TLDR;
This video introduces a 10-day intensive course on learning the language of the Quran, focusing on grammar. Nouman Ali Khan outlines the approach to learning Arabic, emphasizing focus, active participation, and understanding the nuances of the language. The course will cover three types of Arabic, and delve into the intricacies of ism (nouns) with a focus on status, number, gender and type.
- Focus on one resource for learning Arabic and avoid distractions.
- Actively participate by repeating and answering out loud.
- Understand the three kinds of Arabic: street Arabic, Fusha, and the language of the ancient Arabs.
- The course will focus on grammar to understand how words are put together in the Quran.
Introduction and Course Overview [0:00]
Nouman Ali Khan introduces two students who will be present in the class as test subjects. He expresses his excitement about teaching and hopes the students will enjoy learning the language of the Quran. He introduces his teacher's assistant, Jawad, who will be monitoring comments and questions from the online audience. The students are encouraged to use "UJ" shortcut in the comments to get Jawad's attention.
Mindset and Focus for the Next 10 Days [3:01]
For the next 10 days, participants should completely focus on this course, reviewing the material even after class. It's important to stick to one resource and avoid being distracted by other Arabic learning materials. Active listening and note-taking are essential for getting the most out of the class.
Accessing Course Handouts and Active Participation [5:56]
Participants can download the handouts for the class from dreamworldwide.net. The class will involve active participation, with students repeating and answering questions out loud. Comments should be focused on the class material, and students are encouraged to say "Masha'Allah" or "Alhamdulillah" rather than typing it.
Attention Span and Breaks [8:26]
Recognizing that attention spans may waver, breaks will be incorporated into the class. These breaks will allow students to move around and refresh their minds before returning to the material.
Three Kinds of Arabic: Street, Fusha, and Ancient [13:33]
There are three kinds of Arabic: street Arabic, Fusha (proper Arabic), and the language of the ancient Arabs (Lisa Nellara). Street Arabic varies by region and is informal. Fusha is the formal Arabic found in newspapers and books. The language of the ancient Arabs is the most advanced and complex, and it is the language in which the Quran was revealed. Understanding all three is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the Quran.
Cool vs. Colonization: Understanding Nuances [23:17]
Words can change meaning over time. For example, the word "cool" has a different meaning today than it did 200 years ago. Similarly, the word "istislam" in Arabic means "to build" in the Quran, but it later came to mean "colonization." Understanding these nuances is essential for accurately interpreting the Quran.
Recap of the Three Kinds of Arabic [27:12]
The three kinds of Arabic are street Arabic, Fusha (proper Arabic), and the language of the ancient Arabs. Fusha is a subset of the language of the ancient Arabs. The class will focus on the language of the ancient Arabs, which includes Fusha.
Reading Quran and Introduction to Grammar [30:34]
Students are expected to read two pages of Quran every day to improve their reading flow. The class will focus on grammar, which is essential for understanding how words are put together properly. Grammar is like the shelves that organize vocabulary, allowing for a deeper understanding of the language.
Three Kinds of Words in Arabic: Ism, Fi'l, and Harf [35:34]
In Arabic grammar, there are three kinds of words: ism (noun), fi'l (verb), and harf (particle). An ism is a noun, a fi'l is a verb, and a harf is a particle that doesn't make sense unless followed by another word.
Defining Harf (Particle) [40:53]
A harf is a word that does not make sense by itself and requires another word to follow it. Examples of harf in English include "in," "at," "of," and "to." These are often prepositions.
Defining Fi'l (Verb) [47:48]
A fi'l is a word that is stuck in time, meaning it happens in the past, present, or future. Examples of fi'l in English include "taught," "teaching," and "will teach."
Applying Fi'l and Harf [50:15]
The words "apple," "road," "education," "learn," and "help" are analyzed to determine whether they are fi'l or harf. It is determined that "road" and "learn" are fi'l, while "help" can be a fi'l depending on the context.
Defining Ism (Noun) [58:26]
An ism is a person, place, thing, idea, adjective, adverb, and more. It is not stuck in time like a fi'l, and it makes sense by itself, unlike a harf.
Examples of Ism: Person, Place, Thing, Idea [1:00:38]
Examples of ism are given for person (Ahmed, she, grandfather), place (masjid, campus, Texas), thing (mic, book, rock), and idea (love, hate, mercy). Ideas are things that cannot be touched or physically sensed.
Clarifying the Concept of Ideas with -ing Words [1:14:32]
The concept of ideas is further clarified, particularly with -ing words. While some -ing words can be fi'l (e.g., "He is cooking"), they can also be ism when used as ideas (e.g., "He loves cooking").
Adjective and Adverb [1:17:57]
Adjectives are words that describe a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., "great teacher," "red building"). Adverbs are words that often end in -ly and describe how an action is performed (e.g., "happily," "kindly," "quickly").
Review of Ism, Fi'l, and Harf [1:24:47]
A review of ism, fi'l, and harf is conducted, with the students providing definitions and examples.
Focus on Ism and Introduction to Status [1:31:01]
For the next three days, the class will focus solely on ism. To learn ism, four lessons will be covered: status, number, gender, and type. Status is the hardest lesson, and it will be covered first.
Introduction to Rafa' (Nominative) [1:34:54]
The concept of status is introduced using sentences in English. The first step is to find the fi'l (verb) in the sentence, and then identify who or what did the action. The ism that performs the action is called rafa'.
Identifying Rafa' in Sentences [1:39:01]
More examples are given to identify rafa' in sentences. It is emphasized that rafa' is the doer of the action, and it can be a person, place, thing, or idea.
Addressing Confusion and Introducing Nasb (Accusative) [1:45:35]
Confusion about identifying rafa' is addressed, and the concept of nasb (accusative) is introduced. Nasb refers to the details about the fi'l, such as what, where, when, why, and how.
Distinguishing Rafa' from Nasb [1:51:44]
The difference between rafa' and nasb is further clarified with examples. Rafa' is the doer of the action, while nasb provides details about the action.
Introducing Jarr (Genitive) [2:02:13]
The concept of jarr (genitive) is introduced. Jarr refers to whatever word comes after "of."
Recap and Introduction to Arabic Sounds [2:05:43]
A recap of the three kinds of Arabic, the three kinds of words in Arabic, and the three statuses of ism is conducted. The three statuses of ism are rafa', nasb, and jarr.
Arabic Sounds and Shortcuts [2:09:21]
The three sounds in Arabic are introduced: "oo" or "un" for rafa', "a" or "an" for nasb, and "i" or "in" for jarr. These sounds can be used as shortcuts to identify the status of an ism.
Applying the Shortcuts to Quranic Examples [2:12:03]
The shortcuts are applied to examples from the Quran to identify the status of ism.
Struggles and Review [2:19:01]
The students struggle with applying the shortcuts, and the concepts are reviewed. It is emphasized that the goal is not to compete but to learn and struggle together.
More Practice and Application [2:31:12]
More practice is conducted to apply the shortcuts and identify the status of ism.
Competition and Effort [2:56:53]
The competition is ended, and it is emphasized that effort and struggle are more important than winning.
Conclusion and Homework [2:57:32]
The first day of class is concluded, and students are instructed to download the study packet from dreamworldwide.net for the next class.