Learn the Arabic Alphabet!

by Arabella

Ladies and gentlemen, if you really love Arabic music, then do yourself a big favor - learn the Arabic alphabet!

It is much easier than you might think, and for the most part, quite logical. And you can do it without leaving home; you can learn it easily from a book.

You will feel very clever indeed, next time you're in an Arabic store and can decipher those squiggles on a tape or CD cover.

I recommend two books, because each one covers some material omitted by the other.

The Arabic Alphabet: How to Read & Write It

Written by Nicholas Awde and Putros Samano, published by Lyle Stuart, Inc. in Secancus, New Jersey. Can be ordered from Indigo Books, takes 4-6 weeks to deliver. Or, can be ordered from Amazon as follows:

<==Click here to order from Amazon.com in the United States.

<==Click here to order from Amazon.ca in Canada.

<==Click here to order from Amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom.

North America Cover

North America Cover UK Cover
United Kingdom Cover

Arabic Reading & Writing Made Easy

Written by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips. I'm very proud to say that Dr. Philips is a Torontonian. The book consists of 8 lessons, each takes about 3 hours to complete. But you will be amazed at how much you can read after the first two! Costs about $12.00.

Vendors who carry this book include:

ICNA Book Service
100 McLevin Avenue, Unit 3A
Toronto M1B 2VS
Ontario
Canada

Telephone: (+1) (416) 609-2452 or (+1) (877) 301-ICNA (4262)
Fax: (+1) (416) 292-2437

also at:

ICNA Book Service
391 Burnham Thorpe RD-G
Oakville L6J 4Z2
Ontario
Canada

Telephone: (+1) (905) 257-5782
Fax: (+1) (905) 257-0848

E-Mail: icnabook@canada.com
Web Site: www.islamiccircle.com

also at:

Dawah Centre
1168 Bloor Street West
Toronto M6H 1N1
Ontario
Canada

Telephone: (+1) (416) 536-8433
Fax: (+1) (416) 536-0417

E-Mail: comments@islamicinfo.com
Web Site: www.islamicinfo.com

Acknowledgements

Arabella, the author of this article, has contributed many informative pieces to this web site on a variety of topics, including:

Analysis of technique for doing certain dance moves
Costume ideas
Essays and opinion pieces
Understanding Middle Eastern music
Helpful how-to's, such as remembering choreography

Click here to explore these other interesting articles.

Arabella began her dance studies with Russian Ballet classes. Frustrated by ballet's impossible ideals, and curious about more ethnic dance disciplines, she moved on to study various other dance forms. Moving further east each time, these included Spanish flamenco, Escuela Bolera, Middle Eastern, and East Indian Odissi.

Arabella, based in Toronto, Canada, is also a certified Mastercraftsman in crewel embroidery, with a special passion for metal thread and ethnic embroidery. Currently she particularly focuses on Palestinian and East Indian embroidery.

In the photo to the right, Arabella wears a Pharaonic costume that she made herself.