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Arabic Basics
Arabic Basics
2. Tri-literals - 3 Consonants
Arabic is called Tri-literal, meaning a word that is anchored in 3 consonants. Then
to form the meanings diacritical marks and word forms and pronouns and
prepositions are added, and in Arabic script, not seperated, but written and
pronounced as one big polyglot.
salam, that is seen, lam and meem. s-l-m. And that is called the root and is what
you look up in the dictionary tables.
Grammar Form Derivations in the Dictionary
Look at any of the words, and notice that many common words use almost all 10
forms, where as many less prominent words only use some. Many use 1 or 2. In
the text they are shown as:
I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X.
Also notice immediately after the root, a mazdar noun is shown in italic.
To use nouns, is English, so the translator tries to announce the noun first, then
include the various forms in the major text, and then later you will find other well
worn words that are slang like, yet retain common usage and considered purposeful
for religious study.
Qur’an Example:
Lets make a study, 20:46, Surat al-TAAHAA
Word Bank:
Qur'an Appendix - Check your own book
There is a chart in the beginning of most Qur'an that explain the Arabic letters and
something about how to pronounce them, and transliteration. For my purposes, I
don't teach qariat recitation. That should be done by a native speaker, even though
its expensive to get service like that.
The ultimate goal for dhiker awrad is to know the meanings of your awrad. If it is
from Qur'an, then what I do is empower you to read the native tri-literals, and then
look up in dictionary. Also you can cross from the text English. Of the orientalists,
Picthall uses the native connotation based on working with bilingual native speakers,
so there is a small cultural distortion. Others have different gimmicks like Aliy uses
grammar better, but distorts words. Others use meanings to instruct English
speakers on their religious view (fatwah). And often it is clearly distorted.
Pacing of Study
When I read, first I don't select too much and press too hard. A few ayats well
examined will yield more than 100 rushed ayats, or 10,000 empty repetitions in
ignorance of any meaning. Remember we are always with angels, so if we can cope
with Arabic, they like it. However, it is God's Light we are after, and then never
looking any further than our own self and heart is needed to apply this. Light
transcends verbal or written forms.
When done like that, it is called Sufi, where we take these words and reckon them,
and then apply that to heart, an inner work.
Back Top Next
Arabic is called Tri-literal, meaning a word that is anchored in 3 consonants. Then
to form the meanings diacritical marks and word forms and pronouns and
prepositions are added, and in Arabic script, not seperated, but written and
pronounced as one big polyglot.
salam, that is seen, lam and meem. s-l-m. And that is called the root and is what
you look up in the dictionary tables.
- ghafur = gh-f-r
- Now look at astaghfir Allaah.
- break it down. asta - gh-f-r
- The ista is form X (10), gh-f-r is the root = in the process of forgiveness.
- So for now I'll finish with the 10 forms of an Arabic tri-literal.
- The forms range from I (1), to X(10), and in almost all dictionaries they use
roman numerals, like IV = 4 and VI =6, and IIX = 8; like that. - Each tri-literal can change meaning according to the form it's in. Lets use an
example. If you have the Hans Weir, then page 278.
- d-r-s = root
- daras - I - learn, study
- darras -II - teach, instruct - double middle consonant
- yadras, tadras- III&IV - a course or a study effort - a verb
- intadaras - VII - forget, not study, purge
- madrasa - mazdar, a verbal noun - a school - the m in front makes a noun.
Grammar Form Derivations in the Dictionary
Look at any of the words, and notice that many common words use almost all 10
forms, where as many less prominent words only use some. Many use 1 or 2. In
the text they are shown as:
I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X.
Also notice immediately after the root, a mazdar noun is shown in italic.
To use nouns, is English, so the translator tries to announce the noun first, then
include the various forms in the major text, and then later you will find other well
worn words that are slang like, yet retain common usage and considered purposeful
for religious study.
Qur’an Example:
Lets make a study, 20:46, Surat al-TAAHAA
- 786
- 36: qal laa takhaafaa, inni ma'a kumaa asma'a wa ara'aa.
- Said, no fearing, verily, with you all (am I) a Hearer and a ultimate Seer.
- He said, don't fear, surely I am with you as a keen Hearer and a sharp Seer.
Word Bank:
- qal = he said
- laa = no - a ligature
- takhafaa = fearing, verb (kh-wa-fa)
- inni = indeed, verily, a demonstrative
- ma'a = on, with
- kum = you, pronoun plural
- asm'a = Hearer (s-m-'a)
- araa'a = superlative Seer (r-a-'a)
Qur'an Appendix - Check your own book
There is a chart in the beginning of most Qur'an that explain the Arabic letters and
something about how to pronounce them, and transliteration. For my purposes, I
don't teach qariat recitation. That should be done by a native speaker, even though
its expensive to get service like that.
The ultimate goal for dhiker awrad is to know the meanings of your awrad. If it is
from Qur'an, then what I do is empower you to read the native tri-literals, and then
look up in dictionary. Also you can cross from the text English. Of the orientalists,
Picthall uses the native connotation based on working with bilingual native speakers,
so there is a small cultural distortion. Others have different gimmicks like Aliy uses
grammar better, but distorts words. Others use meanings to instruct English
speakers on their religious view (fatwah). And often it is clearly distorted.
Pacing of Study
When I read, first I don't select too much and press too hard. A few ayats well
examined will yield more than 100 rushed ayats, or 10,000 empty repetitions in
ignorance of any meaning. Remember we are always with angels, so if we can cope
with Arabic, they like it. However, it is God's Light we are after, and then never
looking any further than our own self and heart is needed to apply this. Light
transcends verbal or written forms.
When done like that, it is called Sufi, where we take these words and reckon them,
and then apply that to heart, an inner work.
Back Top Next
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3 Arabic Root Consonants
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