• In this part of lesson we will learn about a new concept which is the use of letter Alif in Arabic. In Arabic the letter "Alif" has two types:

1. One type of Alif is called "Hamza tul Qat". This type of Alif is always pronounced no matter preceded by some word or letter.

2. While the other form of Alif is called "Hamza tul Wasl". This form of Alif appears in the beginning of a word but if preceded by some word or letter it is not pronounced even if written.

• Please read the following examples:

• In the above examples the letter Alif of the words are written but they are not pronounced. In example one the letter alif of the word ibn (meaning son) is written yet not pronounced and the letter "ba" is joined together with letter "wa" of "howa" and is pronounced "howabnu". Similar is the case with the letter alif of the word "almudarrisi", the letter alif is written yet not pronounced and the letters "nun" of "Ibn" (meaning son) and "laam" are joined together to become "nul" and the sentence becomes "howab-nul mudarrisi.

• Similarly in the second example the letters "wa" is joined with the word "Ism" whose alif is written but not pronounced and the word becomes "wasm" and the Alif of "Albinti" written but not pronounced so they become was-mul-binti. Therefore the sentence becomes "Was-mul-binti Aaminatu".

• In these examples the letter Alif of the words Ahmad, Ism and Anta are written and are pronounced. No letters are merged together. This type of Alif is called Hamza tul Qat.

• There is no specific rule for recognizing Hamza tul Qat and Hamza tul Wasal but the pronouns, the interrogative articles and the nouns beginning with Alif have Hamza tul Qat.

• It must be however remembered that when "Hamza tul Wasal" is written in the beginning of a sentence and is not preceded by any letter or word, it is pronounced. It is dropped only when it is preceded by some letter or word. "Hamza tul Qat" is always written and pronounced and is not effected if preceded by any letter or word.

Please read the following sentences carefully and then click on the words to hear speech, i.e. how the words should be pronounced.

Arabic:	English:	Pictures:
مَن أَنْتَ؟  أَنا ٱبْنُ عَبَّاسٍ	Who are you?  I am the son of Abbas
وَٱبْنُ مَنْ هُوَ؟  هُوَ ٱبْنُ خَالِدٍ	And whose son is he?  He is the son of Khalid
اِسْمُ الْمُدَرِّسِ سَعِيْدٌ  وَٱسْمُ الْمُهَنْدِسِ خَالِدٌ	The teacher's name is Saeed  and the engineer's name is Khalid
اِبْنُ عَمَّارٍ طَالِبٌ  وَٱبْنُ يَاسِرٍ تَاجِرٌ	Ammar's son is a student  and Yasir's son is a trader
أَيْنَ ٱبْنُ الْمُهَنْدِسٍ؟  هُو فِي الْجَامِعَةِ	Where is the son of the engineer?  He is in the university

In the next part of the lesson we will Insha Allah learn a new concept which is the use of Vocative Articles.