Qisas an-Nabiyeen

Information for Teachers and Students

Goals

Read the text fluently without tashkeel.
Translate the text.
Explain the grammatical structure of complex sentences only (Do Tarkib).

Teaching Methodology

Students will use the non-tashkeel version of the book.

Students will be required to read accurately and fluently, translate the text, and analyse the tarkīb of difficult sentences only.

As students become more familiar with the book, the teacher will gradually decrease Sarf, Nahw and Tarkib analysis, and focus more on fluency in reading and translating.

Study Methodology

Text Book

The Institute has prepared its own edition of the text without vowel markings. Students are required to use this edition during lessons and should avoid using fully vowelled copies both in and outside the classroom.

The purpose of this edition is to develop the habit and skill of reading unvowelled Arabic texts, an essential ability for the study of the classical Islamic sciences. Regularly referring back to a fully vowelled version may make reading easier in the short term, but it slows the development of independent reading skills and can hinder long-term progress.

Basic Study

Before each lesson, complete standard muṭālaʿah; look for difficult words, solve any difficult structures
After each lesson, complete standard murājaʿah.

Notes

Passively listening to the audio books of the story will help with reading fluency.
A common mistake is to focus primarily on vocabulary and translation whilst giving insufficient attention to reading fluency. The ability to read the text accurately and fluently is just as important as understanding its vocabulary and grammatical structures.

To develop fluency, students are encouraged to read each lesson aloud three to five times, either before or after class. Regular repetition increases confidence, improves accuracy and enables students to engage with the text more naturally.

Reading should also be meaning-based. Students should pause and continue at the appropriate places, allowing the structure and meaning of the text to guide their reading rather than simply reading word by word.

As students become more familiar with the text, it is easy to underestimate its importance. However, Qiṣaṣ an-Nabiyyīn plays a fundamental role in developing Arabic reading fluency, comprehension and confidence.

As the stories progress, particularly from Story Seven onwards, the quality and complexity of the Arabic increase considerably, providing an important bridge to more advanced classical texts. For this reason, students should give the book the attention it deserves, even if it may appear less engaging than some of the other subjects. The fluency and familiarity gained from this text form an essential foundation for future study.

Exams

Oral Exams

Students will be tested on the text covered in class.

They will be required to read and translate three paragraphs from different parts of the material.

Each question is worth 15 marks

- 3 mark for Fluency
- 3 marks for Correctness of Irab ((1 Mark Deducted for Each Irab mistake)
- 3 Marks for Correctness of Dhabt (1/2 Mark Deducted for Each Dhabt mistake)
- 6 Marks for Translation (1 Mark Deducted for Each)