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

Arabic Light

Two years · part-time (weekends)

  • Balanced pace for students and professionals
  • Covers the same foundation as Intensive
  • Leads directly into ʿĀlimiyyah Year II

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Arabic Intensive

One year · accelerated (weekdays)

  • Immersive learning with higher contact hours
  • Best for those who can commit weekdays
  • Leads directly into ʿĀlimiyyah Year II

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ʿĀlimiyyah Programme

Five years · part-time

  • Direct entry after Arabic Light or Intensive
  • Structured study of the Islamic sciences
  • Authorised chain of transmission (ijāzah)

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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

  • تسهيل النحو Tasheel al-Naḥw
    Nahw
  • تسهيل الصرف Tasheel al-Ṣarf
    Sarf
  • قصص النبيين (١–٢) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn I–II
    Arabic Literature
  • دروس اللغة العربية (١) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah I
    Arabic Language
  • زاد الطالبين Zād al-Ṭālibīn
    Hadith
  • تمارين نحوية Tamrīn Naḥwiyyah
    Nahw
  • القراءة الرشيدة Qirāʾat al-Rāshidah
    Arabic Language

Year II

  • هداية النحو Hidāyat al-Naḥw
    Nahw
  • شرح مائة عامل Sharḥ Miʾat ʿĀmil
    Nahw
  • علم الصيغة ʿIlm al-Ṣīghah
    Sarf
  • قصص النبيين (٣–٤) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn III–IV
    Arabic Literature
  • دروس اللغة العربية (٢) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah II
    Arabic Language
  • تحفة الأطفال Tuhfat al-Aṭfāl
    Tajweed
  • نور الإيضاح Nūr al-Īḍāḥ
    Fiqh
  • Qurʾān Translation (Juzʾ 29–30)
    Quran

Year III

  • مختصر القدوري Mukhtaṣar al-Qudūrī
    Fiqh
  • دروس اللغة العربية (٣) Durūs al-Lughah al-ʿArabiyyah III
    Arabic Language
  • Qurʾān Translation
    Quran
  • المقدمة الجزرية al-Muqaddimah al-Jazarīyyah
    Tajweed
  • Intro to Uṣūl al-Fiqh
    Usul Fiqh
  • تيسير مصطلح الحديث Taysīr Muṣṭalaḥ al-Ḥadīth
    Usul Hadith
  • العقيدة الطحاوية al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah
    Aqeedah
  • قصص النبيين (٥) Qiṣaṣ al-Nabiyyīn V
    Arabic Literature

Year IV

  • الهداية (١–٢) al-Hidāyah (Vols 1–2)
    Fiqh
  • أصول الشاشي Uṣūl al-Shāshī
    Usul Fiqh
  • نخبة الفكر Nukhbat al-Fikar
    Usul Hadith
  • نزهة النظر Nuzhat al-Naẓar
    Usul Hadith
  • Approach to Qurʾānic Sciences
    Uloom Quran
  • تفسير الجلالين Tafsīr al-Jalālayn
    Quran

Year V

  • الهداية (٣–٤) al-Hidāyah (Vols 3–4)
    Fiqh
  • نور الأنوار Nūr al-Anwār
    Usul Fiqh
  • الفوز الكبير al-Fawz al-Kabīr
    Uloom Quran
  • المشكاة المصابيح Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ
    Hadith
  • شرح معاني الآثار Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār
    Hadith
  • عقيدة النسفية ʿAqīdah al-Nasafiyyah
    Aqeedah
  • السراجية al-Sirājiyyah fī al-Farāʾiḍ
    Fiqh
  • تفسير الجلالين Tafsīr al-Jalālayn
    Quran

Year VI

  • موطأ الإمام مالك Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Mālik
    Hadith
  • موطأ الإمام محمد Muwaṭṭaʾ Imām Muḥammad
    Hadith
  • صحيح البخاري Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
    Hadith
  • صحيح مسلم Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim
    Hadith
  • سنن أبي داود Sunan Abī Dāwūd
    Hadith
  • سنن الترمذي Sunan al-Tirmidhī
    Hadith
  • سنن النسائي Sunan al-Nasāʾī
    Hadith
  • سنن ابن ماجه Sunan Ibn Mājah
    Hadith

Note: The curriculum is reviewed regularly, and minor adjustments may be made where needed.

Course Timings

Years II–IV

Onsite
  • Monday–Friday · 18:00–21:00

Years V–VI

Onsite
  • Monday–Friday · 18:00–21:45
  • Weekends · seminars / assessments

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

Average Rating: 5.0 stars (based on 38 ratings)

I was recommended by a friend who had already joined. There is a very good distribution of subjects and good teaching. I’m glad I joined.

Yusuf Naeem

Alhamdulillah, I have benefitted immensely from this course and continue to do so with each day. Aside from the actual knowledge being taught itself, which is to a very good standard/quality, one thing in particular that I really love about the madrasah is the persistent emphasis and focus on adaab (islamic etiquette), especially that which is more specific and intricate to the student of sacred Islamic knowledge. This ensures that firstly, we can truly benefit from the knowledge we attain, and secondly, that we, with the grace of Allah, will become suitable role models for our communities and maintain a great level of good conduct which will, بإذن الله تعالى, serve as a form of da’wah and inspiration for those around us, whether muslim or not, through our everyday actions.

Mohammed Naim Ahmed

We learn at a good pace which everyone can keep up with, regardless of their other duties. Alhamdulillah we have good teachers and a learning environment, at hours which people can put into their timetable.

Mahdi

I am very satisfied with the part-time Alimiyyah course, I am learning new things every day. The teachers are very nice and helpful they help you whenever you need the support.

Ismot

The course is well structured with teachers that are hand picked, ready to help with any issues that students may face while studying the Islamic sciences.

Ehsan Ahmed

I’m glad I joined this course, very good teachers and very resourceful. Students are very diverse, many come from the teaching profession. Perfect for full time workers.

Tahir

So far this course has been very benefitting for me educationally and also personally as it has helped my widen my knowledge and also helping me in my personal life motivating me to become a better Muslim.

Azhar Ali

A very comprehensive programme designed to bring the best out of students wanting to learn Arabic. A wide range of subjects are taught and facilitated through Tahawi Institute. The teachers are friendly, passionate and committed and they always go the extra mile to support students learning.

Abdul Hannan

Alhamdulillah, the course is meticulously structured by highly qualified teachers who are specialist in their respective fields. The Tahawi curriculum offers a vast range of Arabic disciplines in the first year which includes fluent speaking, advanced grammar and morphology; all to make one competent in the Arabic language.

Shamim

Great Madressah and the course is very educational.

Adil Ahmed

Alhamdulillah, I am currently in the 2nd year of the Alimiyyah programme and it has been the best decision I have ever made. As soon as I joined I was warmly welcomed by the teachers and students into the energetic environment. I don’t regret any second of it. The teachers are exceptional and have a passion for teaching and passing on their knowledge. As well as teaching the syllabus, they also give the students reminders and advice, as well as mould the students to become the scholars of tomorrow. The various different books studied in order to enhance our knowledge are beautiful, and the books that once seemed impossible are now a part of my life and daily routine. Without a doubt, I would recommend this course to anyone who has a passion for learning about Islam.

Ridwan Hussain-Ali

The lessons are good, informative, and genuinely useful. The books taught complement studies well, and the syllabus as a whole is well thought out.

Ahmed Mabrur Burhan Khan

The course is very beneficial and enjoyable. The teachers are very friendly, helpful and approachable. They really want us to do well and care for our education and future.

Mirash

Alhamdulillah, I have learnt a lot within a very short time whilst studying at Tahawi Institute. One of the biggest advantages to studying here is that tarbiyyah (personal development and upbringing) has a very strong presence within this institution and the teachers are highly qualified and very supportive.

Mohammed Naim Ahmed

A completely life changing course and environment, no regrets joining!

Diyan Matin

The teachers are extremely passionate, supportive and accommodating. The course is well structured with good books, classwork as well as homework. Course is enjoyable and you gain a lot from it. May Allah accept and reward all those involved in setting up and running the course. Ameen.

Muddassir Ahmed

The course was very well structured and the ustadh was very helpful in teaching. The only thing that I would prefer is if there are more assessments at the end of each half term so that students get a feel for the how the end of year exams would be laid out.

Zeeshan Khan

I am incredibly grateful for joining this institute. The dedicated and knowledgeable teachers at the institute create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. I have confidence and love for learning under their guidance. The emphasis on character development and moral values has had a profound impact on me.

Overall, Tahawi Institute has exceeded my expectations in terms of education, Islamic values, and the overall experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this institute to anyone seeking a high-quality Islamic education within a supportive and inclusive environment.

Mohammad Redwanur Rahman

The experience I have received from this course is second to none. The teachers provide a very friendly assistance and explain even the most difficult topics in a very understandably straightforward manner. Although I had previous Islamic education, within weeks, I had recalled everything I had previously learnt. Credit is due to all the teachers within this institution for providing such a friendly & professional teaching service. I have never experienced such a polite and well-mannered approach in teaching who are always there to help. I would highly recommend Tahawi Institute Alim course to anybody out there in search for a broader knowledge of Islam.

Mohammad Redwanur Rahman

The course is very fun! It’s fast paced but the work is easy enough (to a certain degree) that as long as you don’t miss too much, you’ll be fine. The teachers are all very friendly, whilst still having some humour as well as actually being good teachers. The books we learn are relatively fun and engaging.

Mahfujur Rahman

Wonderful course – both personally and professionally. I will take away lots of things that I can quickly and easily apply inshallah.

Abdul Samad

The course is going really well, Alhamdulillah. The teachers are great, and so is the class environment. The best choice I made and I would highly recommend it to others.

Mohibur Rahman

This madarasa is good alhamdulilla. Easy to interact with classmates and teachers.

Mohammed Yunus Uddin

I am very satisfied with this course as I have already learnt so much compared to the start of the year. The course has not only helped me in my Arabic knowledge but also helped me learn life lessons and how to be a better person.

Habib Ullah

As a beginner and a university student, this part time course fits perfectly around my daily schedule and is taught in a very simple but comprehensive way to understand the Arabic language.

Hasan

As an external student coming from far away I am really pleased with the course. The teachers at the madrasah are very kind and alhamdulillah their knowledge has benefitted me so much. This one of the best courses I have done and inshallah hope to progress more.

Maahir Ali

Outstanding.

Mahdi

Subhanallah, this course has changed my life. It has taught me the true meaning of discipline. The teachers are so kind, helpful and genuinely want to help guide you towards spiritual excellence. Moreover, the teachers provide lots of support and advice on how to mature as young Muslims. This institution is unrivaled in every shape and form. The teaching is broken down to a molecular level so it is easy for every student to digest the information. The environment is so loving, caring, friendly, and I would recommend this course to anyone who has a desire to learn about Islam.

Fahmid Rahman

The course is very useful Alhamdulillah, and the teachers are very well at articulating themselves whilst teaching. Their teaching style is also very good and makes it easy for the students to learn the content.

Mahirul

Alhamdulillah I have really enjoyed my first year, can’t wait to start the second year. I had already studied some Arabic before and this course has already helped me improve further. One of the best things about Tahawi Institute is the pressure to engage in Islamic extra curricular activities like memorising hadith, Quran and reading books.

Khoyrul

Alhamdulillah, I am very satisfied. The teachers are very interactive and explain the content very well.

Mohammed Jubaer Uddin

Tahawi Institute is an amazing place in terms of gaining ilm. They have amazing ustadhs which work accordingly to help the students in their work and other queries which they may have. Alongside the amazing ustadhs which can help you, there are classmates which can also help you with work as, like you, will have the same goal and work together to attain it; creating a welcoming environment.

Zeeshan

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, If you wish to learn the Islamic sciences in an established holistic manner, Tahawi Institute is the place to do this. The Tahawi Institute provides a friendly environment of learning, healthy competition/motivation through your association of amazing classmates and the high expectations of very talented teachers.

The teachers are absolutely dedicated and committed to your successful understanding and application of the materials taught. They are very helpful, friendly and kind. The teachers make themselves available and respond to emails quickly. It is a pleasure sitting down with them and benefiting from their knowledge/experience.

I have studied Arabic and other Islamic sciences elsewhere however, after studying at the Tahawi Institute I found its methods to be more efficient and the approach it employs has led me to progress at a faster rate. For instance, having spent three weeks studying at the Tahawi Institute, I feel as though I have not comprehended as much Arabic in three months whilst studying in other platforms.

As a teacher working full time, having a family of my own along with other commitments, I was worried if I would be able to dedicate the time required to be successful in the programme. However, through dedication and some sacrifice, I am able to do all of it without difficulty. I would recommend this institute to those who are serious about learning the Deen.

Anhar Khan

I am absolutely blown away by the Alim course at Tahawi Institute. I am so grateful for this, Alhamdulillah. Not only do the teachers make it easy to understand, but they themselves are magnificent in their akhlaaq and adab. Also, the Institute is local, so you don’t have to travel far to learn this sacred knowledge of deen. The teachers are really passionate to pass down their Ilm to the students and care about them like they are their own brothers. The environment is outstanding, it cannot get any better.

Mohammed Ishaq Rahman

The structure and pedagogy of this course is second to none. Alhamdulilah I can honestly say I’ve already learnt more in the past few weeks than I’ve learnt in the past few years elsewhere. Furthermore, the biggest thing I’m gaining from studying here is the love for the teachers and my fellow classmates that are motivating me to be better and aspire for lofty aspirations.

Forid

Alhamdulillah, the course is going very well. The teachers are not only good at teaching, but provide lots of support and advice on how to grow as people, and become better Muslims. The classes are very educational, and this is matched with a very friendly atmosphere, which allows for everyone to feel comfortable enough to better themselves. May Allah continue to grow the institution. Ameen

Aadil Sulaiman
Subhan’Allah, out of all the choices I’ve made, this is definitely the best and just the start of my journey
Naseem Khan

The teachers are good 👍

Mohammed Yusuf Ahmed

Continue your studies with a structured pathway

Join a text-centred, mentored route through the classical disciplines, Years II–VI.

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