A Letter to Arabic Students: Guidance on Building Fluency and Confidence in Reading

My dear students,
It has been brought to my attention, through my dear student, Mr Ali Rasul, that many of you at Al-Salam feel disheartened because, despite your sincere effort and hard work, you still struggle to progress quickly in understanding the Arabic language. Some of you mentioned that it can take nearly an hour to read a single page from my book Man ‘Allamani, even when you consult a good dictionary. I understand this feeling very well, and I wish to offer you some guidance that may help you move forward with renewed clarity and confidence.

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Let me first reassure you that what you are experiencing is entirely normal. Arabic, being a rich and deeply expressive language, requires time and steady exposure before one begins to read it with ease and fluency. The book Man ‘Allamani was not designed for beginners; it assumes a certain mastery of grammar, morphology, and vocabulary, as well as familiarity with Arabic style and idiom. Starting directly with such a book can make you feel discouraged because it demands skills that naturally develop only after reading many simpler texts. Therefore, do not begin your Arabic reading journey with Man ‘Allamani. Instead, build your foundation through easier and more enjoyable readings that will strengthen your understanding step by step.

Language learning is most effective when it follows a graded progression, moving gradually from the simple to the complex, from short phrases to longer and more sophisticated expressions. Begin with texts that are easy, fluent, and engaging. A very useful starting point is the Silsilat al-‘Arabiyyah lil-Nāshi’īn (العربية للناشئين) series or similar graded readers. These books teach you grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure in a balanced way, helping you gain confidence in both reading and comprehension. Once you have mastered such materials, you can move on to the next stage: developing a taste for Arabic literature.

After completing the elementary stage, I strongly recommend that you study Kalīlah wa Dimnah. This marvellous collection of fables, originally an Indian work translated into Persian and then rendered into Arabic by the great writer Ibn al-Muqaffa‘, is a masterpiece of Arabic prose. It combines simplicity with eloquence, wisdom with beauty, and offers a gateway into the world of Arabic literature. Our revered teacher, Shaykh Abul Hasan ‘Ali Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on him), once told us that he read Kalīlah wa Dimnah forty times, and he advised his students to do the same. I have followed his example and likewise recommend that you read it repeatedly, each reading will reveal new subtleties and deepen your appreciation of Arabic expression.

Once you have become comfortable with Kalīlah wa Dimnah, continue with Majmū‘ah min al-Nazm wa al-Nathr lil-Ḥifẓ wa al-Tasmī‘, reading it attentively and analysing the beauty of both its poetry and prose. Thereafter, explore Manthūrāt min Adab al-‘Arab by Shaykh Muḥammad al-Rābi‘ al-Ḥasanī al-Nadwī, and Mukhtārāt min Adab al-‘Arab by Shaykh Abul Hasan ‘Ali al-Ḥasanī al-Nadwī. For students who wish to experience the grandeur of classical Arabic, I also recommend studying Dīwān al-Ḥamāsah by Abū Tammām, especially the sections on manner, elegy, and valour, accompanied by the commentaries of al-Marzūqī and al-Tabrīzī. These works will train your literary sensitivity and help you appreciate the strength and elegance of Arabic expression.

In addition to classical works, it is equally important to read the writings of modern masters of Arabic style, who combined clarity, depth, and eloquence. Among them are Muṣṭafā Luṭfī al-Manfalūṭī, Ṭāhā Ḥusayn, Aḥmad Amīn, Muṣṭafā Ṣādiq al-Rāfi‘ī, Shaykh ‘Alī al-Ṭanṭāwī, and Abul Hasan ‘Ali al-Nadwī. Their books are treasures of modern Arabic literature, rich in thought and refined in language, and they can serve as excellent models for students who aspire to write and speak with fluency and taste.

For practical guidance, I suggest the following sequence. Begin with simple, well-written Arabic texts containing short, clear, and eloquent sentences. Progress to short storybooks that use familiar vocabulary and straightforward grammar. Then move on to longer narratives and essays with richer vocabulary and more complex ideas. For Arabic learners, the following books are highly beneficial and beautifully written: the children’s stories of Kāmil Kilānī; Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn by Abul Hasan ‘Ali Nadwī; Ṣuwar min Ḥayāt al-Ṣaḥābah and Ṣuwar min Ḥayāt al-Tābi‘īn by ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Rāfat Bashā; Al-Ayyām by Ṭāhā Ḥusayn; and Dhikrayāt by ‘Alī al-Ṭanṭāwī. Reading these works in order will gradually increase your fluency, vocabulary, and literary appreciation.

Finally, remember that progress in Arabic, or in any language, depends not on speed, but on consistency, patience, and genuine love for the language. Read daily, even if only for a few pages. Try to understand the context before looking up every new word; allow your mind to absorb meaning naturally. Read aloud when possible, and listen to good Arabic speech to attune your ear to the language’s rhythm and melody. With time, you will find that what once took you an hour to read will take only minutes. The Arabic language will open its beauty to you gradually, and your effort will surely bear fruit.

May Allah bless your studies and make your journey in the Arabic language one of joy, insight, and spiritual enrichment.