After a few years of study, many students can read and speak Arabic reasonably well — but they still feel something is missing when they open a classical book or reflect on a verse of the Qur’an. Usually, what is missing is a deeper study of Arabic grammar in its three sciences: nahw, sarf and balagha.
Nahw (النحو): the grammar of the sentence
Nahw studies how words work together in a sentence, and especially how the endings of words change according to their role. This change is called i‘rab. Knowing nahw lets you tell who did what to whom in a sentence, read text without vowel marks correctly and speak with the right harakat (vowels).
Our book: At-Tatbeeq an-Nahwi by Dr. Abduh Al-Rajihi, completed in about 60 hours. It specialises in applying grammar: students practise i‘rab on Qur’anic verses, which helps them understand the verses from a new perspective and speak precisely, without mistakes in the vowels.
Another book we recommend for classical grammar is Al-Nahw Al-Wadih, known for simplifying the rules and for its many exercises. It has three levels for the elementary stage and three for the advanced stage.
Sarf (الصرف): the grammar of the word
Sarf (morphology) studies how words are built. Arabic is a language of root words: from one root of usually three letters, many words are formed on fixed patterns — the doer, the place, the action, and more. Once you understand these patterns, you can recognise and understand words you have never seen before.
Our book: At-Tatbeeq as-Sarfi, also by Dr. Abduh Al-Rajihi, completed in about 30 hours. After studying it, a student can derive many words on different patterns from one root and understand the meaning of all of them — a huge boost to vocabulary and reading.
Balagha (البلاغة): the art of eloquence
Balagha (rhetoric) studies how meaning is expressed beautifully and effectively: word order, emphasis, imagery, metaphor and more. It is the science that helps you appreciate the eloquence of the Qur’an and of classical Arabic literature.
Our book: Al-Balagha Al-Wadiha by Ustadh Mustafa Ameen, completed in about 30 hours.
Arabic grammar books at a glance
| Science | Studies | Book at Midad | Approx. hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahw | The sentence and i‘rab | At-Tatbeeq an-Nahwi | 60 |
| Sarf | The word and its patterns | At-Tatbeeq as-Sarfi | 30 |
| Balagha | Eloquence and style | Al-Balagha Al-Wadiha | 30 |
Keep reading so you don’t forget
A second language is not like a mother tongue: if you stop studying, you start to forget. To keep raising your level, we also offer reading Suwar min Hayat as-Sahabah by Dr. Abdur-Rahman Ra’fat al-Basha, or any traditional book that suits your goals. We also offer structured conversation programmes, so you can speak fluently in any situation.
See our Advanced Level page for the full programme, and links to the PDF books on Books & Resources.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to finish the intermediate level first?
These are specialist courses for advanced students. If you are not there yet, start with the Intermediate Level — grammar and morphology are already part of the Imam Ibn Saud series.
How much does an advanced course cost?
Private lessons are $8 per hour (approximately £6.10); groups are $4 or $2.50 per hour depending on size. See fees.
Can I become an Arabic teacher?
Yes — Midad offers a theoretical and practical teacher-training programme so that students can go on to teach Arabic to others.
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.
