Learn Quranic Scrip Rapidly

Views of International Scholars on the Four Courses

“These four closely linked courses on Qur’anic Arabic, leading from the script to higher level research, provide an opportunity to study Arabic language through the Qur’an. I am confident that the courses will be of benefit to individuals and institutions who wish to learn and teach Qur’anic Arabic through this unique method.”

- Professor Dr Yasir Qadhi Dean of Academic Affairs, The Islamic Seminary of America Adjunct Professor at Rhodes College (Memphis), USA.

“I have not come across, during my over four decades of attachment with academia, a better, more simple and more scientific course designed to learn Qur’anic Arabic.

Dr. Surty has made a revolutionary contribution in learning Arabic for the Muslim and non-Muslim students of Arabic. This should be taken as a required text in all departments of Arabic language and linguistics.”

- Professor Dr Anis Ahmad, Meritorious Professor of Comparative Religion and Vice Chancellor of Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

“These Arabic language learning courses are a gem and a source of great knowledge for Arabic language learners at all levels. They provide an outstanding resource for the learning of the language from the most important and everlasting authority for Arabic, the Holy Qur’an.

This approach to learn Arabic hinges on the preservational aspect of the language, guiding the learner slowly, academically and professionally. It also does not compromise the literary standard of classical Arabic. All is presented with a modern cutting edge standard of pedagogical layouts and objectives.

I strongly recommend these brilliant, innovative and effective courses to Arabic language learners and Arabic teaching institutions.”

- Professor Dr Moaal Izzidien Ex Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies University of Wales-Lampeter, UK.

“It is the fervent desire of millions of English speaking Muslims across the world to grasp the meaning and message of the Holy Qur’an, the inimitable Word of God. Since it embodies the divine guidance par excellence, needed by every Muslim, such books in English are essential which facilitate the study of the Qur’an for those who do not know Arabic.

Muhammad Ibrahim H.I. Surty, a distinguished scholar of Arabic and the Qur’anic and Islamic Studies, who has to his credit decades of illustrious teaching experience in the universities in the U.K. and Nigeria, has rendered yeoman service in the cause of the study of the Qur’an in a reader-friendly manner. The set of four valuable bilingual books in English and Arabic, namely, Learn Qur’anic Script Rapidly, Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced course in Qur’anic Arabic represent a ground breaking work and a major event in studying the Qur’an in simple and easy-to-understand English. These four excellent books, running into around 1500 pages, are a brilliant testament to Surty’s impeccable credentials as a Qur’anic scholar. His pedagogic concern permeates these works which stand out as a neatly graded course work which draws solely on the Qur’anic text for all illustrations and classroom activities. This underscores also his thorough grounding in the Qur’anic text. This unique feature of his works familiarizes readers with the Qur’anic vocabulary and idiom. The biggest advantage of this approach is that it prepares readers mentally to tackle the Qur’anic text in the original Arabic. So doing he has taken further the laudable initiative of the renowned Islamic scholar, Shaykh Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi who in his Qasas Al-Nabiyyin draws mostly on the Qur’anic text for his narrative. Dr Surty has, however, devised a very scientific, empirical educational delivery system, for which he deserves every credit.

Learn Quranic Script Rapidly: An Illustrated Text Book is appended with 12 episodes on video. Some of the salient features of this work are: taking into account the learners’ entry behavior, a step-by-step, graded mode of introducing new concepts and topics and thorough task drills. The photos on pp. 52-57 rooted in Islamic history are bound to enhance learners’ motivation and concentration. The Arabic alphabets are illustrated with a view to helping learners gain familiarity with their shapes and forms. Practice texts and other remarkable features bear out Surty’s rich teaching experience. These are destined to enhance learners’ skills and potentials in a short time.

This text book lets readers grasp all that there is to learn as the first stepping stone for studying the Qur’an in its Arabic original. In pursuance of this objective Surty has explained well the Arabic alphabets, their phonetic origin and shapes. Then he moves on to elucidate the sound system, double letters and tanwin etc. All this provides a firm base for tackling the text confidently and energetically. The best part of this textbook is its reader-friendly and learner-centered approach. Surty has adopted the best practices of the prevalent communicative approach to language learning which consists’ in the main, in teaching with the help of classroom activities and motivating tasks. The latter facilitates habit formation. Learners are thus thoroughly grounded in the structure, usage, idiom, vocabulary and syntax of the language under study. His selection of material from the Qur’anic text is geared well towards familiarizing learners with the Qur’anic text.

In sum, the appearance of this highly useful work constituting a valuable addition to the teaching and learning material on the Qur’«nic Arabic in English, a goal which Surty has admirably achieved.”

- Professor Dr Abdur Raheem Kidwai Director , K. A. Nizami Centre Qur’anic Studies Aligarh Muslim University, India

“All praises are due to Allah and His Salat and Salam be upon his final messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Qur’an is divine speech; it is divine light for the entire humanity: “O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light” (4: 174). Any community who desire to live by this divine light should strive to learn it. Any individual or society that aims to excel have no path before them to achieve this aim other than the path of the Qur’an. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.”

This work by Dr Muhammad Ibrahim Surty is an outstanding tool that facilitates the learning of the Qur’an in an easy and effective way. It consists of four closely linked courses on Qur’anic Arabic leading from the script to higher levels of research. In fact, this work also serves as a unique method of learning the Arabic language. I am so pleased that Dr Surty spent this much effort in producing this educational resource to bridge the gap between non-Arabic speaking people and the most important book humanity has ever known: al-Qur’an al-Kareem.

I ask Allah, the Almighty, to grant Dr Surty an immense reward, make him among the best of people, and extend his life upon good health, so that he can benefit us further with similar distinguished works as this.”

- Al-Shaykh Dr Haitham al-Haddad, Judge for the Islamic Council of Europe

“Dr Surty has dedicated much of his life to the pursuit of making Qur’anic Arabic easily accessible to the English speaking student. Following on from his ground breaking and unique Foundation Course, we now have the Intermediate and Advanced courses which in addition to building up from the foundation level, interweave other Islamic Sciences and classic, medieval and modern Arabic literature into the study of Arabic language, providing students with a broader perspective and understanding. This combination between language and classical knowledge is important in developing a mastery of Arabic, as this was the classic method of learning Arabic.

Dr Surty once again employs his trademark style of dividing the books into sections and then further into units. Each unit contains a summary, glossary and exercises with numerous Qur’anic verses. The Advanced Course goes into the science of the inimitability of the Qur’anic Arabic language, referencing some of the most famous works authored on the subject. Additionally, the course provides readers with a bibliography of over a thousand reference works on the various Qur’anic disciplines, something which to my knowledge is unrivaled in the English language. In short, this collection is a must for every serious Arabic student and seeker of knowledge. I ask Allah the Most High, to accept this work, reward its author and make it a means of his success in this life and his salvation in the next.”

- Dr Ahsan Hanif Head of the Qur'an & Hadith Sciences Department, Al-Maghrib Institute & Lecturer at the Knowledge International University

Views of Students

“The claim of Dr Surty of that these four closely linked courses on Qur’anic Arabic can lead a beginner student from learning the script to engaging with higher level research, is in the light of the courses justified.

Dr Surty has intelligently and judiciously provided through graded progression the grammatical elements with Qur’anic illustrations required for the comprehension of al-Lughat al-Fushah, the pure eloquent classical Arabic in which the Qur’an was revealed.

Hundreds of students of Qur’anic Arabic have benefitted from his unique pedagogy, commitment and dedication for teaching Qur’anic Arabic for over four decades. A large number of students have considered his efforts as key to building their interest in learning the subject. As a result of this endeavour some of them have proceeded to obtain graduate Degrees in Arabic from Universities at home and in the Arab world.

I unhesitatingly recommend the courses to be included in Arabic learning and teaching programmes, and wish success to QAF in this endeavour.”

- Mr Yunus Khan, Ex-Student of Arabic at QAF

“Dr Surty has highly excelled in the field of Arabic language which is evidently demonstrated in his works. In my experience over the many years of studying and teaching Arabic I find his materials surpass any other. I highly recommend his innovative pedagogical methods which are distinctive, effective and have satiated a void in this field. In ‘Towards Understanding Qur’anic Arabic’ Dr Surty has provided us with invaluable, unique and pioneering content that I would have greatly benefitted from throughout my endeavours. He has made the Arabic language easily accessible through exceptional delivery, whilst systematically providing grammar and vocabulary from the Qur’an. It maximises efficacy of learning through minimal effort. May Allah preserve Dr Surty and reward him greatly.”

- Parveen Akhtar, MA Arabic/English Translation graduate, University of Leads, UK.