Learn to read Arabic · for beginners
This course teaches you to read the Quranic script the way Quran schools have done for generations: first the letters, then their shapes, then the vowel signs – until you read Al-Fatiha and the short surahs yourself. In small five-minute lessons, with exercises, pairs and tests.
Tap a letter
Each lesson takes about five minutes: first learning cards, then varied exercises.
Whatever you get wrong comes back at the end of the lesson – until it sticks.
You learn to read with your mouth. Say every sound – where your device has an Arabic voice you can listen to it.
In unit 6 you read real Quran words from Al-Fatiha, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas – with their meaning. Then you hear them word by word in real recitation and read whole verses. If you can already read a little, start with the placement test.
Some sounds (ح ع ق ص ض ط ظ) are best learned by listening and with a teacher. Listen to a reciter in the player and repeat – the same way Quran schools teach.
Vowels, lengthening, doubling and the particular signs of the mushaf – every sign with an example. You practise all of them in units 3 to 5.
In tajweed every letter has its point of articulation (makhraj). These four groups help you most at the start:
ء ه ع ح غ خ
Six letters come from the throat: ء and ه from its deepest part, ع and ح from the middle, غ and خ from the upper part.
ف ب م و
Four letters are formed by the lips: ف with the lower lip and the upper front teeth, ب and م with closed lips, و with rounded lips.
خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ
Seven letters are always pronounced “heavy” and full (tafkhim), because the back of the tongue rises. Memory aid: «خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظْ».
ا و ي
ا, و and ي lengthen the vowel before them when they carry no vowel themselves: the long ā, ū and ī. They come from the open space of the mouth and throat (al-jawf).
Name, sound and the three joined forms. Arabic is read from right to left – the form at the start of a word stands on the right.
36 short lessons of about five minutes in 8 units. With one lesson a day you read whole verses within a few weeks – with more time you progress faster.
No. The course teaches you to read the script. You pick up the meaning of many Quran words along the way – for more vocabulary there is the vocabulary trainer.
The script of the Quran with all its vowel and reading signs, as in the mushaf – including its particular signs such as the small alif and the wasla. From unit 6 you read real words and verses from the Quran.
Yes, a free one. It keeps your progress – lessons, stars and the words you should review – and syncs it to all your devices.
Yes. The lessons are short and playful. It is most beautiful when parents do them together with their children and say every sound together.
Once you can read, the real adventure begins: with the Shams Method you memorise verse by verse, and the tajweed course teaches the rules of beautiful recitation.