Arabic — listening, reading, understanding
Listening first, reading second, writing third. The goal is not fluency — it is access to the Quran and Islamic texts.
How we approach Arabic
Arabic is a means, not an end. We teach enough Arabic to access the Quran and classical Islamic texts.
Quran recitation, Arabic nasheeds, and alphabet songs. The child learns the sound of the letters before they learn their names. The Arabic Alphabet Chart is a good wall reference.
Letter recognition, harakat, sukun, shaddah, and reading simple words. The goal is to read the Quran with proper pronunciation. Most children can achieve this in 6–12 months of consistent practice.
Short texts, comprehension questions, and basic grammar (nahw and sarf). The child understands what they are reading in the Quran.
The Arabic course at Markaz Ibn Al-Qayyim (which Umm Aishah completed) is our reference. For children, we recommend starting with the Madinah Arabic reader series.
5–10 minutes of Arabic per day is enough for the first two years. Consistency matters more than duration. Read one line, say one letter, repeat.
Writing comes last — after the child can read comfortably. Rushing to write before reading is a waste of effort. The Arabic Alphabet Chart supports both.
The Arabic Alphabet Chart.
A printable wall poster with all 28 letters, vowel marks, and transliteration. Free to download.