Islamic Schools in the USA

U.S. SPEAKER PROGRAM, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE:
MUSLIM EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BY FARHANA N. SHAH
Maryland, U.S.A.

2

The first word revealed of the Quran was
"Iqra" READ! Seek knowledge! Educate
yourselves! Be educated.

“A father can give his son nothing better
than a good education” (Tirmidhi Hadith)

Created by Farhana N. Shah, August 2011

Muslim Education in USA
3

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Private Islamic Schools (full- time)
Mosques
 Sunday

School (part-time)
 Evening Arabic/Quran Recitation
 Summer Camp
 Other Community Services
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Higher Education
Islamic Institutes
Other organizations

Full-time Islamic Schools
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Some facts…
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Approximately 235-250 schools
Hire 15%-30% non-Muslim teachers; however, 1/3
hire only Muslim teachers
Usually follow state curriculum
Oldest: 22-30 years old, mostly new and nonaccredited
Number of students range from 100-650,
depending on the institution

Vision and Mission
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create well-rounded citizens who are prepared for
the 21st century and in turn who will contribute to
the society at large.


Curriculum
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Secular subjects prescribed by the state
Quran
Islamic Studies
Arabic
Infusion of character education in both secular and
Islamic subject areas


Other Information
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Extra-curricular activities
Leadership skills integrated in curriculum and
activities
Parent involvement


How are full time schools funded?
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Like any private school in the USA, tuition
Donations
School fund-raisers
Grants (federal and local)


Challenges facing full-time schools?
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Funds
Teacher salaries lower than even some non-Muslim
private schools
Teacher benefits such as medical, paid leave…
Have not tapped into federal and state grants that
may be available


Part-time Islamic Schools
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Mission and about the…
The Muslim Community Center
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“…promote friendly relations and understanding
between the Muslim community and the general public,
and to disseminate information on Islamic principles…”.
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Conceived in 1976, dedicated to serving everyone
Volunteer-managed


Brief History and Establishment of the
M.C.C. Sunday Islamic School
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Late 1960s: families from Maryland suburbs drove
to attend SS in DC.
1976: idea of a center in MD for convenience
The need for SS led to establishing MCC, rather
than the center creating SS.
Phase I: Rented a facility in MD.
Phase II: first part of MCC completed 1981.
Phase III: SS facility completed in 1986.

Need for a Sunday School
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1. Important for Muslim kids to learn basics of
Islam.
2.
Meet other Muslim kids in age group; may
feel isolated in public school with a different
name, look, and culture.
3.
Interaction with other Muslim students in a
“Halal” manner- void in public schools.


Islamic Education Services Offered
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M.C.C. Sunday Islamic School and Arabic
Quranic Recitation and Memorization
Weekend Arabic Class
Summer Camp
English Classes (as a second language for adults)


MCC Sunday Islamic School
Class Schedule
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Arabic: 9:30 am to 10:30
Quran: 10:30 am to 11:30 am
50-minute Break
Islamiyat: 12:20 to 1:20 pm
Duhur Prayers


How is it funded?
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Funded by tuition fees.
There are indirect expenses funded by the
center, like facilities, utilities.
Goal for next year-student aid fund to allow
people who can afford to support those who
need with paying the fees.


Arabic Curriculum: Overview
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Level K:

Students will be able to read with good pronunciation, write and
recognized individual letters isolated and connected.

Level 1: Students will be able to read with good pronunciation, write and
recognized individual letters with fathah, dammah, kasrah, sukun. Have a very
short oral conversation in arabic

Level 2: Students will be able to connect letters together, learn double fathah,
double Kasrah, double dammah , shaddah and maddah. Have a very short
verbal and non-verbal conversation in arabic

Level 3: Students will be able to acquire vocabulary, read, write,
comprehend, translate, and form simple sentences (oral and written) using
“verb”, “subject”, and “predicate”>

Arabic Curriculum: Overview
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Level 4: Students will exhibit moderately advanced Arabic, form simple
sentences (oral and written) using “verb”, “subject”, and “predicate”.

Level 5: Students will exhibit advanced Arabic. Students will be able to
read, write, comprehend, and create short paragraphs (oral and written).

Level 6: Students will exhibit advanced Arabic. Students will be able to
read, write, comprehend, and create short paragraphs (oral and written).


Quran Curriculum Objectives and
Learning Outcomes
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Kindergarten:
Recite the alphabet , Recognize the Arabic letters placed in and out of order, Recite Surah
Al-Fatiha

Grade 1:
Read letters in isolated and connected forms, Read Harakat on letters in small words,
Recite An-nas

Grade 2:
Read words with harakat and tanween, Recite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq

Grade 3:
Read words with: harakat, taween,long vowels “Alif, waw, ya’”, madd, Recite Al-Fatiha,
An-Nas, Al-Falaq + Al-Ikhlas

Quran Curriculum Objectives and Learning
Outcomes
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Beginning Tajweed Level 1
Read words with: harakat, taween, madd, Sukun, Qalqalah vibration , long vowels “Alif, waw, ya’”,Ikhfa
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Recite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas + Al-Lahab (Al-Masad)

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Read from Quran with implementation of the Tajweed rules (Qalqalah and Ikhfa’)

Beginning Tajweed Level 2
Read words with: harakat, taween, madd, Sukun, shaddah ,long vowels “Alif, waw, ya’, Qalqalah (vibration),
Ikhfa’, Idgham
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Recite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Lahab (Al-Masad) + An-Nasr

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Read from Quran with implementation of the Tajweed rules (Qalqalah, Ikhfa’, Idgham)


Learning Outcomes
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Middle Tajweed Level 1
Ikhfa’, Idgham, shaddah , shaddahs followed by a sakoon, noon and meem mushadatein, double shaddahs,
shaddahs after madds
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Recite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Lahab (Al-Masad), An-Nasr +Al-Kafiroon.

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Read from Quran with implementation of the Tajweed rules (Qalqalah, Ikhfa’, Idgham, Iqlab)

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Translate Surahs Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq.

Middle Tajweed Level 2
Ikhfa’, Idgham, Iqlab, Ithhar , shaddah followed by a sukoon, noon and meem mushadatein, double
shaddahs, shaddah after maddRecite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Lahab, An-Nasr, AlKafiroon+ Al-Kawthar & Al-Ma’un.
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Read from Quran with implementation of the rules of Tajweed (Qalqalah, Ikhfa’, Idgham, Iqlab, and Ithhar

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Translate Surahs Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas

Learning Outcomes
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Advanced Tajweed
Read words with: harakat, taween, madd, Sukun, long vowels “Alif, waw, ya’, Qalqalah (vibration)
Ikhfa’, Idgham, Iqlab, Ithhar, shaddah, shaddah followed by a sukoon, noon and meem
mushadatein, double shaddahs, shaddah after madd
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Recite Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Lahab (Al-Masad), An-Nasr, Al-Kafiroon, AlKawthar, Al-Ma’un, Quraysh, Al- Feel, Humazah
Read from Quran with implementation of the Tajweed rules (Idgham, Ikhfa’, Iqlab, Qalqalah,
Ith-har.)
Translate Surahs Al-Fatiha, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Lahab, An-Nasr


Islamiyat Curriculum
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Kindergarten: Basics
Grade 1 and 2: Tawheed , Salah and Wudu , Zakat , Fasting in month of Ramadan, Hajj,
Articles of Faith (Basic components of Iman, the Muslim belief) . Stories from Quran, Islamic Ethics, General Topics.

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Grade 2: Shahadah and its meaning, 5 Pillars, Articles of Faith, Expand on Belief in Adam's creation ,
stories of the Prophets.

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Grade 3: SALAH, SEERAH, learn meaning and usage of the following: Alhamdulillah, allahuakbar,
bismillah, subhanallah, inshallah, mashaallah, jazakallah, astaghfirullah
PROPHETS OS ISLAM: LUT, MUSA, HARUN

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Grade 4: Salat/Wudu, Jumuah prayers and importance, SEERAH, SHORT STORIES ON PROPHETS:
ILYAS, DAWUD, SULAIMAN, AYUB, YUNUS, ZAKARIYAH, YAHYA, ISA, learn meaning and usage of the following:
Alhamdulillah, allahuakbar, bismillah, subhanallah, inshallah, mashaallah, jazakallah, astaghfirullah. Dua

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Grade 5: SALAH REVIEW, HADITH (various topics)
Grade 6: Moral Education and Day of Judgment topics

Islamiyat Curriculum
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Grade 7: revelation of the Quran, significance of Lailatul-Qadr, form and language of
the Quran, style of the Quran, Tafsir and translation of the Quran, how to study the Quran,
and teacher-selected topics, i.e. moral obligations, family, and rights and responsibilities.

Grade 8: The Teacher will drive the contents of the curriculum and tailor it to
contemporary issues and use a major portion of the assigned Book.

Grade 9: Khulfahe Rashedoon, Dawah and creation of Ummah
Grade 10: Critical Analysis of various topics selected by the Teacher.

This Grade does
not have a book assigned to students. The teacher provides guidelines and notes when
necessary.

Grade 11: This Grade will encourage Discussion, Analysis and Essays on thoughts conveyed on
various topics in the book: Islam, The Misunderstood Religion.


Quran Recitation and Memorization
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children 12 years old or younger
Friday (evening)
Saturdays and Sundays (day)
Nominal monthly fee is required
Curriculum: Levels 1-4, possible Level 5


Weekend Arabic Class
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Upon completion of this course (approx. 9 semesters), that student will reach a
level of skills that will allow meaningful communication in spoken and
written Arabic, as well as comprehension of Arabic texts, including the AlQu’ran.
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Classes held every Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours each day
Tuition: $3500 per semester plus $50 registration fee.
Curriculum: Students who have completed Levels K through 6 are expected to
be able to read, write, speak, and use Arabic to understand the Qur’an.


Summer Camp Goal
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build upstanding Muslim characters in our children through learning and living
the Qur’an and Hadith in a fun, relaxed and hands-on atmosphere
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WHEN: June- August (6 weeks)
AGES: 5-13 years
ACTIVITIES/Curriculum: Qur’an Memorization, Islamic History,
Field Trips, Arts, Math and Science Achievers Club, Sports,
Games and much more fun!!!
FEES:
$100/week per child + $50 one time only activity fee
$550 for six weeks
Sibling discount is 20% for second or more child.

Muslim Youth Organization of MCC
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Mission: “To establish a bond between the Muslim Youth of the community
through educating and entertaining within an Islamic environment through
following the Quran and Sunah.”

Muslim Youth Program every Friday in the evenings.
Muslim Youth Organization conducts a Halaqah for youth (male and female)
above 12 years of age. The program includes dinner, Isha prayers, and
a lecture followed by discussions.


Other Services and Programs at MCC
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Muslim Community Center provides several services to the
community in the surrounding areas of Washington D.C.
Meet the Imam
Ask the Imam
Book Shop
Library
Hall Rental
Marketplace

Funeral Services
New Muslim Support
Interfaith (Ramadan, lectures)
Zakat Fund
MCC Medical Clinic


Establish an Islamic Sunday School
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The preliminary steps to establish
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Developing vision and goals for the SS

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Purchase of land or existing location/facility

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Funds/investors

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Assessment of families/children

Committee of visionaries for the SS (Board)

Things to consider (after a location or land purchase)
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Educational needs of students and families- (USA: align grades with public school)

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Volunteers for teachers and office administration

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Schedule

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Curriculum

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Fees for SS

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Resources


Higher Education (to name a few…)
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Non-Muslim Facilities
 Universities and Colleges
 Hartford Seminary
 MSA

Muslim Facilities
 IIIT (International Institute of
Islamic Thought)
 Muslim Think Tanks: Minaret
of Freedom,
 Other:
Alim.org
Islamicity
Soundvision
CAIR


Resource: Alim.org Features
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Classical features: Allows Muslims all over the world to have effective and useful
access to classical sources of Islamic knowledge.
 Community Collaboration
 Comment on the Quran & Hadith
 Everyone’s opinion is equal
 Maintain Central Databases of Islamic Resources
 Community Outreach

Entire Alim Online
Read and search the entire Quran in English and Arabic
Listen to the Quran
Watch Islamic educational videos
Search Hadith, Quran and Sunnah
Social Media features
Discuss Islam
Commenting & Comment Rating
Everyone is valued equally from the scholar to the mother of three
Interact with the Quran on popular sites such as Facebook
Work together with Muslims around the world
Its not just Quran: Find Masjids, prayer times, Imams, Zakat acceptors and more
Share documents amongst communities (e.g. Khutbas)
Specific bookmarks/links for children will be created

Resource: Arabic Playhouse
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Full Arabic Playhouse Online
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Visit today:
www.arabicplayhouse.com


History of Education in Islam101
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What does Islam say about education?
Why is education an obligation for Muslims?
Role of education in Islamic History
Islam in the United States of America
Programs to better understanding of Islam and
Muslims in the U.S.A.


Question and Answer
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1.

Why does Islam pay attention to the educational
system?

2.

How do Muslims in minority society manage the
education and what are the challenges they are facing?

3.

How can you relate education to the Islamic way of life?

4.

What are the sources of knowledge according to the
Islamic perspective?

5.

Islam pays serious attention to education, so why are
most of Muslim societies in the world today still
backward?

6.

What are steps that can be taken to strengthen Muslim
education in the world today?


Contact Information
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Farhana N. Shah
Email: farhana@shah.org


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