Application of Braille in Quranic and Sunnah Studies

(QAA4013)

7th Lecture (17th Feb 2009)

Dr. Muhammad Mustaqim Mohd ZarifDirector,

Centre for General StudiesIslamic Science University of Malaysia

Structure of Presentation Differences Between Kod Braille Differences Between Kod Braille

Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and Quranic Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and Quranic Braille Code Used by PERTISBraille Code Used by PERTIS

PERTIS’ Quranic Braille Code (cont.)PERTIS’ Quranic Braille Code (cont.)

Some Examples in Transcribing Some Examples in Transcribing Quranic Verses into BrailleQuranic Verses into Braille

Differences Between Kod Braille Differences Between Kod Braille Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and Quranic Wasilah Bacaan al-Quran and Quranic

Braille Code Used by PERTISBraille Code Used by PERTIS

1. In terms of usage:

DBP: Has never been used before. Just exist in theory. But possible might be used in the future subject to govt intervention

PERTIS: Is widely used in Malaysia. Its Quran is the only Quranic Braille endorsed & approved by JAKIM

2. In terms of Code Used:

DBP: Uses Jawi/Arabic Braille + Its own sets of contractions

(GRADE 2)

PERTIS: Uses GRADE 1 Arabic Language only

Example:

Kod Braille Wasilah:

PERTIS:

● ●○ ○ ○ ○

● ○○ ○○ ○

● ○ ● ○ ● ○

○ ○○ ○○ ●

● ○ ● ○ ● ○

○ ●○ ○○ ○

● ○ ● ● ○ ○

● ○○ ○● ●

3. In terms of Structure:

DBP: Has its own rules. Characterized by 5 main features concerning

the use of harakat (reading signs), word signs (‘alamat al-kalimah), and contractions.

PERTIS: No contractions and combinations of signs are used. Each character

used its own individual symbol.

Examples:

1) DBP: Does not use fathah. Every huruf without sign means fathah.

PERTIS: Must use fathah.

2) DBP: Uses combinations of reading signs: fathah + sukun, kasrah + shaddah, etc

PERTIS: No combination of reading signs. Each sign must be represented individually.

i.e., fathah, shaddah, sukun, etc

3) DBP: Use of certain symbols does not conform with international

symbols used in writing Quranic Braille. Example:

Fathah Ishba‘iyyahذلك

○ ○● ○ ○ ○

2

Kasrah Ishba‘iyyahرسله

○ ●○ ● ○ ○

○ ○● ○ ● ●

4 5 / 2 3 & 6

Dammah Ishba‘iyyah

أمره ، له

○ ●○ ● ○ ●

○ ○● ○ ● ●

4 5 6 / 2 3 & 6

PERTIS: Use of symbols conforms with international usage (in general).

Fathah Ishba‘iyyah

ذلك

○ ●○ ○○ ○

4

Kasrah Ishba‘iyyah

رسله

○ ●○ ● ○ ○

4 & 5

Dammah Ishba‘iyyah

أمره ، له

○ ●○ ○● ●

3 & 4 6

4) DBP: Uses specific & separate signs for madd asli (alif:

dots 1, waw: dots 12456, ya: dots 246)

PERTIS: Huruf al-Madd uses its own huruf (alif/waw/ya) &

written without sign (tashkil) to indicate madd asli

5) DBP: Madd Lazim Harfi: No sign given. Just spell the words. i.e. Yasin, etc

PERTIS: Madd Lazim Harfi must be spelt & given signs of

Madd Far’i (246)

6) DBP: Does not differentiate between Alif Lam Shamsiyyah & Alif Lam Qamariyyah. All use: Dots (1,4)

Al-Babu: Dots 1, 4 (alif lam) + ba

Al-Layl: Dots 1, 4 (alif lam) + Lam

PERTIS: Highlight the difference between Shamsiyyah & Qamariyyah.

Example:Alif Lam Shamsiyyah: Alif + Lam + Shaddah

Alif Lam Qamariyyah: Alif + Lam + Sukun

7) DBP: Different symbols used for waqaf signs. Must use

(dots 23 56) before & after to indicate the sign.

PERTIS: Different symbols used for waqaf signs. Must use

(dots 3 6) before & after to indicate the sign.

PERTIS’ Quranic Braille Code PERTIS’ Quranic Braille Code (cont.)(cont.)

Special Sign (Dots 3 6):

to indicate certain symbols used afterwards

○ ○○ ○● ●

Signs for Madd Far’i:

a. Madd Far’i- > 2 harakats (dots 2 4 6)

○ ●● ○○ ●

Example:

● ○○ ○○ ○

○ ○○ ○● ●

● ○ ● ○ ● ○

○ ●● ○ ○ ●

○ ○○ ○● ●

● ● ○ ○ ● ○

○ ●● ○ ○ ●

Signs for Madd Far’i:

b. Madd Sign 3 4 5 (beginning of word)

○ ●○ ●● ○

How to put a number after an ayat?

- Use a special sign (dots 2 3 5 6) directly after the ayat

○ ○● ●● ●

Formula:

(2 3 5 6) + (waqaf sign if any) <space> (number sign 3 4 5 6)

+ (a/b/c/d, etc)

Example:

○ ●○ ○ ● ○

○ ○● ○ ○ ○

● ○○ ● ● ●

○ ○ ● ● ○ ○

○ ●● ● ○ ●

● ○○ ○ ○ ○

○ ●● ● ○ ○

● ○○ ○ ○ ○

○ ○● ○ ● ○

○ ○● ●● ●

● ○● ○● ●

○ ●○ ●● ●

● ○● ● ○ ○

Some Examples in Transcribing Some Examples in Transcribing Quranic Verses into BrailleQuranic Verses into Braille

Example:

● ○○ ● ○ ●

○ ○○ ○○ ●

○ ●● ○● ●

● ○ ○ ● ● ○

The problems of Hamzah in the middle of kalimah:

Look at the origin of the word. If the origin (fi’l madhi) has alif, then

must use (Dots 3 4).

If not, then use (Dots 1 3 4 5 6).

Thank You