As-Sharif Institute · Arabic for Muslims
Arabic for Muslims — Online
You know what the Qur'an says — years of reading the English will do that. What you're after now is the words themselves. No translation in between. Just you and the Arabic, directly. One-to-one lessons built on the Madinah Arabic Reader curriculum.
From your first letter to reading classical Islamic texts — letters, then words, then sentences, then ayaat. A clear path with a real teacher. Taught by a Hafidh with a diploma from Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, currently studying at the Islamic University of Madinah.
Why Arabic matters for Muslims
The Qur'an came in Arabic. The hadith were recorded in Arabic. The scholars who preserved this deen wrote in Arabic. Every translation — however careful — is a reading of the original, not the original itself.
That is not a criticism of translations. They are essential, especially at the start. But there is a difference between knowing what the Qur'an says and hearing it. Once you have both, you cannot unknow the difference.
The question is not whether to learn Arabic. The question is how — and with whom.
What students want — and what they get
What you want
To understand the Qur'an when it is recited
What you get
You will start catching words you have been hearing for years. Root patterns you recognise open up clusters of vocabulary. Not every word — but far more than before, and growing.
What you want
To follow a sheikh's lecture without needing a translator
What you get
By the end of the Madinah Arabic Reader series, you are reading directly from the books scholars quote from — tafseer, hadith, fiqh — in Arabic, without a translation.
What you want
To feel something in Salah beyond recitation
What you get
Students mention this more than anything else. When you understand what you are saying, Salah is not the same. That is the goal underneath the goal.
What you want
To read tafseer and hadith in Arabic
What you get
That is exactly what the Madinah Arabic Reader was designed for. It ends at the door of classical Islamic literature. Everything before it is building to that point.
The programme
Arabic script mastery
Reading and writing every letter, in every position. Most adults learned this as children and have gaps — this is where they are fixed.
Madinah Arabic Reader, Books 1–4
Vocabulary, grammar, and sentence construction built through real Quranic and Hadith examples. The curriculum used at the Islamic University of Madinah.
Al-Ājurrūmiyyah
The classical Arabic grammar primer studied by generations of Muslim scholars. Now you are reading the same books they read.
Islamic texts in Arabic
Selected passages from tafseer, hadith, and fiqh — read and analysed directly. You have arrived at the destination.
Who this is for
- Professionals in the West who grew up Muslim but never studied Arabic formally as adults
- Those who read the English Qur'an daily and want to access the Arabic directly — without a translator in between
- Anyone who has had a moment — a Ramadan, a dream, a return — and decided it was time to close the gap
- Those who tried apps or recorded courses and found what was missing: a real teacher who can hear you, correct what is wrong, and not move on until it is right
- Converts who came to Islam and want to understand it in its own language from the start
- Those who learned some Arabic as children but lost it, and need a structured restart built for adults
- Busy professionals — commuters, parents, people with demanding schedules — who can give thirty minutes, consistently, and want a teacher who works around their life, not the other way around
Common questions
Is this course suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. The programme begins with the Arabic script. If you cannot read a single Arabic letter, you still have a place here. Most adults who come for Quranic Arabic start at this point.
What is different about this compared to other Arabic courses for Muslims?
Most online Arabic courses for Muslims use generic materials. This programme uses the Madinah Arabic Reader — written for the Islamic University of Madinah specifically to teach classical Arabic to non-native adult Muslims. It also includes Al-Ājurrūmiyyah, the grammar text studied by Muslim scholars for centuries. There is no modern substitute for it.
Do I have to be a particular age or level?
No. Students range from teenagers in GCSE years to professionals in their 50s. The one-to-one format means the pace is calibrated to you.
How many lessons do I need?
One lesson a week is the minimum for real progress. Two lessons a week is the pace at which most students make consistent, visible gains. The diagnostic session will give you a clearer estimate for your situation.
Is there a sisters-only option?
Yes. As-Sharif Institute runs a dedicated Sisters Division led by a female teacher. All sessions are private and conducted with a female instructor only.
Will I be able to understand the Qur'an after this course?
You will understand significantly more than you do now. Arabic is a deep subject. The goal of this programme is to give you the foundation to read independently — after which your own recitation, study, and listening continue building the rest.
Start from where you are.
45 minutes. Your teacher finds out where you are, identifies the gaps, and sets out a clear path forward built around your schedule and your life. Not a test. Not guesswork. A real session with a real plan at the end of it.
For sisters: a female-led Sisters Division is available with a dedicated female teacher.