Tashkeel, the Arabic diacritics

Tashkeel is the set of supplementary diacritics of the Arabic script, which include the short-vowel marks called ḥarakāt.

Most Arabic is written without them; religious texts, children's books and works for learners carry the full tashkeel.

The same letters can mean religion or debt: the difference is in the tashkeel.

Early manuscripts of the Quran used no diacritics, and vowels were first marked with a red dot.

In calligraphy the marks may be written simply because they are considered beautiful.

In Mashq Studio

In the Studio's text panel, tashkeel keys add each mark, Full, None and Hide show or hide them, Auto tashkeel lifts them clear of the letters, and Tazyin places the grammar's vowels on their letters. Open the Studio, free.

Where Mashq Learn teaches it · Free practice sheets

Other terms: Qalam, the reed pen · The measure in dots (mizan) · Kashida (tatweel) · the glossary

Sources: Wikipedia — Arabic diacritics · Wiktionary — تشكيل