Learning Arabic Through Islamic Centers

Reading the Qur'an

Muslims learn Arabic for their daily religious rituals, such as reciting the Qur'an. As 85% of Muslims are non-Arabs, Arabic is commonly taught at Islamic Centers. Most Arabic classes offered at Islamic Centers will be targeted toward Islamic study, such as Qur'an memorization, interpreting Qur'an verses and learning prayers. Additionally, these classes often teach about the Islamic religion as well as the Arabic alphabet. In this article, you will find information on finding and contacting your local Islamic Center, inquiring about courses offered and choosing the course that is right for you.

Instructions

Learning Arabic Through Islamic Centers

1. If you are not familiar with your local Islamic Center, it can easily be located online using websites, such as "Islamic Finder." On this website, you type in your zip code and choose either a 2-, 10-, 20- or 30-mile radius. The search results will list the Masjids and Islamic Centers, Islamic Organizations and Services, Muslim Owned Businesses, and Islamic Schools and Colleges that met your specifications. Under the Masjids and Islamic Centers category, you will see the name of the center, the city and how many miles it is from the zip code you provided.

   There are many options to choose from. For example, there are more than 200 listed in New York City and more than 100 listed in Los Angeles. If you click on the name of the Islamic Center, you can see the address, directions, phone and general information. The website does not provide the Islamic Center's website, but, if the center has a website, this can be found by typing its name in a search engine, such as Google, or by calling the phone number provided. In addition to Islamic Centers, "Yemen Links" provide many useful website for those new to learning Arabic.

2. Once you have located Islamic Centers in your community, you will need to find out if they offer Arabic classes. Make a list of your local Islamic Centers and contact them by phone, email or in person. Most Islamic Centers offer Arabic classes, as learning Arabic is beneficial to Islamic studies.

3. Ask questions about scheduling, courses offered, fees, targeted age group and class sizes. The classes vary greatly. For example, some centers will offer 4-week courses for a fee, while others will offer free classes 1 day a week. Other centers will provide the resources to teach yourself but will not have classes.

   Refer to the Resources section to see examples of courses offered by Islamic Centers, such as the "Islamic Center of Olympia."

4. Choose which of the plans of study best fits into your lifestyle. Consider how the classes fit into your budget, your schedule, your level and your learning abilities. Additionally, consider that some centers offer classes specifically targeted toward adults, while others are designed for children and are slower paced.

5. If you find that classes are not offered at your local Islamic Center, there is not an Islamic Center in your community, or there are scheduling conflicts, consider other options. Among alternative methods to learning Arabic are through university classes or self-study with the aid of books, the internet or targeted language learning programs. If available, you can still use the Islamic Center to practice what you have learned or to ask questions about what you have studied.

   There is also the option of online Islamic Centers, such as the "Care Center for New Muslims" (see Resources below), that provide self-study information regarding Arabic and Islamic studies.

Tips & Warnings

• Not only will taking classes at Islamic centers strengthen your Arabic, but it will provide you with the opportunity to socialize with other Muslims and strengthen your Muslim Ummah relationships.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Islamic Finder
• Yemen Links
• Islamic Center of Olympia
• Care Center for New Muslims