Once you have finished the beginner stage, the big question is which book series to follow next. Two names come up again and again: Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk (often written Al Arabia Bayna Yadyk) and the series taught at Imam Ibn Saud University in Riyadh to non-native speakers.
Both are excellent. But they have different strengths, and choosing the one that matches your goal will make your studies much more enjoyable. Here is a clear comparison based on how we teach them at Midad Institute.
Al Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk: contemporary Arabic and conversation
Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk is one of the most accredited and well-known series for learning Arabic. It focuses on contemporary Arabic and on improving speaking and conversation.
- Through the series you learn hundreds of new words.
- You become able to read and understand modern books and the media, and to converse with others.
- At Midad it is taught in 8 levels, each taking 60–70 hours.
Because we don’t want grammar to be neglected, our teachers add extracts from Kitab-ul-Assasi, plus extra audio and visual material to strengthen speaking and listening.
The Imam Ibn Saud University series: classical Arabic with an Islamic ethos
This series is taught at Imam Ibn Saud University in Riyadh to non-native Arabic speakers. It is divided into lessons for reading, grammar, morphology, expression and conversation, and includes a simple curriculum in the Islamic sciences.
- Its topics include stories of the prophets and the tabi’een, biographies of Muslim scholars of the past, Qur’anic verses and ahadeeth.
- It focuses on classical Arabic, helping you understand the Qur’an and read classical books.
- Throughout the series you also study grammar (nahw) and morphology (sarf).
- At Midad we go through it in 10 levels of approximately 30–40 hours each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk | Imam Ibn Saud series | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of Arabic | Contemporary (Modern Standard) | Classical |
| Main strength | Speaking, conversation, vocabulary | Understanding the Qur’an and traditional texts |
| Topics | Daily life and modern situations | Prophets, tabi’een, scholars, verses and ahadeeth |
| Levels at Midad | 8 levels × 60–70 hours | 10 levels × 30–40 hours |
| Availability | PDF and in bookshops |
The Midad way: you don’t always have to choose
After the introductory levels, we offer two options:
- Option 1: the full Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk series.
- Option 2: a combination — the first two levels of Bayna Yadayk, for their simplicity and daily conversations, followed by the 10 levels of the Imam Ibn Saud series.
Students can also study both programmes one after the other. Whatever you choose, your teacher will add their own expressions, dictations, audio and visual material to strengthen reading, writing, listening and speaking. Full details are on our Intermediate Level page.
Which one is right for you?
- Choose Bayna Yadayk if your priority is speaking, travel, work or following modern media.
- Choose the Ibn Saud combination if your priority is the Qur’an, hadith and traditional Islamic books — while still being able to communicate eloquently.
Not sure? Tell your teacher about your goals in the free trial lesson. At Midad we keep your personal goals in mind and tailor the course to help you achieve them.
Where to get the books
You can find links to the PDF versions of both series on our Books & Resources page. Bayna Yadayk is also easy to find in bookshops.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to finish the beginner levels first?
Yes. Both options start after our introductory levels (Noor-ul-Bayan and Kitab-ul-Assasi). See Beginner Levels.
Can I study these books in a group?
Yes. Groups of 2–3 students are $4 per hour and groups of 4–5 students are $2.50 per hour; private lessons are $8 per hour. See fees.
Midad Institute (Midad Centre) has taught Arabic, the Qur’an and Islamic sciences online to non-Arabic speakers since 2017. Our teachers have more than 15 years of experience, online and in Egypt.
