As a secular or Christian homeschooler, it’s easy to find curriculum to meet your needs. As a Muslim? Not as easy. As we are entering our 8th year of homeschooling, I’m starting to see a few resources come up, so has the story changed? Can you now find Islamic homeschooling curriculum?
As of this year, I’ve come across a couple virtual schools and full curriculum options. I’m hesitant to endorse any virtual school in its first years because it’s quite a large project to start a virtual school, and if I’m just getting started in my homeschooling, personally, I don’t want to also use a virtual school that’s also just getting started. I’ll have my own bumps in the road and don’t need additional ones as they go through growing pains. Still, that’s just me. Please check them out and see if it works for your family.
Islamic virtual schools
As of right now, the Muslim virtual schools available are:
- Gateway Virtual Academy
- Arqam Virtual School
- Grades 5-11
- Offers an Islamic Studies singular component
Islamic curriculum
Currently, I only know of one full Islamic homeschool curriculum available, Taqwa curriculum, for PreK – Grade 1 (or Reception to Year 2). If I used a boxed curriculum, this is what I would choose. It looks fun and engaging rather than rigorous and rigid, like some boxed curriculums can seem.
Another option is Open Islamic Curriculum, which is a list resource you can use in each stage of homeschooling, spanning across many subject areas. There is no lesson plan laid out, but it is a concise list of resources to use in your homeschooling curriculum.
Islamic supplementation
What most people do is use a secular curriculum and add in an Islamic studies unit to their work. Currently, some of the most established Islamic curriculums are:
We have used Ad-Duha for most of our homeschooling journey and I’ve loved how thorough it is, though I’m now looking for a more hands-on way to teach Arabic as I’m using the curriculum for a younger age than I was the first time around.
I Love Islam is a great grab-and-go workbook and textbook. Many people love it, and it’s well supported through the publisher with an accompanying audio CD.
Iqra is used widely in weekend schools, and has the school-type structure that some families really like.
All three are well regarded in being authentic, from the Qur’an and sunnah. It really is a matter of personal preference, and what works best for your own child.
Islamic weekend school
Last, but not least, is the option to focus on secular studies throughout the week, and then use an Islamic school on the weekend to teach Islamic studies. There are various arguments for or against weekend school, and ultimately it’s a personal family choice. Alhamdulilah for all the various options we have in our day and age.
Do you know of other well regarded resources I should include? Please share!
We love the follow up to I Love Islam Series since it only goes up to 5th grade I think, which is Learning Islam for 6-8th grade. Also we like Eemaan Made Easy series by Muhammad al-Jibaly for the elementary years, and for high school, the Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips series 1-4. We also like Ad-duha curriculum, especially reading the stories behind the surah, while you are learning the surah is excellent. The kids also LOVE the 99 names of Allah stories and coloring pages. I can’t wait to use some copy work from the Open Islamic curriculum. Thanks for sharing.
Those look like fantastic options, too! I’ve never heard of the Eemaan Made Easy series, nor the Islamic Studies books by Dr. Bilal Philips. In sha Allah I’ll take a little closer look and add them to the list. Jazak Allah khair!
As salaamu alikum, thanks for the article, very helpful! I just wanted to point out Safar academy has a really great curriculum, my kids love their books https://safarpublications.org
Wow, I just spent a half hour on their website because it looks like such a great program! I just wish shipping to the US wasn’t so expensive, otherwise I would have bought one of the books to try it out! I hope they offer an eBook option in the future so I can print it out myself and get out of the high shipping cost into the US.
Hi,
I am a new mom and would love to start homeschooling my child in islamic based curriculum. Don’t have any idea to start with. I am from Mumbai , India. Just grabbing all the info. From net. Helped by your site’s info on islamic curriculum . Hope to hear from you all to help me with the journey from where do I start.
Jazakkallah.
Assalam alaykum, My #1 recommendation is Ad-Duha, and they have ebooks available if shipping is not an option where you are. It is well rounded and complete when you get the entire package. One thing I would note is that it is quite intense if you do it following the parent guide’s timeline. Instead, work through each part at your own pace and move on as you see fit and in sha Allah it will be enjoyable for everyone.
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatu My Dear Sister,
You might like to try Muslim School Books. They have beginner as well as upper-level kindergarten phonics books that use Islamic based images such as the hijab, miswak, and Kaba. They also have a 4th through 6th grade reading comprehension series that has an all-in-one workbook that includes Islamic based stories with related vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and composition prompts worksheets. you can find them at- http://www.MuslimSchoolBooks.com
Assalamu alaikum,
We use the Ghazali Children’s Series for a beautiful introduction to the five pillars of Islam. It has a full character education program which is integrated into learning the five pillars of Islam. I am very pleased with the quality of the books and depth of the Islamic teachings.