MCQ Detailed View

The introduction of vowel marks (Harakat) in the Arabic script is credited to Hajjaj bin Yousuf (661–714 CE), a well-known Umayyad governor during the reign of Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan. As Islam spread rapidly to non-Arab regions, many new Muslims faced difficulty in reading and pronouncing the Qur’an correctly, because the early Arabic script was written without dots (I'jam) and vowel signs (Tashkeel).

To preserve the correct recitation of the Qur’an (Tajweed) and avoid misinterpretations, Hajjaj bin Yousuf instructed scholars, notably Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali, to develop a system of diacritical marks. This included:

• 
  

  Dots to differentiate between similar letters (e.g., ب، ت، ث).

  
  


• 
  

  Fatha, Kasra, Damma (vowel signs) to guide proper pronunciation.

  
  

This innovation made it easier for non-Arabic speakers to learn Qur’anic recitation accurately, ensuring the preservation of the Qur’an in its original form across generations.

Key Facts:

• 
  

  Hajjaj bin Yousuf introduced vowel marks into Arabic writing.

  
  


• 
  

  Implemented during the reign of Caliph Abdul Malik bin Marwan.

  
  


• 
  

  Aimed to help non-Arabs read Qur’an correctly.

  
  


• 
  

  Developed by scholars, especially Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali.

  
  


• 
  

  Included dots for letters and Harakat (vowel signs) for pronunciation.

  
  


• 
  

  A major step in preserving Qur’anic recitation and Arabic literacy.