Arabic Language and Qur’an Summer Intensive

The Vision of Having Direct Access to the Qur’an

Every serious pursuit of ‘Sacred Knowledge’ begins with the Arabic language.

Without question, knowledge of the Arabic language should be the academic goal of every Muslim, as it provides direct access to the Qur’an, the speech of Allah, the hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and, for serious students of knowledge, all of the Islamic sciences.

Even for casual learners of the language, the experience of reciting the Qur’an while understanding its divine meanings is awe-inspiring. Hence, there is NO comparison between reading translations versus understanding the Qur’an in Arabic.

Context of this course

This course is available to everyone. However, there is a context to it.

Shaykh Shams has been teaching the Youth Mentoring Programme (YMP) and the Learned Youth Programme since 2020. As of 2024, the Learned Youth Programme, a two-year Islamic studies programme with Arabic language for young people, was DISCONTINUED. Instead, the Youth Mentoring Programme was extended over multiple years, and a separate Arabic language course was offered in parallel for those who wish to study Arabic.

In the summer of 2024, the first round of the summer intensive was launched for no LYP students to catch with the LYP students and continue with them from September as one class.

This Summer, and for the last time, we are launching the summer intensive again. This time to do a whole year’s worth of study to join the same class and continue with them in September of 2025. It’s not for the faint hearted, please see the schedule below and expect more sessions to be added if progress isn’t as expected.

A unique opportunity for Students – Study the first year of an Arabic degree over this summer

This summer intensive grants the opportunity to new students to study Arabic intensively over the summer with the aim of joining the current cohort of students who have been studying Arabic with Shaykh Shams for some time. The course also includes a rigorous Tajweed programme.

It is also an opportunity for existing students to review their past Arabic learning and continue their studies with Shaykh Shams. Especially those who have fallen behind or have not made the progress their peers have made.

This programme has 3 key objectives:

• Give students access to the language of the Qur’an.
• Enable students to pursue higher Islamic studies directly in Arabic.
• Give committed adults the capacity to recite the Qur’an proficiently with a high standard of tajweed and teach it to others.

How far has the current class progressed

The current class has completed two thirds of the book 1 of Al-kitaab fi Ta’allum Al-Arabiyyah (equivalent to the first year of an Arabic degree. By September, they will complete the book, inshaAllah.

In terms of competence, they are translating from Arabic to English, and English to Arabic, are studying a basic text in Islamic history, and are studying a tajweed theory book in Arabic. They are able to follow the teacher’s spoken Arabic in class. New students will have to reach this level by mid-September.

Duration of the programme:

See schedule below.

(Once the summer intensive is concluded, students will immediately continue their studies in the main programme, which will start in late September).

Start date and weekly schedule

📘 Arabic lesson Schedule by Week (2025)

TIME: All lessons start at 6pm and end at 9pm on every weekdays, and 10am to 1pm on weekend days.

Week 1

• 📅 Wed 16 July – Lesson

Week 2

• 📅 Wed 23 July – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 27 July – Lesson

Week 3

• 📅 Tue 29 July – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 3 August – Lesson

Week 4

• 📅 Tue 5 August – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 10 August – Lesson

Week 5

• 📅 Tue 12 August – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 17 August – Lesson

Week 6

• 📅 Tue 19 August – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 24 August – Lesson

Week 7

• 📅 Tue 26 August – Lesson
• 📅 Thu 28 August – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 31 August – Lesson

Week 8

• 📅 Tue 2 September – Lesson
• 📅 Sun 7 September – Lesson

Week of September 15

• 📅 Mon 15 September – ⭐ Start New Year of Arabic

Minimum age of students

This course is for students who are 14 and above. It is not suitable for anyone younger. Anyone of any age above 14 can study the course.

Learning outcomes

1. Read and write Arabic.
2. Pronounce Arabic letters with proper makharij and sifat
3. Complete book 1 al-Kitab fi Ta’allum al-Arabiyyah. In these lessons we will cover various themes and the following grammar topics: Gender, the definite article, the nisbah adjective, pronouns, dual and plural forms, the nominal sentence, the genitive construction and possessive pronouns, the present tense verb, the verbal sentence, adverbs, adjectives, the demonstrative pronoun, the past tense verb, etc.

Resources

Students will have to acquire the textbook to study the course. The textbook is called Al-Kitaab Fii Ta Allum Al-Arabiyya, published by Georgetown University Press. It is used as a textbook by universities for degrees in Arabic language.

What happens after the summer course?

They will continue studying Arabic with Shaykh Shams on the full programme from late September 2025. They will enrol and pay for this course separately. This course will continue their progress in reading, writing, understanding, and speaking modern standard Arabic to be able to have dialogue at a general level. (Roughly equivalent to an AS or the first year of a degree at some universities). Furthermore, they will study Arabic grammar and classical Arabic to a level that facilitates direct access to the Qur’an, the Hadith, and the texts of the Islamic sciences.

Teacher/s

Shaykh Shams Adduha Muhammad

Shaykh Shams was a founding director of Ebrahim College, where he helped develop their well-known Arabic programme. He is currently director and instructor at Mawarid Lifestyle and imam and khateeb of Chelmsford Muslim Society.

Other teachers may also support the course.

Admission criteria

We are looking for serious, dedicated students for this course. Students should only apply if they meet the following criteria:

1. Able to read the Qur’an in Arabic. Beginners can try out the first two weeks, which will be the only time given to basic writing and reading. Writing will be the main focus at this stage. If you are a beginner, please let us know, and we can discuss your options.
2. Committed to studying Arabic long term. There are no quick solutions or magic wands when it comes to studying Arabic in a non-Arabic environment. You have to put in the time and dedication. To successfully study the course, you will need to study 3-5 hours a week in addition to the lessons and be willing to immerse yourself in Arabic.
3. Able to pay fees up front. There will be no installment plans nor refunds. You must pay up front, and commit fully or lose your money. Refunds will only be considered in serious extenuating circumstances. Do not apply if you are not absolutely committed.
4. Able to attend every lesson on time. Every absence must be explained, and you cannot fall behind due to absence. Students will be removed from the course after more than two absences without refund.

Fees

£300.00

After the summer intensive, the course will be £600 per annum with some discounts applied for YMP students.

Mode of study

Online only

Other benefits and features

• All lessons will be recorded and made available via the Mawarid learning management system.
• Students who join the full programme in September will be given free access to all Mawarid on-demand short courses. See course list for details.

Terms and conditions

1. You must maintain 90% and above attendance and punctuality.
2. You must complete all work given in the course. There will be homework every week that will take 3-5 hours to complete per lesson. It will take longer at first due to slow writing and will take less time later.
3. As part of your Tajweed development, you must practice Qur’an recitation daily as instructed.
4. You must pay the full fee up front.
5. Fees are non-refundable after commencement of the course.
6. Only students whose commitment to learning Arabic and progress is deemed satisfactory will be allowed to progress on to the full Arabic programme in September 2025.

Enquiries

If you have any questions, please email info@mawaridlifestyle.com