The Best Books to Learn Arabic (Kids and Adults)

How to choose

Reading the Quran (letters and qaida)

For children and adults who are starting from zero.

1. 

   Al-Qaidah An-Noraniah

   Sheikh Noor Mohammed Haqqani

   Best for: Learning to read the Quran

   The classic step-by-step primer used in mosques worldwide, from letters to fluent reading.

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2. 

   Quran Made Easy

   Shabbir A. Behlim

   Best for: An alternative qaida

   Another popular primer, especially in South Asian communities.

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3. 

   Alif Baa Tracing and Practice

   Reem Djawad

   Best for: Young children

   Tracing pages to learn to write each letter.

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4. 

   Tajweed Rules of the Qur'an — Part 1

   Kareema Carol Czerepinski

   Best for: Reciting correctly

   A thorough introduction to the rules of tajweed for when you can already read.

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Arabic for children

Structured courses and first words.

1. 

   Gateway to Arabic — Book 1

   Dr. Imran Hamza Alawiye

   Best for: Ages 6–12

   A popular, colourful course that starts with the alphabet and builds up to reading words.

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2. 

   Gateway to Arabic — Book 2

   Dr. Imran Hamza Alawiye

   Best for: The next step

   Continues Book 1 with more reading and vocabulary.

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3. 

   My First Picture Book English–Arabic: 250 Words

   Darija-Daba Editions

   Best for: First vocabulary

   250 everyday words in English and Arabic with pictures.

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Classical and Quranic Arabic for adults

To understand the Quran and Islamic texts.

1. 

   Arabic Course for English-Speaking Students — Book 1 (Madinah)

   Dr. V. Abdur Rahim

   Best for: The most popular course

   The Madinah course by Dr V. Abdur Rahim, taught at the Islamic University of Madinah and in classes worldwide.

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2. 

   Arabic Between Your Hands — Level 1, Part 1

   Abdur Rahman Al-Fawzan et al.

   Best for: A full classroom course

   A widely used course combining reading, listening and speaking.

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3. 

   Access to Qur'anic Arabic

   Abdul Wahid Hamid

   Best for: Quick Quranic understanding

   Focuses on the vocabulary and grammar you need to understand the Quran.

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4. 

   Arabic Through the Qur'an

   Alan Jones

   Best for: Learning from Quran passages

   Teaches grammar using passages from the Quran itself.

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5. 

   Vocabulary of the Holy Qur'an

   Dr. Abdullah Abbas Nadwi

   Best for: Building vocabulary

   A reference to the most important words of the Quran.

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Modern Standard Arabic

For speaking, university study and travel.

1. 

   Alif Baa: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds

   Kristen Brustad et al.

   Best for: University-style start

   The alphabet book that begins the Al-Kitaab series used in many universities.

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2. 

   Al-Kitaab fii Tacallum al-'Arabiyya — Part One

   Kristen Brustad et al.

   Best for: University courses

   The standard textbook for Arabic at many universities.

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3. 

   Mastering Arabic 1

   Jane Wightwick & Mahmoud Gaafar

   Best for: Self-study

   A friendly self-study course with audio.

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4. 

   Easy Arabic Grammar

   Jane Wightwick & Mahmoud Gaafar

   Best for: Grammar made simple

   A short guide to the essentials of Arabic grammar.

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5. 

   A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic

   Hans Wehr

   Best for: The standard dictionary

   The Arabic–English dictionary used by serious students.

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Questions parents and readers ask