21/04/2025
Levels of Study at Dār Al-Arqam Academy for Arabic and Islamic Studies
In line with the vision of Dār al-Arqam Academy for Arabic and Islamic Studies to offer a robust and accelerated alternative to the traditional 8-year madrasah model, the Academy adopts a 4-year intensive and immersive programme. This model is designed to produce students who are intellectually grounded, spiritually refined, and linguistically competent in both Arabic and Islamic sciences.
The entire curriculum is organised into four progressive and interdependent levels, each known as a marḥalah (stage), and structured as follows:
1. al-marḥalah al-ūlā (The Foundational Stage)
This stage introduces learners to the basics of the Arabic language (al-lughah al-‘Arabiyyah), Qur’ānic recitation (tajwīd), Islamic etiquette (ādāb Islāmiyyah), and essential memorisation (ḥifẓ al-mukhtaṣarāt). Emphasis is placed on literacy, phonetics, and initial comprehension.
2. al-marḥalah al-thāniyah (The Elementary Stage)
Students deepen their engagement with Arabic grammar (naḥw and ṣarf), build on memorisation of selected sūrahs and prophetic traditions, and are introduced to thematic tafsīr, fiqh al-‘ibādāt, and Islamic history. Foundational texts in Arabic literature are also introduced at this level.
3. al-marḥalah al-thālithah (The Intermediate Stage)
This level advances students in Arabic morphology and syntax, structured tafsīr, ḥadīth studies (with basic isnād analysis), comparative fiqh, uṣūl al-fiqh, and early logic (manṭiq). Critical engagement with primary sources and their commentaries becomes more prominent.
4. al-marḥalah al-rābi‘ah (The Advanced Stage)
At this culminating stage, students undertake advanced studies in tafsīr, ḥadīth, fiqh, uṣūl al-fiqh, maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah, al-qawā‘id al-fiqhiyyah, balāghah, and Arabic rhetoric. They also develop research skills, participate in academic seminars, and engage in supervised teaching and da‘wah training.