Transliteration of Arabic: Character Codes & Shortcut Keys

Character Codes of Arabic

Method 1, Method 2, and Method 3

The following instructions Assist to transliterate Arabic words without using any transliteration software.

To transliterate an Arabic word you need to find the appropriate characters using their codes. The character codes are shown in the box below. You need to create a recently used list of the codes and a shortcut key list to keep your writing smooth. 

Method 1: Character Codes

ā	0101
Ā	0100
’	2019
‘	2018
ū	016B
Ū	016A
ḍ	1E0D
Ḍ	1E0C
ī	012B
Ī	012A
ḥ	1E25
Ḥ	1E24
ʿ	02BF
´	00B4
ṭ	1E6D
Ṭ	1E6C
ṣ	1E63
Ṣ	1E62
ẓ	1E93
Ẓ	1E92

Create "Recently Used Symbols"

Go: Insert – Symbol – More symbols – Enter Character code (symbol will be selected by pressing the Enter button) - Insert. Now you are done for one code. Do the same for other symbols. All 20 symbols will appear in "Recently used symbols" as you can see the image below: 

The 20 symbols will also appear in Symbol as you can see in the image below.

However, symbols will disappear from the recently used list if you use any other symbols except these 20 symbols as space is only for 20 symbols. To overcome this limitation, you can make shortcut keys with these 20 symbols.

Method 2: Create "Shortcut Keys" (Preferable)

Go: "Recently used symbols" - Select a symbol - click "Shortcut key". A dialogue box will pop up as you can see the image below:

Press "Alt+Symbol" for lowercase or "Ctrl+Alt+Symbol" for UPPERCASE  - in (press new shortcut key) – Click "Assign" = Now you are done for one shortcut key. Do the same for other symbols.  

Shortcut Keys for Symbols

Keys	Symbol
alt+a	ā
ctrl+alt+a	Ā
alt+i	Ī
ctrl+alt+i	Ī
alt+u	ū
ctrl+alt+u	Ū
alt+d	ḍ
ctrl+alt+d	Ḍ
alt+h	ḥ
ctrl+alt+h	Ḥ
alt+s	ṣ
ctrl+alt+s	Ṣ
alt+t	ṭ
ctrl+alt+t	Ṭ
alt+z	ẓ
ctrl+alt+z	Ẓ
alt+’	´
ctrl+alt+’	ʿ
alt+,	’
ctrl+alt+,	‘

Practice: Now you can start your writing using shortcut keys. Write the transliteration of (ضوابط مقاصد الشريعة) with Ḍawābiṭ al-Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah as follows: 

Ḍawābiṭ: ctrl+alt+d for Ḍ, alt+a for ā, alt+t for ṭ

al-Maqāṣid: alt+a for ā, alt+s for ṣ

al-Sharīʿah: alt+i for ī, alt+' for ʿ 

You have successfully transliterated Ḍawābiṭ al-Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah. Now say al-hamdulillah.  

This is a Ṣadaqah Jāriyah (continuous intellectual contribution). I expect your sincere duʿā (well wish & supplication). 

Method 3: Transliteration Using Software  

Click Here for AHT Times New Roman Transliteration Software