Safar Curriculum

At Safar Academy, a great deal of importance is given to the correct recitation of the Qurʿān. The first stage of this is learning how to read the Arabic script. This is done by means of teaching the Arabic alphabet and rules of basic pronunciation using a text known as the Qāʿidah.

Through our years of experience in teaching this, we have found the need to develop a Qāʿidah that combines the best of all other Qāʿidahs and is more suited to the needs of students whose native tongue is not Arabic.

Every care is taken to explain to the students each stage of learning to read Arabic. The aim is to complete the Qāʿidah over an average time of two years – two half years. After completion of the Qāʿidah, the students progress to recite the Juz ʿAmma and then progress to begin reciting the Qurʿān.

During the last two stages, more complex rules of reading and reciting (Tajwīd) are taught. A student completing their studies at Safar Academy attains a very high standard of Tajwīd (the art of reciting the Qurʿān proficiently and correctly), unparalleled by many other madrasahs.

Students memorise Juz ʿAmma and various duʿās every week at Safar Academy, with a three week limit per sūrah and dua memorisation. We never use transliteration. Children memorise 20 sūrahs in 20 different peer-mentored groups, starting from Sūrah Duḥā and finishing at Sūrah Nās. Students are tested after every Sūrah by a senior member of staff to check for errors and their progress is tracked throughout the year. The emphasis is on quality of recitation rather than quantity.

Our Learn by Heart Series: Essential Duas & Surahs, highlights the excellences of using the duas to help motivate their regular use.

In this component, many important aspects of Islam are taught, such as:

• Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence; the rules and practices we follow in Islam)
• Aqīdah (learning and understanding Islamic beliefs)
• Sīrah (The biography of the Prophet Muḥammad, peace be upon him, and its relevance)
• Islamic history, spanning the lives of all the previous Prophets as well as major events of importance.
• Ādāb (Islamic manners and etiquette essential to a moral and rewarding life)

These topics are not only taught to cover classical knowledge but their contemporary applications and implications are explored and explained in detail. This makes the study of Islamic studies at Safar Academy a subject that is very relevant to our students in their everyday lives.

Our aim is develop our students into upright and knowledgeable Muslims who will be a source of benefit to themselves, families and the wider community. In addition, through our teachings we ensure children are taught to respect and have tolerance for other people and other religions and beliefs as well as respecting the rule of law. We encourage pupils to take an active part in the wider community and society.

Classical Arabic language is the key to having a better understanding of the Qurʾān. It is too often neglected in primary Madrasahs education but at Safar Academy, we recognise its importance and  have developed our own Arabic syllabus and teaching materials.

Starting from the basics and moving up to the more intricate rules of grammar, our course teaches all the knowledge necessary to increase understanding and insight of the Qurʾān.