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Arabic Stories for Language Learners – Ḥātim Al-Ṭā’iyy: True Generosity

Learn Arabic Through Short Stories with English Subtitles - Listen, Read, and Do the Comprehension Quiz

 

Are you learning Arabic and looking for engaging content that improves your listening, reading, and comprehension? You're in the right place!

In this post, I’m sharing a short story in Arabic with English translation, based on the legendary figure Ḥātim al-Ṭā’iyy, known across the Arab world for his extreme generosity and noble character.

This story is part of my YouTube series, Learn Arabic through Short Stories for Beginners, with English Subtitles – designed for beginners and A1–B1 learners of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).It includes:

  • 📖 Arabic text with tashkeel (vowel markings)

  • 📃 Full English translation

  • 📺 Subtitled video format for learners

  • 🌍 Real cultural insights + moral reflection

  • 🎧 Clear, slow narration, ideal for learners studying on their own or in class

Why Learn Arabic Through Stories?

Stories offer context, emotion, and repetition, exactly what language learners need! Instead of memorizing word lists, you hear real vocabulary used in natural sentence structures and meaningful themes.

Using comprehensible input through storytelling is a proven way to improve:

  • Arabic listening skills

  • Reading fluency

  • Vocabulary retention

  • Cultural awareness


Step 1: Watch the Full Story Here:



Step 2: Read the Full Story Here:


في يَوْمٍ مِنَ الأيّامِ، جاءَ ضَيْفٌ إلى خَيْمَةِ حاتِمِ الطّائيّ، وكانَ الجوُّ بارِدًا، والطّعامُ قَليلًا.One day, a guest came to Ḥaatim aṬ-Ṭaa’iyy’s tent, and the weather was cold, and food was scarce.

 

فَقالَ حاتِمٌ لِزَوْجَتِهِ: أَشْعِلِي النّارَ، وَاُطْبُخِي طَعامًا لِضَيْفِنا الكَريمِ.Ḥaatim said to his wife: “Light the fire and cook food for our noble guest.”

 

فَقالَتِ الزَّوْجَةُ: يا حاتِم، لا نَمْلِكُ إلّا فَرَسَكَ، وهِيَ كُلُّ ما نَمْلِكُهُ!The wife said: “O Ḥaatim, we only have your horse, and it is all that we own!”

فقالَ حاتمٌ بِهُدوءٍ: إذًا اِذْبَحِيها، فَكَرَمُ الضَّيْفِ أَوْلَى مِنَ الفَرَسِ!Ḥaatim calmly replied: “Then slaughter it, for honoring a guest is more important than the horse!”

 

فَقامَتِ الزَّوْجَةُ بِطَبْخِ اللَّحْمِ، وَقَدَّمَ حاتمٌِ الطَّعامَ لِضَيْفِهِ، وَهُوَ يَبْتَسِمُ.So the wife cooked the meat, and Ḥaatim served the food to his guest with a smile.

 

وَفي اللَّيْلِ، سَمِعَ الضَّيْفُ بَعْضَ النّاسِ يُنادونَ: أينَ حاتِم؟ نحنُ نُريدُ شِراءَ فَرَسِهِ بألْفِ دينارٍ!At night, the guest heard some people calling: “Where is Ḥaatim? We want to buy his horse for a thousand dinars!”

فَقالَ الضَّيْفُ حَزينًا: لَقَدْ ذَبَحَها لِي... وأَنا لا أسْتَحِقُّ هَذا الكَرمَ العَظيمَ!The guest said sadly: “He slaughtered it for me… and I don’t deserve such great generosity!”

 

فَقالَ أحَدُ القَومِْ: بَلْ تَسْتَحِقُّ، لأنَّكَ زُرْتَ أَكْرَمَ العَرَبِ!One of the people replied: “Yes, you do deserve it, because you visited the most generous of the Arabs!”



Step3: Comprehension Quiz:

Test your understanding of the story!


١. لِمَاذَا طَلَبَ حاتِمُ مِنْ زَوْجَتِهِ أَنْ تَطْبُخَ لِلضَّيْفِ؟

أ) لِأَنَّهُ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُبْهِرَ الضَّيْفَ

ب) لِأَنَّهُ يُفَضِّلُ الكَرَمَ عَلَى المَالِ

ج) لِأَنَّ الضَّيْفَ دَفَعَ لَهُ مَالًا

د) لِأَنَّ الزَّوْجَةَ طَلَبَتْ ذَلِكَ


٢. ماذا كانَ الشَّيْءُ الوَحِيدُ الَّذِي تَمْلِكُهُ الأُسْرَة؟

أ) جَمَل

ب) كِيسُ تَمْر

ج) فَرَسُ حاتِم

د) قَطِيعُ غَنَم


٣. ماذا فَعَلَ حاتِم بَعْدَما عَلِمَ أَنَّ النَّاسَ يُرِيدُونَ شِرَاءَ الفَرَسِ؟

أ) بَاعَهُ فَوْرًا

ب) طَلَبَ سِعْرًا أَعْلَى

ج) نَدِمَ عَلَى ذَبْحِهِ

د) لَمْ يَقُلْ شَيْئًا


٤. ماذا فَعَلَ الضَّيْفُ عِنْدَمَا عَلِمَ أَنَّ حاتِمًا ذَبَحَ فَرَسَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِهِ؟

أ) غَضِبَ

ب) حَزِنَ وَتَأَثَّرَ

ج) فَخَرَ بِنَفْسِهِ

د) لَمْ يَتَأَثَّرْ



Answers: B - C - D - B


  • Arabic stories for language learners

  • Arabic short story with English subtitles

  • Modern Standard Arabic listening practice

  • Learn Arabic through stories

  • Arabic moral stories with translation

  • Arabic for beginners with audio

  • Arabic reading with tashkeel

  • Arabic listening practice MSA


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