Our approach

The Madrasa is an after-school facility where children attend 5 hours per week of core teaching.  Students are taught in a class of a maximum of 20 progressing through five Key Stages of the curriculum. The school curriculum has been carefully and skilfully crafted with the aim of providing young Muslims with a solid religious foundation for progressing in the modern world.

Most children join the Madrasa at the age of 5 although students can join at any age and after a preliminary assessment are put into the appropriate Key Stage. Progression from one Key Stage to the next is not based upon age but by ability and mastering the key skills, so we have classes that have mixed age groups. The Madrasa currently has over 200 boys and girls on roll.

The core subjects areas of the curriculum are as follows:

• Qur’an with Tajwid – Children learn how to recite the Qu’ran with correct pronunciation. The emphasis is on correct pronunciation at an early age; as opposed to rushing to complete the whole Qur’an whilst committing gross errors therein.

• Islamic Studies – this involves a firm grounding in Beliefs (‘Aqida) and what Allah has made lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram), prayer, fasting and other Islamic rituals (Fiqh), as well as an introduction to other subjects such as Hadith, Sirah, History, and Islamic Art & Music.

• Arabic Language – although this may appear ambitious to many, it will add a new dimension to one’s religious life, enabling a deeper understanding of and relationship with Allah’s book. The teaching of Arabic will commence once the student has a firm grounding in the above sciences.

• Urdu – sufficient time will be devoted to Urdu so that students can learn the language to a level that will prove beneficial in religious and everyday life.

• Spiritual Excellence  - this involves learning the fundamental principles of perfecting one’s faith and character, purifying one’s soul and obtaining eternal bliss in the Next world.

• Extra Curricular Activities – Students will partake in various outdoor activities such as walks in the countryside, day trips to places of interest, and sports.  

Guidelines for parents

It is important to point out that the primary responsibility for the child’s education lies with the parents. This duty includes imparting correct morals and manners of everyday life as well as supplementing and reinforcing what they learn at the Madrasa.

Abu Zahra Foundation aims to create a friendly atmosphere between teachers and pupils; yet still maintaining a high level of discipline so that accessing Islamic Knowledge is easy and enjoyable for everyone. In order to achieve this and ensure the smooth running of the Madrasa, we have set out some rules for the children as well as guidelines for the parents. 

Should you want to enrol your child at the Abu Zahra Madrasa, please download the application form & guidelines and return it us.

Opening hours*

Classes run throughout the year with holidays for the two Eids, Mawlid al-Nabi, the month of Ramadan, and a week break at the end of August.

Class times:

Monday to Friday:

• 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
• 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

*Subject to change during school holidays. Parents will be consulted and notified.

You will be informed of the time allocated to your child. Where logistically possible, we will try to ensure that children travelling together are allocated the same lesson time so that parents’ time spent transporting their children is minimised. However, please note that this is only possible to a certain extent and we can only do as much as is humanly possible.

The importance of education cannot be neglected in this age. This Madrasa is one means of providing an intellectual service to the community. However, the Madrasa is only conceived as being part of an integral whole; whereby individuals, parents and families – together with the activities of the Madrasa – strive to create people, homes, and finally, a community which are illuminated by the Prophetic example.