Many British Muslim families speak Urdu, Punjabi or a related language at home. This helps a lot with reading, but some sounds need special attention.
The advantage
- The Arabic and Urdu scripts share most letter shapes.
- Children used to reading Urdu adapt to right-to-left reading quickly.
- Many Islamic words are already familiar.
The pronunciation traps
| In Urdu, often said as | In Arabic, actually |
|---|---|
| “s” for ث، س، ص | ث = “th” (think), س = s, ص = heavy s |
| “z” for ذ، ز، ض، ظ | ذ = “th” (this), ز = z, ض = heavy d (sides of tongue), ظ = heavy “th” |
| “h” for ح and ه | ح = sharp throat sound, ه = soft breath |
| “a” or a glottal stop for ع | ع = squeezed throat sound |
| “k” for ق | ق = deep sound at the back of the mouth |
For example, الضَّالِّينَ at the end of Al-Fatihah is often said “az-zaalleen”, which changes the letter.
What to ask the teacher
- Check these letters in the first lessons.
- Give short daily practice on the two or three most difficult for your child.
- Correct gently, because the child may hear adults at home say them differently.
At home
Be honest with your child: “In Urdu we say it like this, but in the Quran we say it like this.” Children handle two systems very well when it is explained.
Teacher’s tip: parents often benefit from learning these sounds too. Even a few lessons for you make home practice far easier.
Related: Pronouncing ض and ث, ذ and ظ.
