The Alimiyyah Programme
A five-year, part-time course for advanced Islamic studies.
- Direct progression from our Arabic Light or Intensive programmes
- In-depth training in the core Islamic sciences
The Road to ʿĀlimiyyah
Two years · part-time (weekends)
- Balanced pace for students and professionals
- Covers the same foundation as Intensive
- Leads directly into ʿĀlimiyyah Year II
One year · accelerated (weekdays)
- Immersive learning with higher contact hours
- Best for those who can commit weekdays
- Leads directly into ʿĀlimiyyah Year II
Five years · part-time
- Direct entry after Arabic Light or Intensive
- Structured study of the Islamic sciences
- Authorised chain of transmission (ijāzah)
Purpose & Outcomes
The ʿĀlimiyyah curriculum provides a rigorous pathway in the Islamic sciences, designed to develop scholars who read texts with precision, think critically, and serve their communities with integrity. We aim to cultivate a new generation of ʿUlamāʾ who are confident in their knowledge and practice, grounded in the classical disciplines, and able to apply them thoughtfully across contemporary contexts.
- Rooted in the Dars-e-Niẓāmī tradition, delivered for the UK context
- Text-centred study with guided reading, discussion, and supervised practice
- Emphasis on character, spiritual growth, and professional conduct
- English-medium delivery by qualified scholars; progressive Arabic depth
Entry Requirements
- Completion of Arabic Light (2 years) or Arabic Intensive (1 year), or equivalent study at another institute.
- Commitment to timetable and steady weekly preparation
Curriculum Overview
Arabic Light (2 years) and Arabic Intensive (1 year) mirror Year I. Alimiyyah shows Years II–VI.
Year I
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تسهيل النحو Tasheel al-Naḥw
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تسهيل الصرف Tasheel al-Ṣarf
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قصص النبيين (١–٢) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn I–II
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دروس اللغة العربية (١) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah I
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زاد الطالبين Zād al-Ṭālibīn
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تمارين نحوية Tamrīn Naḥwiyyah
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القراءة الرشيدة Qirāʾat al-Rāshidah
Year II
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هداية النحو Hidāyat al-Naḥw
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شرح مائة عامل Sharḥ Miʾat ʿĀmil
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علم الصيغة ʿIlm al-Ṣīghah
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قصص النبيين (٣–٤) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn III–IV
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دروس اللغة العربية (٢) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah II
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تحفة الأطفال Tuhfat al-Aṭfāl
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نور الإيضاح Nūr al-Īḍāḥ
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Qurʾān Translation (Juzʾ 29–30)
Year III
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مختصر القدوري Mukhtaṣar al-Qudūrī
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دروس اللغة العربية (٣) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah III
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Qurʾān Translation
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المقدمة الجزرية al-Muqaddimah al-Jazarīyyah
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Intro to Uṣūl al-Fiqh
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تيسير مصطلح الحديث Taysīr Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth
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العقيدة الطحاوية al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah
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قصص النبيين (٥) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn V
Year IV
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الهداية (١–٢) al-Hidāyah (Vols 1–2)
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أصول الشاشي Uṣūl al-Shāshī
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نخبة الفكر Nukhbat al-Fikar
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نزهة النظر Nuzhat al-Naẓar
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Approach to Qurʾānic Sciences
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تفسير الجلالين Tafsīr al-Jalālayn
Year V
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الهداية (٣–٤) al-Hidāyah (Vols 3–4)
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نور الأنوار Nūr al-Anwār
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الفوز الكبير al-Fawz al-Kabīr
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المشكاة المصابيح Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ
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شرح معاني الآثار Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār
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عقيدة النسفية ʿAqīdah al-Nasafiyyah
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السراجية al-Sirājiyyah fī al-Farāʾiḍ
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تفسير الجلالين Tafsīr al-Jalālayn
Year VI
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موطأ الإمام مالك Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik
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موطأ الإمام محمد Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Muḥammad
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صحيح البخاري Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
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صحيح مسلم Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
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سنن أبي داود Sunan Abī Dāwūd
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سنن الترمذي Sunan al-Tirmidhī
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سنن النسائي Sunan al-Nasāʾī
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سنن ابن ماجه Sunan Ibn Mājah
Note: The curriculum is reviewed regularly, and minor adjustments may be made where needed.
Course Timings
Detailed calendars roughly follow the Tower Hamlets schools holiday timetable, with additional days off in Ramaḍān and ʿĪd.
Fees
One-off administration & book fee: £150.
Years II–IV
£1,050 / year
Annual payment (includes £150 discount).
£400 / term
3 instalments per year.
Years V–VI
£1,200 / year
Annual payment (includes £150 discount).
£450 / term
3 instalments per year.
Financial support may be available — please contact us after registering to discuss your circumstances.
The Ideal Candidate
We look for students who prepare consistently, engage closely with texts, and analyse and synthesise ideas with care. Applicants should demonstrate motivation, reliability, and a sincere desire to study and serve.
FAQs
ARE THERE EXAMS?
Yes. Assessment is an integral part of the programme. Core subjects include mid-year and end-of-year examinations to evaluate your grasp of the material.
HOW MUCH HOMEWORK CAN I EXPECT?
The workload varies by subject, but a consistent commitment is essential. You should expect to dedicate time for:
- Pre-lesson preparation and reading.
- Weekly homework assignments for most modules.
- Regular revision outside of class hours.
WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS?
Our programme provides a robust system for your academic and spiritual development.
- Academic Guidance: While formal office hours are not held, instructors are accessible for questions and discussion through dedicated Google Chat groups, ensuring you can receive timely clarification on course material.
- Pastoral and Tarbiyyah Support: We place a strong emphasis on personal and spiritual development. All students are assigned to small, mixed-year “form groups” with a dedicated tutor. These groups meet weekly for tarbiyyah sessions, providing a supportive environment for mentorship and character building.
- Community: Regular assemblies are held to focus on tarbiyyah and to foster a strong sense of community amongst students and faculty.
IS THE PROGRAMME SUITABLE FOR SOMEONE WITHOUT ARABIC INTENSIVE/LIGHT?
Entry to the Alimiyyah Programme (Years II–VI) requires a strong foundation in Arabic and the core sciences. This is typically demonstrated by the completion of our two-year Arabic Light or one-year Arabic Intensive programmes. Applicants who have studied elsewhere must successfully complete our placement process to ensure they have the requisite knowledge to begin Year II.
WHAT KIND OF STUDENT IS SUITABLE FOR THIS PROGRAMME?
The programme is academically rigorous and requires a significant commitment of time and intellectual energy. We look for students who are highly motivated, intellectually curious, and prepared to engage deeply with classical and contemporary texts. A sincere desire to study and serve is a key attribute of our most successful students.
IS THE PROGRAMME AVAILABLE ONLINE?
The Alimiyyah Programme is delivered exclusively on-site to provide a rich and authentic learning experience. From the very beginning, Islam was learned directly — the Prophet ﷺ received revelation from Jibrīl عليه السلام in person, and the Companions رضي الله عنهم sat at his feet to take knowledge. Generations of scholars upheld this sacred tradition of face-to-face transmission, emphasising both knowledge and spiritual refinement. Our model follows this prophetic path: direct mentorship, personal guidance, and the cultivation of a scholarly community remain at the heart of our teaching.
HOW DEMANDING IS THE PROGRAMME?
While the part-time schedule is designed to be manageable alongside a professional life, the Alimiyyah Programme is a demanding course that requires a consistent commitment. We advise students to manage their work and other responsibilities to allow enough time for lectures, preparation, and revision. It’s worth noting that many of our past students have successfully balanced their studies with full-time jobs or university courses, demonstrating that it can be done with careful time management.
What Students Say
Continue your studies with a structured pathway
Join a text-centred, mentored route through the classical disciplines, Years II–VI.
