How Should I Learn Arabic?

Answered by Shaykh Farid Dingle

Question

How should I learn Arabic?

Answer

The best way to learn Arabic is to focus on Quranic vocabulary and the fundamentals of Arabic grammar and morphology. Arabic is very systematic, and its systematic nature makes realizing it simply than many would imagine. One does have to memorize essential vocabulary (about 2-3,000 words) and a few tables of verb conjugation and noun declension to get to grips with the language, though.

Here is a good app for Quranic vocabulary:
Learn Half the Quran: Most Common Words

Once you’ve memorized essential vocabulary and learned the fundamentals of Arabic grammar and morphology, you should go on to more advanced grammar (Hiyadat al-Nahw, Qatr al-Nada, al-Kafia, and al-Alfiyya) and rhetoric.

It is very tempting for non-Arabs to get too carried away with grammar because we generally progress fasting and think we are “getting it.” This is just an illusion. For this reason, it is equally important that emphasis is made on actually learning the Arabic language, as opposed to its mere skeleton (grammar). This is achieved by learning and reading Arabic poetry, especially Pre-Islamic, Islamic, and Omayyad poetry. Books such as Zawzani’s commentary on the Muallaqat are beneficial.

Books on Quranic and hadith rare vocabulary are also useful, such as Raghib’s Mufradat Alfadh al-Quran and Ibn al-Athir’s al-Nihaya fi Gharib al-Hadith wa al-Athar.

I pray this helps.

[Shaykh] Farid Dingle
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic language