HIFDH PROGRAMS

Vision of Iqra Academy's Hifdh Program

Islamic Foundation is honored to announce IQRA Academy's unique Hifdh program, intended to function as a thoughtfully developed and expanded educational model within the same broader ecosystem. 

Our advisors have conducted a comprehensive survey and continue to engage with broader educational philosophy and models of Qur’anic/Hifdh instruction. The goal is to build upon the standard foundations of Hifdh, Tajwīd, and Makhārij, while strengthening the academic structure and clarity of progression. 

In addition to the core memorization and recitation framework, the program intends; where appropriate and based on student ability, to incorporate: 

• Structured development of Tajwīd mastery 

• Gradual strengthening of Qur’anic Arabic comprehension 

• Introductory and age-appropriate exposure to Tafsīr themes 

The emphasis is on student-centered progression, meaning additional layers of learning will be introduced in a measured way depending on readiness, capacity, and stage of development. 

In summary, the program retains the established strengths of traditional Hifdh education while expanding its academic depth and adaptability, without compromising rigor or consistency. 

Hifdh Curriculum

Meticulously designed to foster a deep, lifelong connection with the Holy Qur’an, Iqra Academy provides a structured, immersive curriculum that prioritizes the mastery of proper Tajweed, ensuring that students not only memorize the sacred text but do so with the precision and beauty it deserves.

Our program is led by highly qualified and dedicated teachers who are committed to the spiritual growth of every student.  Beyond the classroom, we offer a supportive, nurturing community that encourages students to embody the values of the Qur’an in their daily lives. What truly sets us apart is our integration with a full-time Islamic school environment. Students benefit from access to our Islamic School campus and state-of-the-art gym facilities, offering a wide array of supplemental academic classes, sports and physical activities. 

Along with their Hifdh schedule at Iqra Academy, students will also log into an hour long online session on the weekends. Part Time Hifdh students will take on-site daily classes required by the Illinois Board of Education to continue on the path of receiving a High School Diploma from Islamic Foundation School, such as Math and Language Arts. Their daily schedule will be planned around both memorization of the Quran, alongside their secular studies.

Full Time Hifdh students will also have the option of taking supplemental secular studies for an additional fee.  Islamic Foundation School will offer these students the opportunity to enroll in the same courses on site, after school, taught by our very own IFS qualified teachers.

Join us as we launch our Part Time and Full Time Hifdh programs and take a step towards cultivating a generation of Huffadh who are both spiritually grounded and academically trained. 

Tajwid, Islamic Studies, and Qur'anic Arabic

Our Hifz program will include a structured and in-depth academic framework that goes beyond memorization alone, incorporating tajwīd, Islamic studies, and Qur’anic Arabic in a progressive and intentional way. 

The program will include a systematic study of tajwīd, both in theory and application. Students will learn the core principles in a structured manner while consistently applying them during daily recitation and memorization. Instruction will be level-based, ensuring strong foundational mastery before advancing into more detailed concepts, with regular reinforcement through guided practice. 

In addition, there will be a structured curriculum for Islamic studies and Qur’anic Arabic / tafsīr exposure, designed to complement the memorization process. This will include:
• age-appropriate Islamic studies content focused on core beliefs, adab, and essential knowledge
• gradual introduction to Qur’anic Arabic vocabulary and comprehension skills
• guided thematic understanding of selected āyāt to build reflection and meaning alongside memorization. 

For students who demonstrate readiness, the program will also introduce more advanced levels of analysis and depth in both tajwīd and Qur’anic understanding, always aligned with their capacity and stage of learning. 

Overall, the aim is to develop students who are not only strong in memorization, but also grounded in correct recitation, basic comprehension, and structured Islamic learning, all delivered through a cohesive curriculum rather than isolated subjects. 

Hifdh Prerequisites

QUR'ANIC REQUIREMENTS
Iqra Academy requires prospective students to possess foundational literacy in Quran Recitation with proper Tajweed, Makharij and fluency before beginning the memorization process. Once pre-registration is filled out, we will conduct an interview and assessment to evaluate a student's readiness, maturity, and dedication to the program. In this assessment, the student will recite from the Qur’an to ensure he or she is prepared for Hifdh. These interviews are critical, as the memorization of the entire Qur’an requires a high degree of cognitive focus and time management.  If a student does NOT pass the initial assessment, we would recommend they join one of our Reading Programs (ie After School Maktab), which will prepare them to reach the level where they can then register for the Hifdh program. 

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Students enrolled in Hifdh programs should demonstrate dedication and discipline. For those enrolled in our Part Time program or are taking supplemental secular studies alongside doing Hifdh, students must hold a minimum GPA of 3.0. For those who are coming from other schools and are dedicating this time purely for Hifdh, a previous GPA of 3.0 must be shown, along with passing our initial assessment. 

Our Pedagogy

At Iqra Academy, our pedagogical approach is designed to maximize student potential by integrating academic excellence with spiritual growth. We recognize that every student learns differently; therefore, we tailor our methodology to suit individual capabilities. Beyond the mechanics of memorization, our curriculum prioritizes the student’s Tarbiyah, utilizing positive reinforcement to build confidence and resilience. We provide a comprehensive emotional support system, ensuring that our students are not only successful in their Hifdh but are also supported in their overall well-being throughout their journey. 

BUILDING HIFDH PRE-REQUISITES
(KG-3rd grade)

Iqra Academy's After School Qur'an programs lay the foundation for students to eventually embark on their Hifdh journeys. Children are recommended to begin Maktab around Kindergarten (age 5) to solidify Makharij & Tajweed and work up to building fluency in recitation. Within the Maktab curriculum, the general schedule is as follows:

KG-1st Grade:  Qaidah
2nd Grade:  Rules of Tajweed
3rd Grade:  Qur'an Reading and Fluency Building
(There may be some exceptional students who are ready for Hifdh pathways starting 3rd grade)

HIFDH PATHWAYS
(4th-Middle School)

Once the students have graduated from their Qaidah level and learned how to implement the Rules of Tajweed in their recitation, they may choose a path that best works with their competency.  If parents are still unsure which path to choose, Iqra Academy offers an After School Hifdh program which can be used to test the waters and assess how comfortable and disciplined the student is in their dedication towards memorization.

Path 1:
4th-8th Grade:  Part-Time Hifdh

-or-

Path 2:
4th-6th Grade: Part-Time Hifdh
7th Grade:  Full-Time Hifdh

-or-

Path 3:
4th-6th Grade:  Full-Time Hifdh

**The above pathway schedule is a general guideline. Students who are older who wish to begin Qaidah level are both welcome and encouraged to join!

Timeline for Hifdh

The process of Hifdh is a rigorous intellectual and spiritual endeavor that varies significantly based on individual capacity, pedagogical methodology, and the intensity of the study schedule. The duration of this process is heavily influenced by the student's ability to maintain systematic revision, which is essential to ensure that the memorized portions are not lost as new portions are acquired.  A general timeline is given for the different routes below, but please keep in mind that every child’s path will look different, depending on his or her level of dedication, disciplined review, and sincerity of effort and competency.  
Full-Time Hifdh
80-85% of students complete in 3-3.5 years if they are fully ready when they start 
10-15% of students complete 2.5 - 3 years
2-5% of students complete in 1.5-2 years. 
Part-Time Hifdh
80-85% of students complete in 5+ years with academics 
10-15% of students complete in 4+ years
2-5% of students complete in 3+ years
After-School Hifdh
Less than 1% of students finish Hifdh properly in an After School path. This track is designed to prepare students for the Full-Time or the Part-Time route, help Huffadh maintain their dawr, or for students whose intention is to memorize the 30th juz, 29th juz, and a few specifics surahs.  

Enrollment Process for Hifdh Programs

Our enrollment process will follow a structured three-step pathway to ensure proper placement and readiness: 

1. Pre-Registration 

• Families will first complete the initial pre-registration form:  www.tinyurl.com/fallhifdh 

2. Assessment Stage 

• After pre-registration, students will be scheduled for an assessment 

• This will evaluate Makhārij, Tajwīd application, and overall reading fluency 

• If students were already assessed for the Summer Hifdh program, an end-of-summer assessment will be completed to determine placement for Fall

3. Full Registration 

• Once the assessment is completed and the student is accepted into the program, families will receive a link to complete the full registration form. 

• The Fall registration link will be sent within the next two weeks with final scheduling, program expectations, and administrative details. 

• If a child is accepted after the assessment, their spot is confirmed and they will be officially enrolled in the program. 

• For Full Time Hifdh students  interested in our supplemental academics at IFS, registration can be done through the school (www.ifsvp.org)

This process is designed to ensure appropriate placement and to maintain consistent instructional quality across all students.