Arabic Language — Advanced
Master advanced Arabic using Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk Book 3, covering complex grammar, rhetoric (Balaghah), and independent reading of classical scholarly texts across 16 thematic units.
Primary text: Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk — Book 3
Course Overview
The advanced Arabic programme uses Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk (Arabic Between Your Hands) — Book 3 to bring students to a level where they can independently access and study classical Islamic texts. Covering advanced Nahw, Sarf, and a full introduction to Balaghah (Arabic rhetoric), this course bridges the gap between textbook Arabic and real classical scholarship.
What You Will Study
- Primary Text: Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk — Book 3
- 16 units covering Quranic sciences, hadith, fiqh, aqidah, Balaghah (بيان، معاني، بديع), Arabic literary history, poetry, prose, and independent classical text reading
- Advanced grammar including sentence parsing, التنازع, الاشتغال, advanced conditionals, emphasis constructions, and rhetorical grammar
- Full Balaghah introduction across three units: علم البيان, علم المعاني, and علم البديع
- 4 skills developed in every unit with emphasis on reading classical texts
- Mid-term and final assessments
Course Structure
Each unit is covered across approximately 2–3 sessions:
- Session A — Dialogues + Vocabulary + Classical Reading: Topic introduction and guided text analysis
- Session B — Grammar + Balaghah + Consolidation: Advanced structures, rhetorical analysis, and review
Part 3A — Units 1–8 (Weeks 1–25)
| Unit | Topic | Key Grammar / Rhetoric |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Quran & Its Sciences (القرآن وعلومه) | Sentence parsing (إعراب الجمل), sentences with/without syntactic position |
| 2 | The Prophetic Sunnah (السنة النبوية) | التنازع (contestation), الاشتغال (preclusion) |
| 3 | Islamic Jurisprudence (الفقه الإسلامي) | Advanced conditionals (لولا، أمّا…فـ), فاء جواب الشرط |
| 4 | Islamic Creed (العقيدة الإسلامية) | المفعول معه, distinguishing واو المعية from واو العطف |
| 5 | Balaghah I — علم البيان | التشبيه (simile), المجاز (metaphor) |
| 6 | Balaghah II — علم المعاني | الخبر والإنشاء, القصر and rhetorical fronting |
| 7 | Balaghah III — علم البديع | الجناس, الطباق والمقابلة, السجع |
| 8 | Arabic Language History (اللغة العربية وتاريخها) | التوكيد (emphasis), البدل (substitutive appositive) |
Part 3B — Units 9–16 (Weeks 26–42)
| Unit | Topic | Key Grammar / Rhetoric |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Islamic Ethics (الأخلاق والآداب) | التحذير والإغراء, الاختصاص |
| 10 | Islamic Civilisation: Science (الحضارة: العلم والمعرفة) | أسماء الأفعال, أسلوب القسم |
| 11 | Contemporary Issues (قضايا معاصرة) | إعمال المصدر, إعمال اسم الفاعل والمفعول |
| 12 | Arabic Poetry (الشعر العربي) | Poetic licence (الضرورة الشعرية), العروض introduction |
| 13 | Arabic Prose (النثر العربي) | الإيجاز والإطناب, الكناية (metonymy) |
| 14 | Independent Classical Reading (قراءة النصوص التراثية) | الحكاية, الوقف والابتداء |
| 15 | Translation & Expression (الترجمة والتعبير) | الفروق اللغوية, advanced emphasis |
| 16 | Comprehensive Review (المراجعة التطبيقية) | Full consolidation of grammar and rhetoric |
Syllabus
Week 1 Unit 1 — The Quran & Its Sciences (القرآن وعلومه)
Study Quranic vocabulary, explore the sciences of the Quran, and read classical tafsir passages.
Unit 1 — The Quran & Its Sciences (القرآن وعلومه)
Study Quranic vocabulary, explore the sciences of the Quran, and read classical tafsir passages.
- Vocabulary related to Quranic sciences and revelation
- Reading: excerpts from classical tafsir works
- Grammar: إعراب الجمل (parsing full sentences — الجملة الابتدائية، الحالية، الخبرية)
- Grammar: الجمل التي لها محل من الإعراب والتي لا محل لها (sentences with and without syntactic position)
- Discussion: the miracle of the Quran
Week 4 Unit 2 — The Prophetic Sunnah (السنة النبوية)
Analyse hadith texts, study hadith terminology, and read from classical collections.
Unit 2 — The Prophetic Sunnah (السنة النبوية)
Analyse hadith texts, study hadith terminology, and read from classical collections.
- Vocabulary related to hadith sciences and narration
- Reading: selected ahadith with i'rab analysis
- Grammar: التنازع (contestation — when two verbs compete for one governed word)
- Grammar: الاشتغال (preclusion — when a verb is occupied by a pronoun)
- Discussion: the role of Sunnah in Islamic law
Week 7 Unit 3 — Islamic Jurisprudence (الفقه الإسلامي)
Read fiqh texts, understand legal reasoning, and discuss the sources of Islamic law.
Unit 3 — Islamic Jurisprudence (الفقه الإسلامي)
Read fiqh texts, understand legal reasoning, and discuss the sources of Islamic law.
- Vocabulary related to jurisprudence and legal rulings
- Reading: excerpts from classical fiqh manuals
- Grammar: أسلوب الشرط المتقدم (advanced conditional — لولا، لو أنّ، أمّا...فـ)
- Grammar: اقتران جواب الشرط بالفاء (when the conditional response requires فـ)
- Discussion: the four schools of thought
Week 10 Unit 4 — Islamic Creed (العقيدة الإسلامية)
Study theological vocabulary, read creedal texts, and discuss core beliefs.
Unit 4 — Islamic Creed (العقيدة الإسلامية)
Study theological vocabulary, read creedal texts, and discuss core beliefs.
- Vocabulary related to theology and creed
- Reading: passages from classical aqidah texts
- Grammar: المفعول معه (the object of accompaniment — واو المعية)
- Grammar: التفريق بين واو المعية وواو العطف (distinguishing accompaniment from coordination)
- Discussion: pillars of Islamic belief
Week 13 Unit 5 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah I (البلاغة — علم البيان)
Introduction to Balaghah — study التشبيه (simile) and المجاز (metaphor) in Quranic and literary Arabic.
Unit 5 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah I (البلاغة — علم البيان)
Introduction to Balaghah — study التشبيه (simile) and المجاز (metaphor) in Quranic and literary Arabic.
- Vocabulary related to rhetoric and literary analysis
- Reading: rhetorical analysis of Quranic verses
- Grammar: التشبيه — أركانه وأنواعه (simile — its pillars and types)
- Grammar: المجاز — المجاز اللغوي والمجاز العقلي (linguistic and rational metaphor)
- Discussion: the eloquence of the Quran
Week 16 Unit 6 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah II (البلاغة — علم المعاني)
Study علم المعاني — how sentence structure conveys meaning beyond literal words.
Unit 6 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah II (البلاغة — علم المعاني)
Study علم المعاني — how sentence structure conveys meaning beyond literal words.
- Vocabulary related to meaning and expression
- Reading: rhetorical analysis of poetry and prose
- Grammar: الخبر والإنشاء (declarative vs performative sentences)
- Grammar: القصر — التقديم والتأخير لغرض بلاغي (restriction and fronting for rhetorical effect)
- Discussion: how Arabic conveys emphasis and subtlety
Week 19 Unit 7 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah III (البلاغة — علم البديع)
Study علم البديع — the art of embellishment in Arabic: السجع، الجناس، الطباق and more.
Unit 7 — Arabic Rhetoric: Balaghah III (البلاغة — علم البديع)
Study علم البديع — the art of embellishment in Arabic: السجع، الجناس، الطباق and more.
- Vocabulary related to literary embellishment
- Reading: examples of بديع in Quranic and literary texts
- Grammar: الجناس (paronomasia — play on similar sounding words)
- Grammar: الطباق والمقابلة (antithesis and contrast)
- Grammar: السجع (rhymed prose)
- Discussion: beauty and precision in Arabic expression
Week 22 Unit 8 — The Arabic Language & Its History (اللغة العربية وتاريخها)
Explore the history of the Arabic language, its dialects, and the development of grammar.
Unit 8 — The Arabic Language & Its History (اللغة العربية وتاريخها)
Explore the history of the Arabic language, its dialects, and the development of grammar.
- Vocabulary related to linguistics and language history
- Reading: early Arabic grammarians and their contributions
- Grammar: التوكيد اللفظي والمعنوي (verbal and semantic emphasis — نفس، عين، كل، جميع)
- Grammar: البدل — بدل الكل، بدل البعض، بدل الاشتمال (substitutive appositive types)
- Discussion: the Basran and Kufan grammatical schools
Week 25 Mid-Term Test (الاختبار النصفي)
Comprehensive assessment covering Units 1–8: listening, reading, grammar, rhetoric, writing, and speaking.
Mid-Term Test (الاختبار النصفي)
Comprehensive assessment covering Units 1–8: listening, reading, grammar, rhetoric, writing, and speaking.
- Listening comprehension (scholarly lectures)
- Reading comprehension (classical text excerpts)
- Grammar and Balaghah analysis
- Writing (analytical paragraph)
- Speaking (guided discussion)
Week 26 Unit 9 — Islamic Ethics & Manners (الأخلاق والآداب الإسلامية)
Read texts on Islamic ethics, discuss moral virtues, and analyse literary adab works.
Unit 9 — Islamic Ethics & Manners (الأخلاق والآداب الإسلامية)
Read texts on Islamic ethics, discuss moral virtues, and analyse literary adab works.
- Vocabulary related to ethics and moral character
- Reading: passages from classical adab literature
- Grammar: أسلوب التحذير والإغراء (warning and encouragement constructions)
- Grammar: أسلوب الاختصاص (the specification construction)
- Discussion: character development in Islam
Week 28 Unit 10 — Islamic Civilisation: Science & Knowledge (الحضارة الإسلامية: العلم والمعرفة)
Read about Muslim contributions to science and philosophy in classical Arabic.
Unit 10 — Islamic Civilisation: Science & Knowledge (الحضارة الإسلامية: العلم والمعرفة)
Read about Muslim contributions to science and philosophy in classical Arabic.
- Vocabulary related to science, philosophy, and discovery
- Reading: classical texts on Muslim scientists and scholars
- Grammar: أسماء الأفعال (verbal nouns — هيهات، صَهْ، آمين، شتّان)
- Grammar: أسلوب القسم — حروف القسم وجوابه (the oath — its particles and response)
- Discussion: the golden age of Islamic science
Week 30 Unit 11 — Contemporary Issues (قضايا معاصرة)
Discuss modern issues in Arabic — globalisation, technology, and identity.
Unit 11 — Contemporary Issues (قضايا معاصرة)
Discuss modern issues in Arabic — globalisation, technology, and identity.
- Vocabulary related to contemporary affairs
- Reading: opinion articles and scholarly commentary
- Grammar: إعمال المصدر (the masdar governing like its verb)
- Grammar: إعمال اسم الفاعل واسم المفعول (participles governing objects)
- Discussion: Muslim identity in the modern world
Week 32 Unit 12 — Arabic Poetry (الشعر العربي)
Study Arabic poetry from the pre-Islamic period through the Abbasid era.
Unit 12 — Arabic Poetry (الشعر العربي)
Study Arabic poetry from the pre-Islamic period through the Abbasid era.
- Vocabulary related to poetry and metre
- Reading: selected classical poems with analysis
- Grammar: الضرورة الشعرية (poetic licence — grammatical exceptions in verse)
- Grammar: Introduction to العروض (prosody — basic metres and rhyme)
- Discussion: the role of poetry in Arab culture
Week 34 Unit 13 — Arabic Prose Literature (النثر العربي)
Read classical Arabic prose — letters, sermons, and maqamat.
Unit 13 — Arabic Prose Literature (النثر العربي)
Read classical Arabic prose — letters, sermons, and maqamat.
- Vocabulary related to prose genres
- Reading: selected passages from المقامات، الخطب، الرسائل
- Grammar: أسلوب الإيجاز والإطناب (conciseness and elaboration in rhetoric)
- Grammar: الكناية (metonymy — indirect expression)
- Discussion: the art of Arabic prose writing
Week 36 Unit 14 — Reading Classical Texts Independently (قراءة النصوص التراثية)
Practice reading unvowelled classical texts with full i'rab and comprehension.
Unit 14 — Reading Classical Texts Independently (قراءة النصوص التراثية)
Practice reading unvowelled classical texts with full i'rab and comprehension.
- Guided reading of unvowelled scholarly text excerpts
- Full إعراب (parsing) practice on classical passages
- Grammar: الحكاية (quotation/citation forms in grammar)
- Grammar: الوقف والابتداء (pausal forms and beginning rules)
- Discussion: strategies for independent reading
Week 38 Unit 15 — Translation & Expression (الترجمة والتعبير)
Develop skills in translating between Arabic and English and expressing ideas in formal Arabic.
Unit 15 — Translation & Expression (الترجمة والتعبير)
Develop skills in translating between Arabic and English and expressing ideas in formal Arabic.
- Translating scholarly and religious texts
- Formal Arabic writing conventions
- Grammar: الفروق اللغوية (subtle linguistic distinctions — synonyms with different shades)
- Grammar: أساليب التوكيد المتقدمة (advanced emphasis: إنّ + لام، قد + ماضي، القسم + لـ)
- Discussion: challenges and rewards of Arabic-English translation
Week 40 Unit 16 — Comprehensive Review & Applied Reading (المراجعة والقراءة التطبيقية)
Consolidate all grammar and rhetoric with applied reading of diverse classical texts.
Unit 16 — Comprehensive Review & Applied Reading (المراجعة والقراءة التطبيقية)
Consolidate all grammar and rhetoric with applied reading of diverse classical texts.
- Applied reading across tafsir, hadith, fiqh, and adab texts
- Full إعراب and بلاغة analysis of selected passages
- Grammar: consolidation of all Book 3 grammar and rhetoric
- Discussion: preparing for classical text study
Week 42 Final Test (الاختبار النهائي)
Comprehensive assessment covering all 16 units: listening, reading, grammar, rhetoric, writing, and speaking.
Final Test (الاختبار النهائي)
Comprehensive assessment covering all 16 units: listening, reading, grammar, rhetoric, writing, and speaking.
- Listening comprehension (scholarly lecture)
- Reading comprehension (unvowelled classical text)
- Grammar and Balaghah analysis
- Writing (analytical essay)
- Speaking (scholarly discussion)