Madinah Arabic Reader - Book 1

by V. Abdur Rahim

Professor Abdul Rahim is the director of the Translation Centre of the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex and former professor of Arabic at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

Professor Abdur Rahim's eight-volume texts enable the student to acquire a knowledge of Arabic in the classical structural form. All of the books teach essential language skills through applied grammar. Each lesson is based on a conversation which illustrates distinctive language patterns.

A variety of exercises helps the student to understand and master each of the patterns occuring in the lesson. The vocabulary ranges from classical and Quranic Arabic to words and expressions current in modern Arabic.

This series of books is currently being utilized at various schools to prepare students for the University of London (UK) GCE O-Level and A-Level examinations

81 pages, Paperback

About the author

V. Abdur Rahim was born in the small town of Vaniyambadi in the state of Tamil Nadu, India in 1933. After finishing his secondary school studies, he joined Presidency College, University of Madras where he majored in English Language and Literature. He graduated in 1957. In 1964, he joined al-Azhar University, Cairo, where he did his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Arabic Philology.

In 1969, he joined the Islamic University of Madinah to teach Arabic Philology. Here, he was also associated with the Programme of teaching Arabic as a foreign language. The course he designed for this purpose is now known as دروسُ اللغةِ العربيةِ لـغير الناطقين بـها Durûs al-Lughah al-‘Arabiyyah li-Ghair al-Nâtiqîna Bihâ. (Now these books are popularly known throughout the world as “MADINAH BOOKS”.)

Reviews

[Fatimah Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the best book to learn Arabic from. The videos are all free on YouTube Alhumdulillah, and the teacher I'm following (Brother Asif Meherali) is extremely charismatic and patient, giving just the right doses of information so that the class doesn't feel overwhelmed, but also explaining enough that they can expand their knowledge and grasp difficult concepts.

I've tried learning Arabic everywhere, and all the resources available (even paid) give you simple sentences and little ways to speak Arabic, not actually understanding the Quran. This course breaks down everything in a beautiful way, so that in a matter of a few months (I've been chipping at it slowly) I can break down sentences and analyze Quran Ayahs! It makes me feel so happy knowing that I started this, and it's very fulfilling to be able to understand the Quran without translation, but in its purest form! I highly highly recommend it (if anyone wants a YT link you can ask in the comments <3)

May Allah bless V. Adur Rahim for his work in the Madinah Arabic series, and may Allah be pleased with him, Ameen!

[A.R. Zihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skipped some parts. But overall, this book's cool.