Syllabus & Curriculum

A structured path from Safar Qaida in Reception to the 30th Juz by Class 8, with Class 9 given to revision. Tajwid rules are introduced stage by stage as each class progresses.

Eight years covering seven subjects.

Aqa'id

Core beliefs

Fiqh

Jurisprudence

Sirah

Biography of the Messenger

Tarikh

Islamic history

Adab

Etiquette

Akhlaq

Character and social conduct

Ahadith

Sayings of the Messenger

From the outset our outlook on Qur'an, the word of Allah, is that every child must grow to develop a healthy relationship with the book of Allah. The Qur'an memorisation course provides children aged 8+ with the opportunity to take themselves and 10 others into Paradise. Alhamdulillah, to date we have 10's of children who have completed their Hifz with us and continue to do so every year.

Admission to the Hifz Programme is subject to the following criteria:

• The child must be in Year 5 or above.
• The child must have a strong record of punctuality and attendance at the Madrasah. Once granted admission, the child cannot be consistently late or leave early for school activities or tuition.
• The child must successfully complete an assessment with the Headteacher to determine their suitability for the programme.
• Places on the Hifz Programme are limited and demand is high. Therefore, admission is subject to availability and meeting the required standard.

Meeting the above criteria does not automatically guarantee a place. The Madrasah will consider each application carefully to ensure that every child admitted is well placed to succeed in their Hifz journey, Inshā' Allāh.

Parent Guidelines for New Hifz Starters

In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most beneficent

First and foremost, we would like to congratulate you on your endeavour to make your child a memoriser of the Noble Qur'an. May Allah Ta'ala accept your endeavours and that of your child, and make it a success. Amin.

It is important to understand that as with everything in this world, we place our trust in Allah and try. The process of making your child a Hafiz is no different. It requires effort, major lifestyle changes and perseverance, not only on the part of the child but also on the part of the parents.

Hereunder is some important information which will give you a better idea of what Hifz entails and how to achieve it with efficiency.

Hifz Timings and daily timetable

Currently our Hifz Class runs from 5pm-7.30pm. Within the two and a half hours a child will be expected to recite (off by heart) 3 elements of Hifz;

1. Sabaq – Fresh memorisation for the day
2. Sabaq Sipara – Daily revision from the beginning of the Juz till the current Sabaq.
3. Dor/Muraja'ah (revision) – Recitation of Half a Juz from his previously learnt portions.

NOTE: Unless a child recites all 3 daily and consistently, a child will not be able to progress and will experience weakness in his previously learnt portions. This will then lead to major setbacks in his progress and may even lead to your child having to re-learn all together.

For your child to manage this within the two and a half hours, he will be expected to put in the 'hard yards' at home. We understand that children go to school, enjoy family and social time, all of which are important for their upbringing. Because of this, it is extremely important that you set a daily and weekly timetable for your child and get him used to it as soon as possible whereby he can enjoy all aspects of his life whilst giving due diligence to his memorisation. A sample timetable has been attached to this brochure.

Efficient Learning

With most of a child's day being consumed by school, it is difficult to put in the same number of hours into memorisation that is prevalent in countries where a child dedicates his entire day to hifz. Therefore, it is extremely important that whatever time they use to learn MUST be used efficiently.

A few points on efficiency are listed below;

1. Supervised Learning – A child must not be left to himself when memorising. Children are prone to daydreaming and lapses in concentration. When they fall prey to this, something which should have taken them 20-30 minutes can take them up to an hour or even more. To maintain efficient learning, a parent should supervise whilst he is learning so that they can be notified when they are distracted.
2. Repetition at night – We have found that it is extremely effective when a child repeatedly reads his new Sabaq at night (20-25 times) before bed. We have found that memorisation in the morning thereafter becomes a lot easier. Minds are tired at night; so we do not advise memorisation and suffice solely on repetition.
3. Sleep – Ensure that your child gets enough rest and sleep at night so that he is fresh when he needs to memorise. A hifz child must sleep at least 8 hours to function at optimum level during the day.
4. Diet – Scholars of the past have linked memorisation very closely to diet. Sugary foods and over-eating cause lethargy which is not conducive to memorisation and must be limited/avoided. 'Warm foods' like nuts, raisins, dates etc are helpful whilst 'cold foods' like rice can be detrimental when consumed out of moderation.
5. Reduce screentime – Research suggests that excessive screen time can have a negative impact on children's concentration, attention span, and ability to retain information. Reducing unnecessary screen use can therefore support more effective memorisation and improve the quality of Hifz.
6. Spirituality – Alongside supporting your child's Hifz academically, it is equally important to nurture both your own spirituality and that of your child. As Muslims, we should strive to protect our homes from influences that may distract us from the remembrance of Allah, such as inappropriate media, music, movies, immodest content, and other forms of entertainment that can weaken our spiritual connection. A heart occupied by distractions and sin will naturally find it more difficult to engage with the Qur'an, whereas a heart that is nurtured through faith, remembrance of Allah, and righteous actions is more receptive to the light and guidance of the Qur'an. When you make the intention for your child to become a Hafiz or Hafizah of the Qur'an, it is also an opportunity to reflect on your own relationship with Allah. Positive changes made by parents whether through improving salah, increasing Qur'an recitation, making dhikr, or leaving sinful habits help create a home filled with barakah and spirituality. Children are deeply influenced by the environment around them. A home in which the Qur'an is recited, salah is established, and Islamic values are practised consistently provides the best foundation for a successful Hifz journey.

Being Realistic

Parents are sometimes unrealistic and expect their children to become Hafiz within a few years whilst also expecting their children to excel academically. This expectation is rarely met. The average period for a child to finish their Hifz over the last 10+ years has been approximately 6 years. This is excluding a year or two which is dedicated thereafter to revision. If you are unwilling to make compromises/sacrifices in this regard, Hifz may not be for you.

Apathy

On the contrary parents can sometimes become apathetic towards their child's cause, and this almost always results in failure. Parents must be just as dedicated to the cause as their child.

Love the Qur'an

Memorising the Qur'an is a noble and rewarding journey, but balancing school, Madrasah, family life, and Hifz can sometimes be challenging for both children and parents. At Madrasah Salaam, we firmly believe that a child's love for the Qur'an must always come before the goal of memorising it. Islam teaches us to honour, love, and live by the Book of Allah. While becoming a Hafiz or Hafizah is a great virtue, it should never come at the expense of a child's relationship with the Qur'an.

If, at any stage, we feel that the pressures of Hifz are causing significant stress or are negatively affecting your child's love for the Qur'an, we may recommend that they step away from the Hifz Programme. Our priority will then be to nurture and restore a positive, healthy, and lasting connection with the Book of Allah.

Memorising the Qur'an is a voluntary act of great reward, it is not obligatory. However, loving, respecting, and valuing the Qur'an is something every Muslim should strive for. Our goal is not simply to produce memorisers of the Qur'an, but to nurture young Muslims whose hearts are attached to the Qur'an and who carry its teachings throughout their lives.

May Allah (SWT) make the Qur'an the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, and grant our children a lifelong love for His Book. Āmīn.

Sample Timetable

NOTE: Having a visual timetable displayed somewhere your child can see it regularly can greatly help them develop a consistent routine, manage their time effectively, and make steady progress in their Hifz. A structured daily routine encourages discipline, reduces procrastination, and allows your child to balance their Hifz, Madrasah studies, schoolwork, and personal time more effectively.

The timetable provided is intended as a sample and may not suit every child. We encourage parents to adapt it to fit their child's age, school schedule, learning pace, and family routine, while ensuring sufficient time is set aside each day for new memorisation, revision, and rest. Consistency is more important than the number of hours spent. A realistic routine that your child can maintain every day will, by the permission of Allah, lead to greater success in their Hifz journey.

6.45AM

Wake-up

7.00AM

Shower etc

7.30AM

Breakfast

7.45AM

Learn New Sabaq

8.20AM

Leave for School

3.45PM

Return from School, Tea, Change of Clothes, Shower.

4.15PM

Learn Dor/Muraja'ah

5PM

Madrasah time

7.15PM

Return from Madrasah, Supper, homework

8PM

Wind down and chill

9PM

Read Sabaq 25-30 times.

9.30/45PM

Bed