Suffa Islamic School
Curriculum
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Our primary goal is to impart a strong Islamic identity to our youth and complement their regular education to build a strong community for the next generation. Our community is diverse in national origin, ethnicity, and theology, and the curriculum aims to give an authentic introduction to Islam drawing on material that is both contemporary and historical.
Revision v15 — 2022
Objectives
The academic objective is to introduce and instill the main teachings of Islam by the time students are ready to enter high school, enabling them to live Islam. A student who has attended eight or more years of the weekend school should be competent in the following areas.
- 1.
Recitation of Qur'an
Facilitate students in reading the Qur'an (not learning the Arabic language). This requires active follow-up by parents at home; families who want more depth are advised to also enroll their child in a dedicated Qur'an recitation class. A basic introduction to Qur'anic Arabic terms and phrases is provided. The program is not intended to train children in reading or memorizing the entire Qur'an in Arabic.
- 2.
Memorization of Surahs and Duas
Memorize 15–20 Surahs and Duas related to Salat and everyday affairs.
- 3.
Salat
Ensure children know how to perform Salat before it becomes obligatory. Students in 6th grade and higher are expected to know how to pray.
- 4.
Qur'anic Studies
Basic Qur'anic teachings, with tafseer/exegesis at higher levels.
- 5.
Islamic Morals and Manners
In the light of the Qur'an and the Hadith.
- 6.
Faith and Worship
Articles of Faith, the Five Pillars, and worship of Allah (SWT).
- 7.
Introductory Fiqh
Basic Fiqh, Shariah, and Usul al-Fiqh.
- 8.
Seerah
Life history and Shama'il of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, taught at various levels.
- 9.
Introductory Islamic History
A brief overview of Islamic history.
- 10.
Introduction to Prophets
Stories of the Prophets for younger children.
- 11.
Introduction to Hadith
Introduction to the science of Hadith and some important Ahadith.
- 12.
Islam and Identity
Understanding Islam from a historical perspective and applying that context to issues faced by our youth today.
General Daily Schedule
At each grade level four subject areas are covered — two in the first session (Qur'anic Studies) and two in the second session (Islamic Studies).
1st Period — Qur'anic Studies (KG–7)
- Qur'an
- Faith and Worship
- Islam and Identity (1st period for Youth Group)
2nd Period — Islamic Studies (KG–7, Youth Group)
- Seerah / Islamic Social Studies
- Morals and Manners
The first period focuses on learning how to read the Qur'an, memorization, and the teachings of the Qur'an. A 30-minute recess for snacks, games, and socialization follows. At the end of the second session students prepare for and assemble for Dhuhr prayers.
Curriculum Guidelines
The curriculum is a guideline for our teaching staff. Teachers use discretion in adjusting it based on the class population, and additional material may be introduced during the program year as required.
For children in lower grades (KG and Grade 1), teachers make extensive use of hands-on activities, story-telling, and play-based learning.
For higher grades, more emphasis is placed on the teachings and meaning of the Qur'an (as opposed to recitation) and general Islamic history in addition to the Seerah. Advanced subjects — Fiqh, the science of Hadith, and Islamic Akhlaq/Adab — are introduced at the middle and high school level. These classes follow the same structured approach but are more discussion-oriented and engage with current events and topics of interest to older students.
Textbooks
Textbooks are drawn primarily from the Weekend Learning curriculum. For the primary and elementary division (up to Grade 5) we have reduced the number of texts in use and increased the focus on application.
For middle school and higher levels we have added reference texts that teachers draw from to provide thought-provoking, contemporary material grounded in traditional teachings. At this age critical thinking is developed, and our youth are guided in reading various texts and understanding different positions of thought — preparing them to recognize the diversity they will encounter in real life.
Building Confidence in Our Children
We believe our children need to be proud of their identity and confident in presenting themselves. Suffa provides multiple forums to gain these skills:
- Recitation at assembly
- Class presentations at assembly
- Performance at signature SBIA events with large audiences, such as Mawlid and the Annual Banquet
Grade by Grade
Kindergarten
Qur'anic Studies
- Ready to Write Alif Ba Ta (Weekend Learning)
- Basic Arabic Letters (workbook by Rahmah Ibrahim)
Memorization
- Tasmia
- Ta'awudh
- Shahada
- Al-Fatihah (1)
- Al-Ikhlas (112)
- An-Nas (114)
Islamic Studies
- Our Religion is Islam Coloring Book (IQRA)
- My Islamic Coloring Book (Weekend Learning)
- Lecture for 20–30 minutes, followed by ~20 minutes of coloring and discussion
Stories of the Prophets (~30 min)
- Adam (AS), Nuh (AS), Salih (AS), Ibrahim (AS), Ismail (AS)
Text is not provided to students; used as reference by teachers.
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 1
Revise letters, start joining, and teach Fathah, Kasrah and Dammah.
Qur'anic Studies
- Ajmal Al-Qawa'id
- Arabic Alphabet Worksheets (education.com)
- Short Surahs (IQRA)
Memorization
- Al-Fatihah (1)
- An-Nas (114)
- Al-Falaq (113)
- Al-Ikhlas (112)
- Al-Kawthar (108)
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Studies, Level 1 (Weekend Learning)
Stories of the Prophets (~30 min)
- Yusuf (AS), Musa (AS), Dawud (AS), Sulaiman (AS), Isa (AS)
Text is not provided to students; used as reference by teachers.
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 2
Tashkeel: revise Fathah, Kasrah and Dammah; continue with Sukun and Tanween.
Qur'anic Studies
- Ajmal Al-Qawa'id
- Let's Read and Write Arabic, Book 2 (first half)
- Short Surahs (IQRA)
Review
- Al-Fatihah (1)
- An-Nas (114)
- Al-Falaq (113)
- Al-Ikhlas (112)
- Al-Kawthar (108)
New Surahs
- Al-Asr (103)
- Al-Masad (111)
- An-Nasr (110)
- Al-Kafirun (109)
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Learning, Level 2 (Weekend Learning)
- Our Book of Dua (IQRA)
Duas
- Waking up
- Sneezing
- Eating
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 3
Students are expected to read fluently by the end of Grade 3.
Qur'anic Studies
- Ajmal Al-Qawa'id
- Finish Let's Read and Write Arabic, Book 2
- Practice reading from Short Surahs
Review
- Al-Fatihah (1)
- An-Nas (114)
- Al-Falaq (113)
- Al-Ikhlas (112)
- Al-Asr (103)
- Al-Kawthar (108)
- Al-Masad (111)
- An-Nasr (110)
- Al-Kafirun (109)
New Surahs
- Al-Ma'un (107)
- Quraish (106)
- Al-Feel (105)
- Al-Humazah (104)
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Learning, Level 3 (Weekend Learning)
- Our Book of Dua — going outdoors and traveling
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 4
Qur'anic Studies
- Juz Amma for School Students, with transliteration (Weekend Learning)
Memorization
- Tashahhud and Darood (Salat)
- Qunoot
- Review memorized Surahs from earlier grades (102–114)
- Study new Surahs 98–102
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Learning, Level 4 (Weekend Learning)
Duas
- Anger
- Using the restroom
- Sadness
- Going to bed
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 5
Qur'anic Studies
- Juz Amma for School Students, with transliteration (Weekend Learning)
Memorization & Study
- Review previously learned Surahs
- Study new Surahs 91–97
Duas
- Duas related to Salat
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Learning, Level 5 (Weekend Learning)
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 6
Qur'anic Studies
- Students use a mushaf from the masjid or bring their own
- The Clear Quran — Surah selections based on instructor/class
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Studies, Level 6 (Weekend Learning)
- Being Muslim: A Practical Guide (Asad Tarsin) — Chapters 1–4
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Grade 7
Qur'anic Studies
- Students use a mushaf from the masjid or bring their own
- The Clear Quran — Surah selections based on instructor/class
Islamic Studies
- Islamic Studies, Level 7 (Weekend Learning)
- Being Muslim: A Practical Guide (Asad Tarsin) — Chapters 5–7 (Chapter 8 is not covered in Grade 7)
Class Project
- Assigned during the program year
Youth Program (Grade 8 onwards)
Youth classes are run as discussions rather than traditional lectures. Students enter after Grade 7 for a two-year period, covering a two-year syllabus that may be taken in either order.
Islam and Identity — Texts
- Amina's Voice (Year A)
- Destiny Disrupted (Year A)
- Aqidah Tahawiyya (either year)
- Letters to a Young Muslim (Year B)
Areas of Focus
- Community service project (Interfaith Open House) — builds cohesion and teamwork
- Level-setting on the issues faced by youth today (Amina's Voice)
- The arc of history from the Prophet ﷺ to the present through non-Orientalist eyes (Destiny Disrupted)
- Practical essence of faith: review of the Aqidah Tahawiyya and reminders on ritual purity
- Contemporary advice from a parent to a child on creed and the political environment (Letters to a Young Muslim)
- Closing with a return to the primary dimensions of faith — Islam, Iman, Ihsan
Islamic Studies
- Being Muslim: A Practical Guide (Asad Tarsin) — review of Chapters 1–7
- Reference: The Clear Quran
Class Projects
- Interfaith Open House
Questions about the curriculum? Email suffa-admin@sbia.info.