--- a/src/mbyte.c
+++ b/src/mbyte.c
@@ -1912,35 +1912,6 @@ mb_cptr2char_adv(char_u **pp)
 
 #if defined(FEAT_ARABIC) || defined(PROTO)
 /*
- * Check whether we are dealing with Arabic combining characters.
- * Note: these are NOT really composing characters!
- */
-    int
-arabic_combine(
-    int		one,	    /* first character */
-    int		two)	    /* character just after "one" */
-{
-    if (one == a_LAM)
-	return arabic_maycombine(two);
-    return FALSE;
-}
-
-/*
- * Check whether we are dealing with a character that could be regarded as an
- * Arabic combining character, need to check the character before this.
- */
-    int
-arabic_maycombine(int two)
-{
-    if (p_arshape && !p_tbidi)
-	return (two == a_ALEF_MADDA
-		    || two == a_ALEF_HAMZA_ABOVE
-		    || two == a_ALEF_HAMZA_BELOW
-		    || two == a_ALEF);
-    return FALSE;
-}
-
-/*
  * Check if the character pointed to by "p2" is a composing character when it
  * comes after "p1".  For Arabic sometimes "ab" is replaced with "c", which
  * behaves like a composing character.