Teaching Qur’an For School Students A lecture Given at Hajj House, Bombay All India Muslim Teacher’s Meet.

Outline Introduction & Background My focus Why teach Al-Qur’an Language learning vs. Understanding Qur’an Brain / Memory / Language learning Unique features Sample Demo (Book & CD)

My Introduction / Background Scholars My position Masses

My Introduction / Background Past several years of teaching as well as doing basic research on teaching/learning Al-Qur’an: Involved in teaching as well as studying different approaches Got input from several scholars & individuals; not completely my own method

Vision Al-Qur’an should be easy as well as the most interesting book! Is it not authored by Allah! If Qur’an is for the whole world, it should be easy to learn (including its language) If Qur’an is written by Allah for humans, it should be most interesting book – that is, a book that will appeal strongly to our intellect as well as our heart.

Style of Delivery I have tried to use modern concepts in teaching. They include: Brain (Tony Buzan etc.) Brain (Tony Buzan etc.) Lateral thinking (De Bono) Lateral thinking (De Bono) Positive thinking Positive thinking Effective living (Stephen Covey) Effective living (Stephen Covey) NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) Time and Resource Management Time and Resource Management + Second Language learning (Latest style of teaching English to foreigners at American Universities) + Second Language learning (Latest style of teaching English to foreigners at American Universities)

Challenges to a Teacher For teaching any subject, the main challenge is: Motivation (How to motivate the students) Motivation (How to motivate the students) Methodology (the way to present the material) Methodology (the way to present the material) And we really want to improve the above 2 when it comes to teaching the Qur’an. Let us not use that old method of just asking the students to recite for ‘Barkat’ (in the limited sense).

Elements of Success- for students !!! According to modern research, these elements are: Attitude Attitude Confidence Confidence Optimism Optimism Positive thinking Positive thinking Good relationship with others Good relationship with others A Pondering mind A Pondering mind High values High values Qur’an can give all these values in a way no one on earth can give!!! This is the real and comprehensive Barkat which will lead to success in this world and the hereafter.

Our Approach to Teaching Qur’an For a quick approach to Understanding the Qur’an

No. 1: Smooth Start Start from Salah (Why use any other text, when you want to understand Qur’an)… Start from Salah (Why use any other text, when you want to understand Qur’an)… If I want to teach you french and if I know that you speak something in french for 1 hour, I will say: Let us learn that first! If I want to teach you french and if I know that you speak something in french for 1 hour, I will say: Let us learn that first! A common sense approach A common sense approach Valid for every Muslim man, woman, old, and young, and even for a child because he is… Valid for every Muslim man, woman, old, and young, and even for a child because he is…

No. 2: Focus on Listening and Reading Language Learning Understanding Qur’an ReceptionListening  Reading  ProductionSpeaking  - X - - X - Writing  - X - This will decrease the initial burden on students and make it simpler to learn.

More focus on Vocabulary (just the way a child learns…) More focus on Vocabulary (just the way a child learns…) Less focus on grammar; otherwise if we teach the way shown below, people will run away! Less focus on grammar; otherwise if we teach the way shown below, people will run away! يُؤمِنُون يُؤمِنُون No. 3: More Focus on Vocabulary غائب، جمع، مذكر، مهموز، باب إفعال فعل مضارع مرفوع بثبوت النون لأنه من الأفعال الخمسة، والواؤ ضمير متصل في محل رفع فاعل

No. 4: More Focus on Sarf In Grammar, we give More emphasis on Sarf (word construction) More emphasis on Sarf (word construction) Less emphasis on Nahw (sentence construction) Less emphasis on Nahw (sentence construction)Because: We are familiar with the topics of Qur’an; We are familiar with the topics of Qur’an; We are learning from existing English translations; We are learning from existing English translations; We are learning to repeat the translation, rather than ‘translation’ itself. We are learning to repeat the translation, rather than ‘translation’ itself.

The Challenges

A typical Muslim Youngster Our Student MEDIA TV, Newspapers, Magazines PEER PRESSURE Lack of Masjid’s Role Lack of parental guidance Political Atmosphere (India & world)

The right course Modernism Bid’ahs, meaningless rituals Educated Youth Illiterate / semi-literate masses Qur’a n We are missing the youth… We are missing the youth both ways because we are not teaching them the Qur’an

When they grow up, they!!! DON’T KNOW THE QURÁN (PERHAPS NOT EVEN 2% OF IT). Have almost no exposure to Hadith Consequently, have no self-esteem as a Muslim.

Qurán A book of Guidance – And that is the status we have not given to it Human Being – surrounded by enemies and self-weaknesses Daily Exposure to Qu’ran – thru Recitation in Salahs / in homes – is not utilized at all!!! How does Qur’an guides us? It always reminds him as to who he is, where he is, what is his role, his destination – Thru Promises, Threats, Examples, Stories, …

By understanding Qurán We will open up this gate of daily tarbiyah We will establish connection between us and Allah directly and for the rest of his life. This Book will not change. A Permanent Solution.

Qurán Solutions to all problems are in the Qurán and Sunnah Just establish direct connection between them and Allah thru Allah’s book and they can walk with dignity Give them the master key and they will open all the doors

Why don't the Students understand the Qur'an Most importantly: Nobody told them that understanding Quran could be so simple. AND FURTHER TO IT: Qur’an should have been the most interesting subject!!! Is it so?

How will teaching Qur’an help? Attitude (You will put the student in contact with Allah directly) Confidence in himself and his Deen as well as his people Sense of responsibility Seriousness

How will teaching Qur’an help? Muslims directly aware of the divine guidance Pleasure/Good will of Allah Future assets of Ummah Balanced Personality

How will teaching Qur’an help? Excelling in their roles with a purpose Will set a role model for future Muslim institutions Decrease evils like ragging, crimes, indecency Produce ideal youths and ideal campus atmosphere Produce mature, responsible, and stable citizens

For Qur’an… In approximately 200 hours of learning, you can inshaAllah understand the Qur’an completely. 30 hours of Starter course (After this, in 170 hours, you can easily learn the complete Qur’an inshaAllah)

Learning to UNDERSTAND Al-Qur’an A course of 200 hours A course of 200 hours Not for interpreting but for understanding it Not for interpreting but for understanding it Objective: Tadabbur & TaZakkur (will not be covered in this lecture) Objective: Tadabbur & TaZakkur (will not be covered in this lecture) Challenge: A smooth start which gives them confidence Challenge: A smooth start which gives them confidence

An Easy Starter Course 60 lessons (each of 25 minutes approx) Less than 30 hours Designed for schools as well as general public Simplified grammar Using Daily and Frequent Recitations Will cover 350 words that occur 55,000 times in Qur'an (70% of the vocabulary)!!!

Al-Qur’an – the Most Interesting book to learn If there are drop-outs, if it is boring, then the problem is in the way we present it/ we teach it To show the benefits by linking the message of Al-Qur’an, rather, the guidance of Al- Qur’an, with the day-to-day life of a teenager

My Focus Primarily – the Masses! Priority wise: Secular Institutions: – –School Students: Before they graduate 10 th class, they should complete the Qur’an with understanding – –The college students who missed the above opportunity General public

Brain Brain works with associations 1,000,000,000 Cells We use rarely 5% of our brain Easier to learn another language!!! Much easier to learn Al-Qur’an because it has special blessings

Brain – Associations Sound Spelling ShapeMeanings Emotions Story Mother tongue link (incl ‘false’) Smell Picture (worth 1000 words) Movement / action / film / movie

Language Learning Famous Techniques/software - -Pimsleur approach - -Rosetta Stone Approach - -ESL Party - -Dave’s Café - -Corporate/Univ. level software -

Language Learning Language Learning - Use the tips for teaching Al-Qur’an - Breaking the ‘barrier’ (through our daily Salah and Supplications) – My case of TELUGU - Use index cards (now booklet); grammar posters stickers; (board; Diary) - Motivate (through the promise of ‘thawab’) - Analyze teaching models (adopted interactive and variety-based model) - TPI

Teaching Arabic thru Qur’an– the unique opportunities A typical Muslim - memorized almost 50 to 100 sentences in Arabic! And he uses them too!!! A practicing Muslim spends almost an hour daily in Arabic environment - 5 daily prayers - Supplications Everyday, he uses about 200 Arabic words and almost 50 sentences. And he REPEATS most of them!!! Everyday, he is made to listen (in 6 lectures) different parts of the best of literature!!!

Teaching Arabic thru Qur’an– the unique opportunities The ideal situation would be: to jump on this opportunity and teach him right from there For a Non-Muslim student: It gives an excellent opportunity to not only learn Arabic but also understand the neighborhood culture

The CHALLENGE Let them understand what they already recite Teach them grammar in a simplified style Get the max from frequently occurring words

Introduction to our course Understand Qur’an – the Easy Way (Basic Course)

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS COURSE!!! 1. A course of approximately 25 hours – to help you learn almost 70% of the vocabulary of the Qur’an (55000 words of the total 78000, approximately).

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 2. Spare just 25 minutes everyday, and inshaAllah you are on your way to realizing the dream. 3. Start the understanding of Qur’an using what you recite everyday!!! No need to look for any other text.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) –The contents Daily Recitations Daily Recitations Frequent Recitations Frequent Recitations Some extra verses + 2 ahadeeth Some extra verses + 2 ahadeeth One spoken Arabic sentence in each class One spoken Arabic sentence in each class

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 4. Immediately start realizing the benefits in your prayers and supplications, and thereby improve the relationship with Allah. Practice what you learnt right form day one by talking to Allah in Arabic with understanding!

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 5. Each session has 3 different activities, which keeps the participants alive throughout the lesson. 6. Learn at least one spoken Arabic sentence in each lesson.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 7. More than that, each session is interactive, if conducted in a group!!! Every participant has full and continuous chance to be involved in all the activities (Spoken Arabic, Grammar, and Word-for- word translation)

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 8. Learn basic Arabic Grammar as well as almost all important verb patterns by devoting just 8 to 10 minutes in each session.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 9. Learning Arabic Grammar perhaps has never been so easy and simple. With TPI (like ABAQUS, photographic memory), it becomes an exciting and interesting part.

TPI Brain works with associations Mg/ Fg Sign covention Past tense (plane / road) Imperfect tense Imperative Negative Ism Faa’il / Ism Maf’ool / Fe’l Active voice / passive voice

TPI Increase associations – the more you have the easier it is to learn/remember/retain/recall Several dimensions of a word – –Sound – –Spelling – –Shape – –Meanings – –Picture – –Movement – –Smell! – –Emotions

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 10. Every time you practice a grammar session (5 to 7 minutes), you are shown as to how closer you are to the understanding of Qur’an. Therefore, it becomes a session of love and excitement rather than that of boring drills.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 11. Learn interesting examples/false links to remember some of the ‘odd’ rules of grammar.

Simplified Deletion of dual / fg in the beginning – –Reduced to 12 instead of 28 (past/imprf) – –Reduced to 4 instead of 6 (imp/neg) – –3 added to it (fa’el, maf’ool, fe’l) Master “Periodic Table” (Traffic light) The two “Master Tables”

Interesting Links Anta / hia (HANDS) Broken plural – – meri aulaad padhti hai – –Urdu / English Mazeed feeh – – Preposition of the verb Selection of Verses (1 verse each) – –Plural / mg/fg - Ahzaab – –Fg - Yousuf – –Br. Pl. - Hajj

Interesting Links Weak letters – –Team supporting each other Directions – –Fouqi/ tahti/ yameeni/…

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 12. Revise the whole learning in SPECIAL 10 sessions (at the end) where all frequently occurring words in the Qur’an are listed separately.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 13. To remember important words, each word/verb that you have learnt is listed with an example for you to practice, remember, and retain. Every time you forget an important new word, you are given a context for it to recall. THIS IS JUST LIKE THE WAY YOU REMEMBER PEOPLE.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 14. Learn all important verb patterns thoroughly along with examples from the material covered in the first 50 sessions quizzes and 2 exams to help you evaluate your progress and encourage you to revise and continue.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 16. With the CD (produced by the Academy), participate along with the audience throughout these sessions. You don’t have to wait for another sitting for practice. Practice right there!

UNIQUE FEATURES (Cont’d) 17. Actually this is a basic training course for every Muslim. It contains those parts which are practiced everyday by a Muslim. Therefore this course is will have direct impact on his life. It will make his regular worship more efficient and effective. Simultaneously he will get the confidence that he can learn the Qur’an very easily.

Some Interesting Findings All ‘Abwaab’ and special cases are important At least around 4 “Fe’l thulaathi Mazeed feehi” abwaab are also important

7 HOMEWORKS –Extremely easy and practical home works. –To develop an attitude of learning - most important factor in any learning process. –To be always aware that they are learning Qur'an. –Like those cricket fans following the match.

7 HOMEWORKS –We want our students to develop the attitude that they should always be aware and feel blessed by Allah that they are learning His Book. –This attitude should help them to do these home works whenever they have some spare time.

7 HOMEWORKS –1. At least FIVE minutes study of the Word-for-Word translation. –2. At least FIVE minutes recitation (for the beginner) of the Qur'an from the Mushaf that has no translation. –3. At least FIVE minutes recitation of the Qur'an from memory during activities such as walking.

7 HOMEWORKS –4. 30 seconds (not minutes!) study of the vocabulary sheet, preferably before or after every Salah or any other suitable intervals. –5. Recitation of the last 14 Surahs in rotation in the Sunan and Nawafil of daily Salah.

7 HOMEWORKS –6. Talking to your colleague for 1 minute every day regarding the lesson (if you are studying this course in a class). –7. Listening to a tape which contains these recitations with word-by-word meanings (in your car while driving and at your home while doing household chores). You can record the contents of this course yourselves into a tape, in case a recorded tape is not available.