No matter what level of Arabic you think you are this course helps you gain confidence in the correct pronunciation and tajwid in reciting the Qur'an. Masha Allah. I really like taking courses with Shaykh Hamza he really makes things seem very simple and understandable. And Sidi Abu Omar was great in the live sessions. He has a good ability of encouraging you to go a little further. And he seemed to know when to overlook mistakes and when to correct you. He was really good.”
  Fatima Wallace
  Homemaker, Columbus, USA
• “If you don't have tajweed classes in your locality then this is the best course to go to. Video enabling allows you to see the teacher and how he pronounces things and the live sessions are excellent tutorials to cover material.”
  Asma Arif
  Orthoptist, Peterborough, UK
• “I would recommend this course because it is very good and easy to learn arabic reading using the stage reading method.”
  Mischelle Moody
  Artist, Silver Spring, USA
• Taken this course? Submit a review.