Level 1
The Level 1 Islamic Studies is for 5-7 year old children who can read short sentences and write short phrases. This is their first year in a formal Islamic class.
This level introduces students to the fundamentals of Islam. These students have very little or no knowledge about Allah, Islam, the Qur’an, and the Messenger.
The lessons attempt to walk students through the basics of Islam. The goal here is to keep things simple and enjoyable, yet informative.
Each lesson provides the Islamic foundation appropriate for this age group. The concepts learned will be covered in greater detail in future grade levels.
Level 1 covers lessons on Allah, the Qur’an, Islam, Rasulullah (S), the Hadith and Sunnah and 5-pillars of Islam, Messengers of Allah, Akhlaq and Adab in Islam and so forth. The idea is to cover the basics of Islam. For example, 6 lessons cover the concepts of 5-pillars, 5 lessons cover a short introduction to 5 rasuls and nabis, 9 lessons cover Islamic values and morals.
Each lesson begins with a coloring activity. The coloring time helps students settle down and be comfortable in the class before the lesson begins. The attention span of children is small; therefore, short paragraphs introduce two or three concepts. This is followed by in-class review section to allow for a short break and reinforce learning.
Some homework is included in the Islamic Studies Level 1 (Revised & Enlarged Edition) book.
Level 2
Level 2 is intended for children ages 8–10 who have completed the Level 1 or who have a similar knowledge base of Islam. This is their second year in a formal Islamic class.
All lessons are presented thematically in distinct units. Unit 1 focuses on the Creator and His message. This unit answers questions about Allah, Islam, faith, and the Qur’an.
Unit 2 covers topics on our Ibadat-focusing on the five-pillars of Islam.
Unit 3 covers the stories of some of the Messengers.
Unit 4 covers some other topics about Islam that are relevant for students in this age group. An early understanding of some of the basics of Islam is presented in this unit.
Unit 5 describes proper adab and akhlaq learned from the Qur’an and authentic sunnah of the Messenger (s).
As with the Level 1, each lesson begins with a coloring page. The coloring time helps students settle down and be comfortable before the lesson begins. Attention span of children is small; therefore, short paragraphs introduce two or three concepts. This is followed by in-class review section to allow for short break and reinforce learning.
Some homework is included in the Islamic Studies Level 2 (Revised & Enlarged Edition) book
Level 3
Level 3 is intended for children ages 11–13 who have completed the Level 2 or who have a similar knowledge base of Islam. This is their third year in a formal Islamic class.
Level 3 further develops the basic concepts learned previously. All lessons are presented thematically in distinct units.
Students will learn why we worship and the reasons for worshipping in prescribed formats.
Students will also learn the qualities of our Iman and some of the duties Allah wants us to perform in addition to our ritual duties.
The life of Nabi Muhammad (S) is divided into Makkah and Madinah periods to provide additional details.
A brief history of some of the messengers of Allah is also included.
Topics on Islamic adab and akhlaq continue to be covered in this grade.
Some homework is included in the Islamic Studies Level 3 (Revised & Enlarged Edition) book.
Level 4
Level 4 is intended for children ages 14 and above who have completed Level 3 or who have a similar knowledge base of Islam. This is their third or fourth year in a formal Islamic class.
- With the ritual duties becoming obligatory to students in this age group, several topics on the Fiqh of salāt are introduced. The lives of the four Khalīfas are covered in greater detail in order to explain their contributions to Islam. Several moral-building lessons are also included. Learning about Allāh and the life of Nabi Muhammad. The unit on how Islam changed Arabia takes a closer look at the life of Nabi Muhammad before and after receiving divine revelations.
Some homework is included in the Islamic Studies Level 4 book.