Free Arabic Learning Resources
Here you will find lessons, books, worksheets, audio, and video material.
Videos on Arabic Grammar
Read Arabic Poetry
Qasida Burda: Chapter 3
A line unpacked from the most famous ode sung in praise of the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Read from Imam Ghazali's "Dear Beloved Son"
By the time one has reached 40 years
First Advice (Part 2)
The Sliding "Lam"
One of the many ways emphasis is used, with examples from the Quran and Ghazali's "Dear Beloved Son."
Read from Imam Ghazali's "Dear Beloved Son"
On Allah's turning away from the servant
First Advice (Part 1)
Read from Imam Ghazali's "Dear Beloved Son"
Imam Ghazali's letter to a disciple.
Introduction
Beginner's Tip: Partially Inflected Nouns
Most prophetic names in the Quran never take a kasra as do other names.
Watch this beginner's tip to find out why
Nouns that have grammatical impact
Some nouns take a direct object.
Watch this short clip to see an example.
Hans Wehr Series Part 2: Multiple voweling options for the same root
(discussed in the Essentials course)
Six verb patterns (الأبواب الستة)
(discussed in the Essentials course)
Hans Wehr Series Part 1: Introduction to the Dictionary
(discussed in the Essentials course)
Sounds Plurals and Broken Plurals
(discussed in the Essentials course)
The Hal (circumstantial qualifier)
(discussed in the Essentials course)
Articles on Arabic Grammar
- PDF 1 page
Difference between Sound Plurals and Broken Plurals (جمع التكسير /جمع السالم)
- PDF 3 pages
Difference between Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs in Arabic (فعل متعد و فعل لازم)
- PDF 5 pages
What is an adjective in Arabic ? (النعت/الصفة)
- PDF 4 pages
The Idafa Construction (الإضافة)
- PDF 2 pages
Forming the command tense verb in Arabic (الفعل الأمر)
- PDF 1 page
Introduction to The Quran Beheld (Audio)
The author, Sheikh Nuh Keller, reads the introduction to The Quran Beheld. A must-read for any student of classical Arabic.
Downloadable Books and Core Texts
The essential study guide to Arabic grammar-- A true classic in the field.
In addition to Qur'an selections, fables, stories, newspaper extracts, letters, and excerpts from classical and modern Arabic writings are included. The book contains 52 chapters with a vocabulary of over 4,000 words.
It will serve as a basis for further and deeper study of this classical language and its literature; at the same time it will help to form a good foundation for those who wish to concentrate on the modern written language of literature and the daily press.
This is above all a practical grammar. It is meant for the beginner who is not familiar with the peculiarities of the Semetic languages. Nevertheless, it is comprehensive enough for most students' needs in the first two or three years of study.
Abul Hasan al-Nadwi's Mukhtarat is a compilation of some of the most eloquent pieces of literature in the Arab and Muslim literary corpus, from the beginning of Islam to the 20th century. It includes words of Hasan al-Basri, Ghazali, Jahiz, Ibn Khaldoun, and Ibn Jawzi as well as stories of Imam Ahmad's imprisonment, the passing aways of Salah al-din, and the the Shama'il by al-Tirmidhi.
The widely-used Arabic to English dictionary that will serve you well in translating texts. While this is ultimately a dictionary o f Modern Written Arabic, it is indispensable in translating classical works.
Abul Hasan al-Nadwi's guided reader for beginner to intermediate levels. One should be familiar with all the vocabulary in this book.
Abul Hasan al-Nadwi's stories of the prophets. Begins slow and increases in complexity. Excellent for applying grammar one has learned.
Common words used in the Quran. Aspiring students of classical Arabic should know all the words in these lists.
Advanced Arabic
A contemporary nahw book with exercises and answers. Thorough and organized yet requires a good vocabulary base. Many examples are drawn from poetry.
A classical Arabic to Arabic dictionary that is useful for sarf. Written in a terse style that assumes basic knowledge of the language, al-Misbah al-Munir comes to one's aid where modern dictionaries fall short.
For those classical words which you cannot find in Hans Wehr. This is an accessible Arabic to Arabic dictionary with both contemporary and classical words.
External Audio/ Video Materials
The Pronoun Song - Beginner's Tip: Role of a pronoun (ضمير) after a verb or noun
How to master this tradition - Hamza Yusuf on learning grammar