Arabic Morphology

Overview

The science of morphology is the study of the structure, formation and patterns of words. Having studied this science before, students on the Arabic Immersion Year will learn this science even more comprehensively and in the Arabic medium with Shaykh Akram Nadwi’s classical Arabic textbook on the foundations of morphology, Mabadi’ al-Tasrif. Students will complete his book and gain the skill of extracting any given word from a text, determining its stem and using that knowledge to derive various other words through the knowledge of word templates.

Primary Text

Mabādi’ al-Taṣrīf

About the Text

Mabadi al-Tasrif is part of a series of five books written by Shaykh Akram Nadwi in order to introduce the sciences of Quran, Hadith, Islamic law and Arabic language. The book provides an introduction to Sarf in a concise yet comprehensive manner, making it a suitable book for Intermediate students.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Identify 8 types of nominal derivatives, their patterns, meanings and be able to form them with any given root letters
• Confidently recall the verb forms and be able to recognise them in texts within their various patterns
• Demonstrate mastery of the following verb forms: trilateral verb forms 1-15 sound, hamzated, doubled, initial-weak, middle-weak, end-weak, dual-weak and the quadrilateral verb forms 1-4
• Recognise the above verbs and their appearance in all three cases and in all 14 pronominal conjugations
• Form words when provided appropriate root letters and a context

Arabic Grammar

Overview

While morphology teaches the study of the patterns of individual words, grammar teaches the principles governing how to link individual words into phrases and sentences and what meaning is respectively formed after they are brought together. These two approaches are commonly known as syntax and semantics respectively. Every word in Arabic has some syntactic and/or semantic effect on a given sentence, therefore every type of word must be studied. Students will be given a firm grounding in the fundamentals of Arabic grammar in order to be able to confidently analyse the place of each word in a given sentence, derive its meaning and by the end of the year being able to easily and accurately read intermediate level Arabic texts.

Primary Text

Mabādi’ al-Nahw

About the Text

Mabadi al-Nahw is part of a series of five books written by Shaykh Akram Nadwi in order to introduce the sciences of Quran, Hadith, Islamic law and Arabic language. The book provides an introduction to grammar in a concise yet comprehensive manner, making it a suitable book for Intermediate students.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Know the qualities that each type of word in Arabic possesses
• Understand the grammatical agents, majzumat, mansubat, marfuʿat and majrurat that govern the case of a word
• Dissect each individual component of a given sentence with respect to the words grammatical title, function, case and case indicator
• Recognise all the phrases of the Arabic language and their respective rules in order eloquently form them
• Comprehend the types of sentences employed in classical Arabic and their individual function as part of a larger passage

Grammatical Parsing

Overview

Al-Iʿrāb, or grammatical parsing, is a classical sub-science or an off-shoot of Arabic grammar. This science breaks down the individual components of sentences and ascribes a fixed Arabic recitation, or template, to each individual component, providing students an easier way to understand Arabic grammar applied in texts.

Primary Text

ASI I’rab Workbook

About the Text

This textbook is part of ASI’s own specially designed course materials. Many books have been written in classical Arabic about grammatical parsing, but virtually no books exist on this topic in the English language. The textbook, chapter-by-chapter, introduces grammatical titles, provides a brief, yet comprehensive grammatical explanation and then gives numerous examples of that grammatical title with its respective Arabic parsing in each type of sentence. The English translation of each parsing is also provided to support students at this intermediate level in their study of Arabic.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Expand upon the knowledge gained in Arabic grammar from module two, i.e. the syntax and semantics of Arabic words
• Confidently recall from memory the classical Arabic templates for grammatically parsing individual words
• Isolate words from sentences and give their grammatical parsing which includes a fixed template for the grammatical function of a word, its case, case indicator and its respective position

Applied Arabic

Overview

Applied Arabic is an opportunity for students to practice the sciences of the Arabic language, namely grammar and morphology and apply them to practical situations via reading, writing, listening and speaking exercises. Students will read intermediate-advanced level texts, translate a pre-written paragraph about each text into Arabic, take part in group reading and speaking exercises and to listen to a short audio-clip of a lecture, sermon, documentary or seminar in Arabic on the same topic of the reading for the week. The class is largely interactive and will be initially taught in a mix of Arabic and English; however, the instructor will gradually teach in Arabic only as the year progresses.

Primary Texts

Al-ʿArabiyyatu Lil-Nāshiʿīn
ASI Applied Workbook

About the Texts

Al-ʿArabiyyatu Lil-Nāshiʿīn is a six-volume textbook consisting of a variety of articles in classical Arabic on Islamic-themed topics, such as stories of the prophets, the companions of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), historical events in Islamic history, general articles on spiritual and personal development and more. Students will be reading extracts from books 4, 5 and 6 of this series. By term 2, students will be reading publications by established scholars and writers that already assume the reader is fluent in the Arabic language. Each text is followed with comprehension questions and exercises.

The module is supplemented by our bespoke Applied Workbook, which clearly set outs each weeks teaching, provides the vocabulary words for each text (between 40-100 vocabulary words per text) and includes sections on listening, writing and translation.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Read and comprehend intermediate to advanced-level texts without a need for the vowels
• Demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary by being exposed to more than 2000 new vocabulary words
• Possess the confidence and ability to listen, on one’s own initiative, to Arabic videos and audio recordings with an intermediate level of comprehension
• Demonstrate excellent writing and translation skills
• Carry more complex multi-layered conversations with their peers in different contexts
• Build upon the growing confidence in all skills of the Arabic language.

Arabic Composition

Overview

There are three types of Arabic that an Arabic language student may learn: colloquial/dialectical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic and classical Arabic. Each are like a language of their own, often with their own vocabulary and even rules in grammar. Students at Al-Salam Institute have a primary interest in classical Arabic and, therefore, this module aims to train students in how to both translate and compose their own works in classical Arabic. This is a unique module in which students are able to get hands on experience with the Arabic language, learning how to express themselves accurately and eloquently.

Primary Text

ASI Writing & Composition Workbook

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Be able to accurately translate intermediate level texts from English to Arabic
• Be able to compose original pieces in Arabic on a variety of subjects
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of Arabic idiom and expression
• Benefit spiritually and intellectually from the content presented in each story/piece

Quranic Studies

Overview

In this module various Chapters (surah) of the Quran will be studied with theological, legal and spiritual emphases. Classical and contemporary interpretations of the Quran in the Muslim world will also be discussed and critically analysed, as well as highlighting the concept of thematic and structural coherence in the Quran; a concept which was developed by the great Indian scholar Mawlana Hamid al-Din Farahi (d.1930).

Primary Text

The Quran

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Understand the meanings of studied portions of the Quran
• Have an awareness of the interconnected and coherent nature of the Quran
• Demonstrate critical ability to deduct theological, legal and spiritual meanings from the Quranic verses by following correct exegetical methodology

Skills and Training

Overview

The Skills and Training module consists of the essential skills that will enhance the students’ development whilst at ASI. Students who have entered onto the programme without any prior studies in the science of Quran recitation (tajwid) will be able to study the theory and practice of the discipline in supplementary classes conducted online. Similarly, etiquettes of a student of knowledge is an essential point of study for those embarking upon the noble path of religious knowledge. In addition, Academic Writing and Research Methodology will detail the best practices in constructing a written paper, transliterating from Arabic into English (and back again), and referencing methods in academic articles, journals and assignments.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the theory (rules) of tajwid
• Recite the last ten Surahs of the Quran from memory
• Appreciate the values and etiquettes sought after in a student of Islamic knowledge
• Demonstrate an understanding of the most crucial elements of academic writing and study skills
• Confidently reference using the most popular referencing methods, including Chicago and Harvard
• Understand the need for consistent transliteration and demonstrate proficiency in this regard

Reading Arabic Literature

Overview

This module is designed to expose students to a variety of texts in order to strengthen their reading and comprehension skills. Students will study portions of classical Arabic texts on a range of topics from different genres in classical Arabic literature and later progress onto notable books, poems, treatise (rasa’il), texts (mutun), commentaries (shuruh), footnotes (hawashi) and other types of Islamic studies texts in order to give them a firm foundation in reading. This module focuses on the practical skills required when reading Arabic, rather than literary analysis. These skills include discerning diacritics, sentence structures, ongoing vocabulary acquisition and expansion and understanding common features of different literary forms. Students will be expected to read ahead of time and come to class ready to practise their reading and develop their comprehension.

Primary Text

Selected Texts

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Read and understand Arabic prose with ease
• Understand the unique features of different classical Arabic texts
• Know how to analyse words and sentences to ensure accurate comprehension
• Comprehend the types of sentences employed in classical Arabic and their individual function as part of a larger passage
• Know how to independently undertake further linguistic analysis

Arabic Composition

Overview

The skill of writing in Arabic allows students to express themselves and internalise the Arabic language. By reading widely, we gain access to a wider variety of expressions and by writing we are able to make those expressions our own, which can also support our speaking skills. This module enhances Arabic writing skills by connecting students with the Prophetic biography, upon which students will be required to reflect in written form. Students will also be able to better understand the historical context in which Islam emerged and be better acquainted with Sirah literature. There is no better lived example for us to read about, reflect on and internalise than the life of the Prophet (ﷺ). This module provides students with an excellent opportunity to develop an oft-neglected skill when learning Arabic. Students will be required to read ahead of time and compose regular written reflections on the Sirah.

Primary Text

al-Mukhtasar al-Kabir fi Sirat al-Rasul

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Be familiar with the early history of Muslims and the historical context in which Islam emerged
• Be able to compose reflective pieces in classical Arabic
• Have a greater appreciation for the Prophet ﷺ and the early Muslims

Listening & Speaking

Overview

In this module students will be introduced to listening and speaking exercises which help train their ears and loosen their tongues around the Arabic language. As a living language, it is important for students to practise these skills as much as possible. This will greatly enhance their skills in comprehension and expression. Students will creatively engage with the language in a variety of ways including group work, dialogues, speeches, debates and other enjoyable exercises.

Primary Text

N/A

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Understand with greater ease spoken classical Arabic
• Be able to better express themselves in spoken Arabic
• Be able to prepare short presentations in Arabic

Language of the Quran

Overview

In this course, students undertake a close textual study of the 30th juz’ of the Qur’ān, focusing primarily on the vocabulary and grammatical constructions in each sūrah. Students will be expected to do i‘rab of every word, phrase and sentence in the 30th juz’, both inside and outside class. The majority of the class will be spent clarifying questions and teaching new concepts that students are not expected to know. Students should have a good grasp of classical Arabic grammar upon entering this module.

Students are expected to use the grammatical commentary of Al-Ibrahim together with ASI’s workbook in grammatical parsing as primary resources. Secondary Qur’anic I’rabs such as those by Darwish, al-Di‘as and others may be used in class. Intermediate-level classical tafsirs such as Madarik al-Tanzil of al-Nasafi, al-Tashil by Ibn Juzzay and dictionaries such Ibn Faris’ Maqayis al-Lugha, al-Raghib’s Mufradat Alfaz al-Qur’an and al-Jawharis’ Sihah may also be referenced. The teacher will instruct students on which secondary resources to access as the course proceeds.

Primary Texts

The Quran

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Know how to do grammatical parsing of Arabic words, phrases and sentences
• Linguistically analyse juz’ ʿamma and apply these skills throughout the Qur’an
• Familiarise oneself with linguistic Qur’anic commentaries and how to access them

Arabic Composition

Overview

This module will expose students to a range of prophetic narrations, analysing them from a linguistic perspective whilst also exploring the immense knowledge, wisdom and guidance they impart to the believer. By studying shorter narrations students will be able to revisit key concepts in grammar and morphology. These narrations are words to live by and by being able to correctly read and understand the words, sentences and overall meaning students will be able to connect more deeply the Prophet (ﷺ) and the language of seventh century Hijaz.

Primary Text

Zad al-Talibin

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

• Read hadith narrations with ease
• Understand the context and meanings of studied narrations
• Be able to linguistically analyse studied narrations

Quranic Studies

Overview

In this module various Chapters (surah) of the Quran will be studied with theological, legal and spiritual emphases. Classical and contemporary interpretations of the Quran in the Muslim world will also be discussed and critically analysed, as well as highlighting the concept of thematic and structural coherence in the Quran; a concept which was developed by the great Indian scholar Mawlana Hamid al-Din Farahi (d.1930).

Primary Text

The Quran

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should:

• Understand the meanings of studied portions of the Quran
• Have an awareness of the interconnected and coherent nature of the Quran
• Demonstrate critical ability to deduct theological, legal and spiritual meanings from the Quranic verses by following correct exegetical methodology