Learning Islam is a series of Islamic studies textbooks that introduces Muslim middle school students to the essentials of their faith, and brings to light the historic and cultural aspects of Islam in elaborate manner. The series covers grades 6-8, and includes student textbook, workbook, and teacher edition. This series builds upon the Islamic Services Foundation (ISF)’s primary series, I Love Islam, which covers grades 1-5. ISF is undertaking this project in collaboration with Brighter Horizons Academy in Dallas, Texas.

This parent/teacher guide is intended to assist instructors/parents throughout the teaching process. It guides the instructor/parent to focus on the main idea in the lesson, allowing them to effectively deliver the message to the student(s). The parent/teacher guide also provides key content summaries of each lesson and supplies answers to the critical thinking/study questions from the textbook.

There are five content areas in the book:

1. ‘Aqeedah (Islamic doctrine)
2. The Glorious Qur’an and its sciences
3. Seerah (biography of the Prophet) and Islamic History
4. ‘Ibaadaat (Worship and Rituals)
5. Morals and manners

The material is presented using a spiral approach, where students revisit each area and study it in greater depth each year.
The Student’s Textbook contains the subject text of the lessons, exercises as well as activities.

The ICO project is a distinguished one because:

1. Our curricula meet the needs of the target audience for integrated, coherent, and appropriate curricula.
2. They were prepared according to scientific bases, assimilating the most recent educational and psychological theories.
3. They were prepared by special educationists who are experienced in designing curricula and who are familiar with the needs of the target group.
4. They employed the most recent techniques and educational aids.
5. They went through many quality control processes, which were carried out by specialized committees, and they were enhanced by teachers who evaluated the curricula before releasing them.

The Features and Characteristics of the Textbooks:

These books were prepared by the International Curricula Organization (ICO) and have certain features, which distinguish them from any other textbooks:

First: The Technical Features:

1. The textbooks have been designed in accordance with the international quality standards in all aspects: colors, paper, size, illustration, and printing.
2. They have been furnished with the appropriate illustrations and pictures which match the students’ educational stage and environment.
3. The texts have been distributed and organized in a way that makes the text stand out, paying special attention to the font type and size, and the spaces; and colors were chosen carefully to appeal to the target audience.

Second: The Instructional and Linguistic Features:

1. Reinforce the proper linguistic basis of the non-Arabic speaking students.
2. They build the students’ linguistic dictionary according to their environmental needs.
3. Provide non-Arabic speaking students with a good deal of Islamic vocabulary.
4. Identify the correct articulation of the different sounds through the study of the Glorious Qur’an.
5. Enable the students to evade making mistakes when reciting the Glorious Qur’an through employing the rules of the Arabic language.
6. Provide an integrated curriculum with well-prepared scientific content and vocabulary.
7. Take into consideration the students’ individual mental differences and their diverse linguistic skills.
8. Consider the students’ different cultures.
9. Develop the students’ creativity and mental faculties.

Third: The Educational Content Features:

1. Reinforce the principle of forgiveness and the etiquette of disagreement with others.
2. Develop the spirituality, morality, and values of the students.
3. Help students have good and balanced personalities.
4. Develop the students’ pride in their Muslim identity.
5. Help the caller to Islam to develop a balanced personality that reflects the moderation of Islam.

System Requirements for CD-ROM:

• Windows 2000, XP, or Vista

There are five content areas in the book:

1. ‘Aqeedah (Islamic doctrine)
2. The Glorious Qur’an and its sciences
3. Seerah (biography of the Prophet) and Islamic History
4. ‘Ibaadaat (Worship and Rituals)
5. Morals and manners

The material is presented using a spiral approach, where students revisit each area and study it in greater depth each year.
The Student’s Textbook contains the subject text of the lessons, exercises as well as activities.

The ICO project is a distinguished one because:

1. Our curricula meet the needs of the target audience for integrated, coherent, and appropriate curricula.
2. They were prepared according to scientific bases, assimilating the most recent educational and psychological theories.
3. They were prepared by special educationists who are experienced in designing curricula and who are familiar with the needs of the target group.
4. They employed the most recent techniques and educational aids.
5. They went through many quality control processes, which were carried out by specialized committees, and they were enhanced by teachers who evaluated the curricula before releasing them.

The Features and Characteristics of the Textbooks:

These books were prepared by the International Curricula Organization (ICO) and have certain features, which distinguish them from any other textbooks:

First: The Technical Features:

1. The textbooks have been designed in accordance with the international quality standards in all aspects: colors, paper, size, illustration, and printing.
2. They have been furnished with the appropriate illustrations and pictures which match the students’ educational stage and environment.
3. The texts have been distributed and organized in a way that makes the text stand out, paying special attention to the font type and size, and the spaces; and colors were chosen carefully to appeal to the target audience.

Second: The Instructional and Linguistic Features:

1. Reinforce the proper linguistic basis of the non-Arabic speaking students.
2. They build the students’ linguistic dictionary according to their environmental needs.
3. Provide non-Arabic speaking students with a good deal of Islamic vocabulary.
4. Identify the correct articulation of the different sounds through the study of the Glorious Qur’an.
5. Enable the students to evade making mistakes when reciting the Glorious Qur’an through employing the rules of the Arabic language.
6. Provide an integrated curriculum with well-prepared scientific content and vocabulary.
7. Take into consideration the students’ individual mental differences and their diverse linguistic skills.
8. Consider the students’ different cultures.
9. Develop the students’ creativity and mental faculties.

Third: The Educational Content Features:

1. Reinforce the principle of forgiveness and the etiquette of disagreement with others.
2. Develop the spirituality, morality, and values of the students.
3. Help students have good and balanced personalities.
4. Develop the students’ pride in their Muslim identity.
5. Help the caller to Islam to develop a balanced personality that reflects the moderation of Islam.

Each level in this curriculum begins with topics on Allah, the Qur’an, the Prophet (s), ahadith, or Sunnah. The early levels emphasize the five pillars, while later levels contain more detailed studies.
Several lessons are devoted to Islamic values to help children develop a sound understanding of Islamic manners, values, and morals. The lessons are designed so that teachers will have a clear path of instruction and can be covered within a 50-60 minute period. Emphasis on each lesson ensures valuable class time is not wasted.
Weekend Learning Series features a variety of activities, including word matching and scrambles, fill-in-the-blanks, and more. Teachers will appreciate lesson objectives at the beginning of each chapter, built-in homework sections, and vocabulary words at the end of each chapter.

Topics for level 9 include pondering over the Qur’an, Ibadat, Islam and violence, permitted and prohibited foods, Khadijah, life cycle of truth, indecency, and more. These topics are age-appropriate for students and encourage moral behavior when difficult situations present themselves. Some of these lessons require increased depth and attention from students. By this level a summarized biography of the Prophet (s) is completed with an understanding of events that shaped his life and early Islam. Students will then have studied biographies of most of the prominent prophets at least once.

This series presents the study of Islam in an attractive, comprehensive format for children. Islamic studies enables children to view Islam in all its aspects and to accept it as a way of life. Basics of Islam aims to do just that.

This book guides children in various activities of their world, whether at school or home. A complete guide to correct behavior and etiquette in various stages and fields of life, this series moulds children’s attitudes and is guaranteed to become a trusted companion during the transitional and delicate period of their teens. It refines habits and manners, creating a rich and endearing personality. The process of learning includes knowledge, understanding, acceptance, and implementation of concepts.

A sure key to success, this series discusses topics in a vocabulary familiar to children. Level 7 includes the story of Zalfa, Surah Al-Mudassir, equality of all Muslims, and more. It is an invaluable teaching aid for teachers and parents. Multi-colored pages inside.

The "Islamic Studies" series of books by the prolific writer and scholar Dr. Bilal Philips are part of a meticulously written series intended to guide young Muslims in a manner that helps them acquire a thorough practical and spiritual foundation. This series have been generally acknowledged as an excellent introduction set to the principles of the Islamic faith, with core sciences discussed and explored, for both the new Muslim as well as the "old" Muslim wishing to brush up on the fundamentals. The series equip the young believer with reliable information, based purely on the Qur'an and Sunnah, about the tenets of Islam as well as introduce him to some of the fundamental fields of learning, like the sciences of 'Aqidah, haddith, Tafsir, and Fiqh. These volumes dedicated to the understanding of Tawhid, Tafsir, Haddith and Fiqh for older students where each volume consists of number of lessons and tests. Dr. Bilal draws the student's attention to the world around him and compares and contrasts the wisdom of Allah with what is currently enacted or believed in today's society. An excellent curriculum which speaks to youth in the language and concepts they understand. The Islamic Studies Book 4 is a part of 4 primarily books designed for high school (secondary) school students (ages 12-18) and to identify and build Islamic character. This meticulously written series intended to guide young Muslims in a manner that helps them acquire a thorough practical and spiritual foundation. The series equip the young believer with reliable information, based purely on the Qur'an and Sunnah, about the tenets of Islam as well as introduce him to some of the fundamental fields of learning, like the Sciences of 'Aqidah, Haddith, Tafsir, and Fiqh where these are presented in simple language. It is also suitable for new-Muslims and adults seeking an easy explanation of the basic areas of Islamic disciplines. All texts are supported by evidence from the Quran and authentic haddith.

This book is a useful curriculum for schools teaching the interpretation of the whole Qur’an. The authors followed one systematic, closed, and gradual method while they interpreted the Qur’an. Here are some points that were followed:

• Clear and simple sentences appropriate to students’ ages and levels
• Each lesson begins with new and previous vocabulary words that students need to know while learning the meanings of the Qur’an
• Brief introductions explains general ideas for each Surah
• Interpretation for each Surah in direct language
• Provides a connection between previous Surahs and upcoming ones
• Provides one interpretation that most interpreters agree on with careful avoidance of weak and multi-interpretations
• Follows the predecessor method while interpreting Allah’s character verses
• Provides several enrichment activities that aim to stimulate students while searching and thinking of Surahs’ meanings; thus, these activities keep information fresh in the minds of students while they discuss the results with teachers
• Provides each Surah with significant lessons for teachers to bridge the connection between each theme and its related verse. This is useful to guide students and deepen their Islamic morals
• Each lesson ends with multiple questions which aim to evaluate student comprehension
• Provides foot notes of sayings, narrations, events, or ahaddith related to the lesson theme which enriches students’ knowledge
• Provides only Al-Sahih ahaddith, plus mentions the group of ahadith reporters and the history behind each Sarah’s revelation

Vol. 8: Surahs Al-Ahzab, Saba'a, Fatir, Ya-seen, As-Saaffat, Saad, Az-Zumar, Ghafir and Fussilat