Did You Know?
Short facts about the Arabic language and the Quran.
5 free articles
- Sugarسُكَّر
English words that come from Arabic
You probably speak some Arabic already. Many everyday English words came from Arabic, often through Spanish, Italian, Latin or Turkish, during centuries of trade and scholarship.
Read article - The Hijri calendarالتَّقْوِيم الْهِجْرِي
Why Ramadan moves every year: the Islamic calendar
If you have noticed Ramadan arriving earlier each year, the reason is the Islamic calendar. It follows the moon, not the sun, so its months move through the seasons over time.
Read article - The Recitationالْقُرْآن
What does the word Quran mean?
The word Qur’ān (قُرْآن) means “recitation” or “that which is read aloud”. It comes from the same root as the very first word revealed to the Prophet ﷺ.
Read article - Chapter of the Quranسُورَة
How the Quran is organised: surahs, verses and juz’
Most Muslims know the Quran by heart in part, but fewer know how it is organised. Here are some facts about its structure that help when finding your way around it.
Read article - The language of the ḍādلُغَةُ الضَّاد
Arabic sounds that English doesn’t have
Arabic has several sounds that English speakers have never needed to make. The good news is that every one of them can be learned with practice, and knowing what to listen for is the first step.
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