If you want to learn Arabic, you'll quickly meet two options: Quranic (Classical) Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Here's how they differ and which might suit you.
Quick Comparison
| Quranic / Classical Arabic | Modern Standard Arabic | |
|---|---|---|
| Used in | Quran, Hadith, classical texts | News, books, formal speech today |
| Grammar | Same core grammar | Same core grammar, simplified in use |
| Vocabulary | Classical words and expressions | Modern vocabulary (technology, politics) |
| Best for | Understanding the Quran and Islamic texts | Reading, writing and speaking today |
They're Closely Related
MSA developed from Classical Arabic, so learning one helps with the other. The grammar is largely the same; the differences are mostly in vocabulary and style.
What About Dialects?
Spoken dialects (Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf) differ significantly from both. They're useful for conversation, but not for understanding the Quran.
Which Should You Choose?
- Goal: understand the Quran and Salah → Quranic Arabic
- Goal: read Arabic books, news, work or travel → MSA
- Both? → Start with Quranic Arabic, then broaden
We offer both tracks in our Translation & Tafseer classes.
My Online Quran Tutor Teaching Team
Written by our team of Quran teachers in Lahore, following our editorial policy. Last updated 2026-10-20.
Written by our team of Quran teachers in Lahore, following our editorial policy. Last updated 2026-10-20.
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