Year 1 - Classical Arabic

Classical Arabic and Essential Islamic Science

It is our goal to connect students to the Qurʾan, sacred knowledge, and the Islamic tradition through the study of the Arabic language while remaining focused on five areas of academic proficiency and personal enrichment. Our objective is that students are able to:

  1. Analyze the language of the Qurʾan in order to translate and understand its meaning.

  2. Vowel and translate classical Arabic texts.

  3. Explain the essential Islamic knowledge needed for faith and practice. 

  4. Embody Prophetic character and tradition.

  5. Meaningfully engage with the Qurʾan.

Year 1 Course Catalog, 2023–24

  • Course Title: ARAB–101: Introduction to Arabic Grammar & Morphology/ Naḥw & Ṣarf (Content & Practice)

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Text: No-Nonsense Arabic Curriculum (Qur’ān Coach)

    Course Description: Students will study the foundational rules of the Arabic language and how to translate from Arabic to English with accuracy. This will equip students with the tools needed to jump straight into the grammatical breakdown of Quranic Ayahs while simultaneously building a strong vocabulary base.

    Expectations: Students will have daily homework, recurring oral check-ins, regular vocabulary quizzes, as well as tests. Students are expected to complete and submit assignments before each class period.

    Addresses: Objectives 1 and 5.

  • Course Title: ARAB–102: Arabic Morphology/Ṣarf (Content & Practice)

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Text: Qalam Arabic Sarf Textbook

    Course Description: Students will dive into the science of Sarf (Morphology and Etymology). They will learn how words are formed based on patterns, root letters, and conjugations. Students will build proficiency in using a root based dictionary. Here, students will unlock the ability to further access a plethora of Arabic words essential for translation and understanding.

    Expectations: Students will have daily homework, oral check-ins, as well as tests. Students are expected to complete and submit assignments before each class period.

    Addresses: Objectives 1 and 5.

  • Course Title: ARAB–103: Traditional Study of Arabic Grammar (Content) 

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Texts: Matn al-Ājrūmīyya, al-ʿAwāmil,  ʿIrāb al-Qurʾān (Aḥmad ʿUbayd al-Duʿās, Aḥmad Muḥammad bin Ḥumaydān, Ismāʿīl Maḥmūd al-Qāsim)

    Course Description: After learning the principles of the Arabic language, students will further solidify and master Arabic Grammar concepts by studying traditional texts in Arabic. Students will get a taste of the traditional language often used in basic and advanced classical Arabic grammar books. Students will be expected to utilize terminology in Quran Translation, Sīrah, and Tafsīr. 

    Expectations: Students will be expected to teach content via an end of the course group presentation.

    Addresses: Objectives 1 and 5.

  • Course Title: QUR–111: Qur’ān Translation (Practice)

    Instructor: Ustadha Zara Huda

    Course Description: Students will reinforce material covered from the No-Nonsense Class Lessons. Students will also correct daily Qur’ān Breakdown & Translation homework with the opportunity to ask questions during this period. This will be an ongoing course throughout the year. 

    Expectations: Students are assessed on class participation and attendance. Each student is expected to be prepared with homework and participate live. Students will also be expected to utilize Arabic Grammar Terminology and translate later in the year. 

    Addresses: Objectives 1 and 5.

  • Course Title: QUR–112: Qur’ān Reflection

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Course Description: In conjunction with Qur’ān Translation homework, students will reflect on select passages of surahs of the Qur’ān daily.

    Expectations: Students are expected to attend and participate in class.

    Addresses: Objectives 1 and 5.

  • Course Title: ARAB–111: Introduction on How to Vowel (Content & Practice) 

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Texts: Qalam Classical Arabic Reader. The Reader contains excerpts from the following texts: Qaṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn (Shaykh Abul Ḥasan ʿAlī al-Nadwī), Sīrah Khātim al-Nabiyyīn (Shaykh Abul Ḥasan ʿAlī al-Nadwī)

    Course Description: Students will learn how to apply the rules of grammar and morphology to read and unlock classical Arabic texts that do not contain vowels. Expectations: Students will have daily voweling homework. Students are expected to complete and submit assignments before each class period.

    Addresses: Objective 2

  • Course Title: ARAB–112: Tafsīr Voweling (Practice)

    Instructor: Ustadh Obaidullah Ahmad

    Texts: Tafsīr al-Jalālayn, and Ṣafwat al-Tafāsīr (Shaykh Muḥammad ʿAlī al-Sābūnī)

    Course Description: Students will apply the rules of grammar and morphology to vowel Tafsīr texts.

    Expectations: Students will have daily voweling homework. Students are expected to complete and submit assignments before each class period.

    Addresses: Objective 2

  • Course Title: QUR–101: Introduction to Sciences of the Quran (‘Ūlūm al Qur’ān)

    Instructor: Ustadha Rabbia Razzaque

    Text: (Reference) An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qurʾan (Farhan Zubairi)

    Course Description: Identify key terminology in the discipline of Qur’anic Sciences. Outline major discussions within the discipline. Demonstrate beginner linguistic proficiency in the discipline.

    Expectations: In this introductory course, students will cultivate essential skills and knowledge needed to embark on a deeper study of the Quran. Students will outline major discussions, methodologies, and historical development within the discipline of ʿUlūm al-Quran, enabling a comprehensive grasp of the subject's scope and significance. By the end of the course, students will become familiar with the different approaches to understanding the Quran and appreciate the rich tradition of Qur'anic and Islamic scholarship.

    Addresses: Objective 3

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 35 weeks

  • Course Title: HDTH–101: Intro to Hadith Sciences

    Instructor: Ustadh AbdelRahman Murphy

    Course Description: TBA

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 15 weeks

  • Course Title: FIQH-101: Essentials of Faith & Practice (Fiqh)

    Instructor: Ustadha Fatima Lette

    Course Description: TBA

    Addresses: Objective 3

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 24 weeks

  • Course Title: FIQH–111: Introduction to Principles of Fiqh (Uṣūl al Fiqh)

    Instructor: Ustadha Fatima Lette

    Course Description: TBA

    Addresses: Objective 3

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 11 weeks

  • Course Title: TAZK–101: Imam Ghazālī’s Bidāyat al-Hidāyah (Personal Development)

    Instructor: Shaykh Mikaeel Smith

    Text: Bidāyat al-Hidāya (Imam al-Ghazāli)

    Course Description: Students will study aspects of spiritual reflection for practice and action.

    Expectations: Students are expected to attend and participate in the classroom. Students will work on personal development homework assignments.

    Addresses: Objective 4.

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 35 weeks

  • Course Title: TAZK–102: The Benefits of Trials and Tribulations (Personal Development)

    Instructor: Ustadh AbdelRahman Murphy

    Course Description: Students will study aspects of spiritual reflection for practice and action.

    Expectations: Students are expected to attend and participate in the classroom.

    Addresses: Objective 4.

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 20 weeks

  • Course Title: HIST–101: Prophetic Characteristics (Shamāʾil)

    Instructor: Shaykh AbdulNasir Jangda

    Text: Uswa Ḥasana (Shaykh Abul Ḥasan ʿAlī al-Nadwī)

    Course Description: Students will study the characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ for reflection and practice.

    Expectations: Students are expected to attend and participate in the classroom.

    Addresses: Objective 4

    Frequency: 1 day a week, 35 weeks

Year 1 Academic Timetable, 2023–24

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