The Sibawayh course began as a refresher in Classical Arabic for those who had previously studied the language. However, due to the increasing demand for a more comprehensive and expansive course, it is now being transformed into a four-level curriculum.
Starting from the absolute basics, the four levels will seek to develop students to read, comprehend, and translate advanced Arabic texts accurately and proficiently.
The course will culminate in a select study of the outstanding works of Arabic grammar and literature including the Kitāb fi’l Naḥw of the master grammarian of Persia, Abu Bishr ʿAmr Ibn ʿUthman, more commonly known as Sibawayh and from whom the course takes its name.
Students new to Arabic will begin at level one, whereas those with a background in Arabic may start at the more advanced levels.
“The teachers are very supportive, extremely patient and very open to any questions or challenges. The classes are very interactive, never boring. I would highly recommend this course for those who studied ‘alimiyya and had a long gap in between and would like to relearn and refresh. You are never too old to learn. I am definitely looking forward to the release of the other levels of Sibawayh to join and learn further Insha’Allah. ”
Umme-Abdullah
“Before I started I was scared to tackle Arabic text without harakat, but now I feel confident to pick up any Arabic book and read. My awareness of the grammar when reading new text has improved a lot, I'm not afraid to read anymore. I would recommend this course to others as it really pushes your ability and helps you gain the confidence to explore Arabic books on your own, the teachers encouragement and their passion for the language pushes you to really challenge yourself. ”
Jesmin
“I am very grateful to Whitethread Institute for the Sibawayh programme. It was a great refresher for Arabic grammar and it expanded my knowledge of the Arabic language, as we applied our knowledge to a range of Arabic texts. I especially enjoyed studying balagha (rhetoric), which revealed the richness and depth of Arabic as a language, especially the language of the Quran. The teachers were very supportive and encouraging and taught the lessons based on the students’ pace. As a teacher myself, this course made me feel more confident in my abilities and I was able to incorporate what I had learnt into my own teaching. Being surrounded by scholars and students at Whitethread, I felt that I was part of a community that sincerely believes, and puts into practice, the fact that further educational development of Alimiyyah graduates is necessary to make us effective teachers and leaders.”
Anonymous, UK
“Alhamdulillah, I have benefited greatly from the Sibawayh course. I enrolled in the course hoping to "fill any gaps" in my understanding of Arabic grammar, but I gained much more than that alhamdulillah. This course has made me aware of my weaknesses and has given me a chance as well as the tools to improve them. I think the small class sizes and student-centered nature of the course also contributes to this greatly. The most commendable part of this course for me has been the diversity of the content and the interdisciplinary approach the instructors employ when teaching us. This not only helped me in my reading fluency but also expanded my understanding of Arabic literature. ”
Yumna
“I am hugely grateful to Whitethread Institute for the spiritual care and companionship I was always blessed from all our respected teachers with such an auspicious year. I have hugely benefited from my teachers and will forever be in debt with the knowledge and techniques they have passed. I feel studying this course has really opened up my mind and allowed me to brush up areas I had passed through or forgotten during my alimiyyah course. This course has really made me intellectually understand various concepts of Arabic grammar. ”
Fatima Kapadia
“The teachers are super helpful and go above and beyond to support us. Overall my experience has allowed me to really excel in understanding the Arabic language with confidence.”
Nusaybah, UK
“Whitethread institute Islamic courses are an excellent and innovative approach to fill the gap and deficiencies in learning through the traditional Darse Nizami course. It is a haven for the inquisitive students of knowledge who would like to further their knowledge or refresh it, after having qualified some time ago and return to the blessed path of seeking knowledge. For me, this has been an excellent way to fill in the gaps of my current part-time Adult Alim course in the most efficient way. The teachers are well qualified and hardworking and make learning interactive as well as informative. The flexibility of online learning with recorded videos help to cater for busy working adults like me in their own times. I would highly recommend this to every seeker of knowledge.”
Faraz Imran, UK
This level will introduce students to the core components of Arabic grammar including syntax (nahw), morphology (sarf) and literature (adab). Students will cover selections from:
Tashil al-Nahw
From the Treasures of Arabic Morphology
10 Lessons of Arabic
Qasas al-Nabiyyin
This is for those who have a basic background in Arabic grammar and want to refresh and improve their knowledge of the Arabic language and bridge the gap between theory and application. Students will develop confidence in reading intermediate Arabic texts and become capable of independently engaging with the classical works of Islamic scholarship.
This level is ideal for those who have completed the ʿAlimiyyah programme but have not engaged with Arabic texts for some time; or those who have not yet attained the proficiency to independently decipher such books. It is also suited for teachers of Arabic texts who desire to gain confidence in their pedagogy.
Students will recap the essential components of Arabic grammar and cover selections from:
Al-Ajrumiyyah
Tatbiq Sarfi
Ayyuhal Walad
Al-Qira’at al-Rashidah
A book of Arabic literature written by Shaykh Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi designed for the intermediate students of the Arabic language. The Shaykh wrote this book as a way of training students to get deep experience with the language used in the Qur’an, Sunnah & various books of Islam. He saw a lapse in the ability of students to access classical Arabic in the manner it should be.
In this course, students will improve on the application of the Nahw, Sarf that they have learned previously alongside enriching their vocabulary and understanding of Arabic eloquence.
Mukhtarat
Instructor |
Mawlana Hilal Patel Mawlana Imran Maljee Ustadh Muhammad Nadat |
Duration |
September 2023 - July 2024 |
Course Start Date |
September 2023 |
Sessions |
Tuesdays: On-site (Subject to demand) and Online (Recordings of the live sessions are NOT available for this course) |
Timings |
8.30am to 1pm British Standard Time. |
Exams & Assignments |
Mid-Term Exams: 3 Exams End of Year Exams: 3 Exams |
Course Fee |
£750.00 |
Certificate |
No |
Instructor |
Mawlana Imran Maljee |
Duration |
September 2023 - July 2024 |
Course Start Date |
September 2023 |
Sessions |
Thursdays: Online Only (Recordings of the live sessions are NOT available for this course) |
Timings |
8pm UK Time |
Exams & Assignments |
End of Year Exams: 1 Exam |
Course Fee |
£250.00 |
Certificate |
No |
Students should expect to allocate 3 to 4 hours per week for preparation and homework.
*Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within this course is correct at the time of publication. Courses are subject to ongoing development, which could necessitate cancellation of, or alteration to, the advertised courses.
The following levels will be released in the coming year
This stage is designed for students who are confident in Arabic grammar and are able to comfortably read the texts identified in level 2 and would like to challenge themselves with higher texts. Students will cover selections from:
Qatr al-Nada
Mukhtarat
Al Bayan wa ‘l Tabyin
Ta’iyyah Abi Ishaq al-Ilbiri
The Diwan of Imam al-Shafiʿi
Diwan Hassan ibn Tabit
The final level is for the advanced student of Arabic who would like to engage with the more difficult texts. Students will study selections from the primary compilations of Arabic grammar and the outstanding works of Arabic literature, as follows:
Al-Kitāb fī ʿIlm al-Naḥw
Alfiyyah
Kafiyyah
Maqamat al-Hariri
Al-Muʿallaqat al-Sabʿah
Diwan al Mutanabbi
Diwan Hassan ibn Thabit
All the sessions are live and available on-site and online. There are no recordings available for this course.
Students can apply for zakat or sponsorship opportunities, for further details, please contact courses@whitethread.org
Each level is a one year course, full details of the remaining levels will be updated in due course.
No, the course fee is only for Level 1. Details of Levels 2, 3 and 4 will be updated in due course.
Yes. Registrants will undergo a test before purchasing the course to determine whether they are suitable for the level.
Great studying environment
Interactive discussions between students and teachers
High level discussions where teachers are open to questions and do not shy away from sensitive or controversial issues
Comfortable studying environment
In depth coverage of topics
Deep understanding of the nuances of fiqh
Experienced and knowledgeable teachers
Students guided throughout their studies
All lessons taught in a practical manner relevant to current times
