Syllabus
The syllabus
Everything the course teaches, level by level, in plain English.
For adults who are new to Islam, or who want to start practising from the beginning. The course is free and goes at your pace: 4 levels and 41 short lessons, about 6 hours in total. Every lesson takes under ten minutes.
Lessons open soon. Sign up now and we'll email you the day they open.
- 4levels
- 41short lessons
- ~6hours in total
- Freeno fees, no card
Level 1 of 4
First steps
The goal
Pray all five prayers on your own.
Say the Shahadah with understanding, make Wudu and Ghusl, and pray every prayer start to finish.
- 12 lessons
- about 1 hour 45 minutes
- Level check: 12 questions
What you will learn to recite
Send to a teacher
Record yourself on your phone and send it to a teacher. They listen and reply with kind help on any words to practise.
Surat al-Fatihah
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-'alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin.
All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds; the Most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy; Master of the Day of Recompense. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path: the path of those You have favoured, not of those who have earned anger, nor of those who are astray.
The Tashahhud
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin, ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
All greetings are for Allah, and the prayers and the good things. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
Also good to learn (8)
Good to learn as you go. You can send these to a teacher too, if you like.
The Shahadah (the two testimonies)
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Allahu akbar (the opening Takbir and every move)
Allahu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
In Ruku' (bowing)
Subhana Rabbiyal-'Adhim
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
In Sujud (prostration)
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Between the two prostrations
Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li
My Lord, forgive me; my Lord, forgive me.
The opening Du'a (Istiftah)
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabarakasmuk, wa ta'ala jadduk, wa la ilaha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god other than You.
The Salam (ending the prayer)
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
After Wudu
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.
The 12 lessons
Welcome: why you are hereWelcome · lesson 1 of 1 · 7 min
Know why Allah created you and see the whole religion as three levels, Islam, Iman and Ihsan, which is the map of this course.
By the end you can
- Say in one sentence why Allah created people.
- Name the three levels of the religion and say what each one means.
- Explain how the course is laid out, which lessons to take first if you are new to Islam, and where to send a question.
Practise
Learn the meaning of Ihsan by heart. Before one action today, stop and remind yourself that Allah sees you.
The Shahadah: what you testified toBelief · lesson 1 of 8 · 9 min
Understand the two testimonies of the Shahadah, and how Islam and Iman are built on them.
By the end you can
- Explain what “there is no god but Allah” means, including rejecting everything else that is worshipped.
- Name the four things that “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” requires of you.
- List the five pillars of Islam and the six pillars of Iman, and say why all six are needed.
- Say how a person enters Islam, and what happens to the sins of life before it.
Practise
Say the Shahadah slowly, thinking about its meaning. Then write the five pillars of Islam and the six pillars of Iman on a card or in your phone, somewhere private, and look at it each day this week.
Tawhid: Allah alone creates, Allah alone is worshippedBelief · lesson 2 of 8 · 9 min
Learn the three ways in which Allah is one, what worship is, and what makes a deed acceptable to Allah.
By the end you can
- Name the three aspects of Tawhid and give one line on each.
- Explain that Allah alone creates, provides and runs all things.
- Say what worship is (of the heart, the tongue and the limbs) and why all of it is for Allah alone.
- State the two conditions for a deed to be accepted.
Practise
Before each Salah today, check your intention with two questions: am I doing this for Allah alone, and am I doing it the way the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught?
Purity and your first GhuslPurity · lesson 1 of 6 · 9 min
Understand what purity is for, and how and when to do Ghusl, beginning with the Ghusl of entering Islam.
By the end you can
- Explain the two parts of purity: lifting the state of impurity, and removing physical impurity.
- Do Ghusl in the minimum way (the complete Sunnah way comes later, once you know Wudu).
- List what makes Ghusl obligatory, and what someone in Janabah may not do until they have done it.
Practise
If you have not yet done the Ghusl of entering Islam, do it today; the minimum way is enough. You will learn the complete Sunnah way in the lesson “How to make Wudu”.
How to make WuduPurity · lesson 3 of 6 · 9 min
Make a valid Wudu in the Sunnah way, know when you need it, and use it in the complete Ghusl.
By the end you can
- Say when Wudu is required.
- Check the conditions of Wudu, including removing nail varnish and similar barriers.
- Perform the six obligatory acts in order, and the full Sunnah Wudu with its closing words.
- Do the complete Sunnah Ghusl, which includes Wudu.
Practise
Make Wudu step by step with the video before your next Salah, and say the closing Shahadah at the end.
What breaks WuduPurity · lesson 4 of 6 · 8 min
Know what breaks Wudu, and what to do when you are unsure.
By the end you can
- List the things that break Wudu.
- Apply the rule of certainty when you are unsure whether you passed wind.
- Tell deep sleep, which breaks Wudu, from light dozing, which does not.
- Say how someone with constant leaking makes Wudu and prays.
Practise
For one day, notice each time your Wudu breaks and renew it before the next Salah. If a doubt about wind comes, apply the “sound or smell” rule and carry on.
Salah: the five daily prayers and the call to prayerPrayer · lesson 1 of 9 · 8 min
Understand the place of Salah, know which prayers are obligatory, and recognise the Adhan and the Iqamah.
By the end you can
- Explain why Salah is the most important pillar after the Shahadah.
- Name the five obligatory prayers and say which of them have four Rak'ahs.
- Recognise the words of the Adhan and the Iqamah.
- Explain why leaving Salah is so serious.
Practise
The next time you hear the Adhan, repeat its words after the caller, then say the Du'a after the Adhan.
The prayer times, and a missed prayerPrayer · lesson 2 of 9 · 9 min
Know when each prayer's time begins and ends, pray every prayer within its time, and make up a prayer you slept through or forgot.
By the end you can
- Explain that a prayer before its time does not count, and that delaying it past its time is a sin.
- State the start and end of each of the five prayer times.
- Match the times on a timetable to the signs of each prayer's time.
- Make up a prayer missed through sleep or forgetting.
Practise
Using your local masjid's timetable, write down today's five prayer times and set a reminder for each. If you have a prayer you slept through or forgot, pray it now.
Before you pray: the conditionsPrayer · lesson 3 of 9 · 8 min
Make sure the nine conditions of Salah are in place before you start.
By the end you can
- List the nine conditions of Salah.
- Cover the 'awrah correctly, for a man and for a woman.
- Face the Qiblah and make the intention in the heart.
Practise
Set up one clean prayer place at home: find the Qiblah direction (ask Muslims who know, follow your local masjid, or use a reliable compass or Qiblah app carefully; from the UK it is roughly south-east), check that your prayer clothes cover the 'awrah, and keep the place ready.
How to pray (1): from the intention to the recitationPrayer · lesson 4 of 9 · 9 min
Begin the prayer correctly and complete the standing of the first Rak'ah, step by step, knowing which steps are pillars, obligatory acts or Sunnah.
By the end you can
- Tell a pillar from an obligatory act and a Sunnah, and say what happens if each is missed.
- Make the intention, stand facing the Qiblah, and begin with the opening Takbir, raising your hands and then placing the right hand on the left.
- Say the opening Du'a, seek refuge, say the Basmalah, recite al-Fatihah, say “Amin” and recite a short Surah.
Practise
Stand facing the Qiblah and practise steps 1 to 8 three times: the intention, the Takbir with raised hands, the hands on the chest, the opening Du'a, seeking refuge, the Basmalah, al-Fatihah, “Amin” and al-Ikhlas. Learn the opening Du'a by heart this week; the other words are learned over the coming weeks, a few lines at a time (the memorisation track), not all in this lesson.
How to pray (2): bowing, prostrating and the second Rak'ahPrayer · lesson 5 of 9 · 9 min
Complete the first Rak'ah, bowing, rising, the two prostrations and the sitting between them, with their words, then rise for the second Rak'ah.
By the end you can
- Bow and rise from Ruku' with the right movements and words.
- Prostrate on the seven parts of the body and sit between the two prostrations, with their words.
- Be still in each position and say what is repeated in the second Rak'ah.
Practise
Pray one full Rak'ah slowly at home, from the opening Takbir to standing up for the second Rak'ah, saying every word and pausing to be still in each position. Learn the words of Ruku', rising, Sujud and the sitting by heart.
How to pray (3): the Tashahhud, the Salam and the whole prayerPrayer · lesson 6 of 9 · 9 min
Finish the prayer with the Tashahhud, the blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), a Du'a and the Salam, and pray Fajr, Maghrib and the four-Rak'ah prayers alone from start to finish.
By the end you can
- Recite the Tashahhud and the blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and end the prayer with the Salam.
- Pray a two-, three- and four-Rak'ah prayer, knowing where each Tashahhud comes.
- Say which Rak'ahs are recited aloud.
- List the fourteen pillars of Salah in order.
Practise
Today, pray on your own using the 18-step card: first two voluntary Rak'ahs, then Maghrib (three Rak'ahs) and Isha (four Rak'ahs). By the end of the week, pray all five prayers alone, on time, from start to finish. You do not need every word by heart yet: keep learning the words tables a few lines at a time. If you have not learned al-Fatihah yet, send your question through the portal now.
Level 2 of 4
Growing in faith and prayer
The goal
Pray with confidence and know what undoes faith.
Know Allah through His names, keep away from Shirk, keep yourself clean, and handle mistakes, congregation and Jumu'ah.
- 8 lessons
- about 1 hour 5 minutes
- Level check: 12 questions
What you will learn to recite
Send to a teacher
Record yourself on your phone and send it to a teacher. They listen and reply with kind help on any words to practise.
The Salawat (blessings on the Prophet)
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid
O Allah, send Your blessings (salah) on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Surat al-Ikhlas
Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad.
Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient, to whom all turn. He did not beget, nor was He begotten. And there is none equivalent to Him.
Also good to learn (6)
Good to learn as you go. You can send these to a teacher too, if you like.
Du'a before the Salam
Allahumma inni as'alukal-jannah, wa a'udhu bika minan-nar
O Allah, I ask You for Paradise, and I seek refuge in You from the Fire.
After the Salam: Astaghfirullah
Astaghfirullah
I seek the forgiveness of Allah.
After the Salam: Allahumma antas-salam
Allahumma antas-salamu wa minkas-salam, tabarakta dhal-jalali wal-ikram
O Allah, You are as-Salam (Peace), and from You is peace; blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honour.
After the Salam: Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar
Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar
Glory be to Allah. All praise is for Allah. Allah is the Greatest.
Entering the toilet
Bismillah. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-khubthi wal-khaba'ith
In the name of Allah. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from al-khubth and al-khaba'ith (the male and female devils).
Leaving the toilet
Ghufranak
(I ask) Your forgiveness.
The 8 lessons
Knowing Allah: His names and attributesBelief · lesson 3 of 8 · 8 min
Learn the rule a Muslim follows for Allah's names and attributes, and meet Allah through the attributes in Ayat al-Kursi.
By the end you can
- State the rule: affirm without changing, denying, asking how or likening.
- Answer “what does Allah look like?”.
- Describe Allah with the attributes named in Ayat al-Kursi, and say where Allah is.
Practise
Begin learning al-Fatihah by heart, with its meaning, one verse a day: you will need it in every Rak'ah of Salah.
Shirk and Kufr: what undoes faith, and what does notBelief · lesson 4 of 8 · 9 min
Recognise major Shirk and Kufr so that you can avoid them, and know that sins below Shirk do not take a Muslim out of Islam.
By the end you can
- Define Shirk, give its plainest example (calling on other than Allah), and explain why it is the gravest sin.
- Name the five kinds of major Kufr.
- Explain that a Muslim who commits a major sin is still a Muslim, under Allah's will.
- State the conditions of repentance, and tell a passing whisper from the Kufr of doubt.
Practise
Make one Du'a today directly to Allah, in your own words, for something you need, with no one in between.
Using the toilet and removing impurityPurity · lesson 2 of 6 · 8 min
Clean yourself properly after the toilet, and know what is impure and how to wash it off.
By the end you can
- Clean yourself after the toilet with water or by wiping.
- Follow the main toilet manners, including the rule on facing the Qiblah.
- Name the main impure things and wash impurity from your body, clothes and prayer place.
Practise
Next time you use the toilet, clean yourself with water using the left hand, and say the Du'a for entering and leaving.
When water is hard: wiping over socks and TayammumPurity · lesson 5 of 6 · 8 min
Use the two concessions of ease: wiping over socks in Wudu, and Tayammum when water cannot be used.
By the end you can
- Wipe over socks correctly and keep to the time limit for a resident and a traveller.
- Say when wiping ends.
- Say when Tayammum is allowed, do it, and know what breaks it.
Practise
Next time you put on socks after a complete Wudu, note the time your Wudu first breaks after that. From then, a resident may wipe for 24 hours (a traveller for three days and nights); set a reminder for when that period ends.
Periods and post-natal bleedingPurity · lesson 6 of 6 · 9 min
Know what a woman leaves during menstruation and post-natal bleeding, when she returns to Salah, and how irregular bleeding is different.
By the end you can
- List what is not done during menstruation and post-natal bleeding.
- Say when Ghusl is due, how to do it after a period, when Salah starts again and which prayers are then due.
- Tell Istihadah from menstruation and know what to do in each case.
Practise
Write down your usual number of days (your habit), so you know when to do Ghusl. Men: learn the one thing forbidden between spouses at this time.
When something goes wrong: what breaks the prayer, and Sujud al-SahwPrayer · lesson 7 of 9 · 9 min
Know what invalidates Salah, and put right forgetful mistakes and doubts with the two prostrations of forgetfulness.
By the end you can
- List what invalidates Salah: losing a condition, speech and actions, and deliberate errors with the pillars.
- Perform Sujud al-Sahw and say when it is required: adding something, giving the Salam early, or missing an obligatory act.
- Deal with doubt about how many Rak'ahs you have prayed.
- Say what to do if you forget a pillar of the prayer.
Practise
Write the three cases (added something, finished early, forgot an obligatory act) and the rule for doubt on a card, and keep it by your prayer place.
Praying in congregationPrayer · lesson 8 of 9 · 8 min
Pray with the congregation correctly: who must attend, how to join late, how to follow the imam, and where to stand.
By the end you can
- Say who must pray in congregation.
- Join a congregation late, know which Rak'ah counts, and complete the Rak'ahs you missed.
- Follow the imam without going ahead of him, and stand in the right place.
- Say when you recite al-Fatihah behind an imam.
Practise
Pray at least one prayer in congregation this week (men at the masjid; women at home with family or at the masjid), standing in the right place and moving just after the imam. If you cannot go yet, pray with one other Muslim: two make a congregation.
Jumu'ah: the Friday prayerPrayer · lesson 9 of 9 · 8 min
Know who must attend Jumu'ah, how it is prayed, and how to prepare for it.
By the end you can
- Say who must attend Jumu'ah.
- Describe how Jumu'ah is prayed and how to catch it.
- Keep the manners of the khutbah and prepare for Friday with Ghusl.
Practise
This Friday, do Ghusl, wear your best clothes and go early (men attend Jumu'ah; women may attend or pray Dhuhr at home).
Level 3 of 4
The unseen, Ramadan and Zakah
The goal
Fast Ramadan and know what you owe in Zakah.
Believe in the angels, the Books, the Messengers, the Last Day and Qadar; fast Ramadan; pay Zakah and Zakat al-Fitr.
- 12 lessons
- about 1 hour 40 minutes
- Level check: 12 questions
What you will learn to recite
Send to a teacher
Record yourself on your phone and send it to a teacher. They listen and reply with kind help on any words to practise.
Surat al-Falaq
Qul a'udhu birabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad.
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.
Surat al-Nas
Qul a'udhu birabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas.
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers into the chests of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.
Also good to learn (3)
Good to learn as you go. You can send these to a teacher too, if you like.
On breaking the fast (Iftar)
Dhahabadh-dhama'u, wabtallatil-'uruqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha'allah
The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is established, if Allah wills.
Ayat al-Kursi (before sleep)
Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatuw-wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhituna bishay'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard. Wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma. Wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Adhim.
Allah: there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Who is it that intercedes with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not encompass anything of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi (Footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them both does not weary Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Morning and evening: Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru
Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma'asmihi shay'un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'i wa huwas-Sami'ul-'Alim
In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing in the earth or in the heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
The 12 lessons
The angels and the revealed BooksBelief · lesson 5 of 8 · 8 min
Believe in the angels and in all the Books Allah sent down, and know the special place of the Qur'an.
By the end you can
- Describe the angels, and say why no worship goes to them.
- List what belief in the revealed Books requires.
- Explain that the Qur'an is Allah's preserved speech and is now the Book everyone must follow.
Practise
Read al-Fatihah once today with a translation, slowly, remembering that these are Allah's own words.
The Messengers and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)Belief · lesson 6 of 8 · 9 min
Believe in all of Allah's Messengers and know your duties towards the last of them, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
By the end you can
- Explain that we believe in every Messenger and make no distinction between them in believing them, though Allah raised some above others.
- Describe the Messengers as human servants of Allah, not lords.
- Explain what “Seal of the Prophets” means.
- State the duty to love the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the limit of not going to excess about him.
Practise
Send blessings on the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ten times today.
The Last DayBelief · lesson 7 of 8 · 9 min
Believe in what comes after death: the grave, the Resurrection, the Balance, and Paradise and the Fire.
By the end you can
- Describe death and the questioning in the grave.
- Explain the Resurrection and the weighing of deeds.
- State what Islam teaches about Paradise, the Fire, and the end of Muslims who die with sins.
- Describe the reckoning and the receiving of the records, and say how a Muslim speaks of relatives who died before Islam.
Practise
After one Salah today, say “Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi, subhan Allahil-'Adhim” a few times: two phrases the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said are heavy in the Balance.
Qadar: Allah's DecreeBelief · lesson 8 of 8 · 8 min
Believe in Qadar, its good and its bad, through its four levels.
By the end you can
- Explain that everything happens by Allah's decree.
- Name the four levels of Qadar (knowledge, writing, will, creation) with one line on each.
- Describe how belief in Qadar steadies the heart in good times and hard times.
- Explain why Qadar is never an excuse for sin.
Practise
When something happens today, good or hard, remind yourself that it was decreed: thank Allah for the good, be patient with the hard, and still take the lawful next step.
Ramadan: what fasting is and who must fastFasting · lesson 1 of 4 · 8 min
Understand what fasting is, that Ramadan is obligatory, who must fast, and that fasts from before Islam are not made up.
By the end you can
- Define the fast: from true dawn to sunset, with the intention.
- Explain Ramadan's place among the five pillars.
- Say who must fast, and that a new Muslim does not make up fasts from before Islam.
Practise
Find out when next Ramadan is expected, and plan one practice fast before it on a Monday or a Thursday.
Your fasting day: the new moon, intention, Suhur and IftarFasting · lesson 2 of 4 · 8 min
Start Ramadan correctly, and shape each fasting day around the intention, Suhur and Iftar.
By the end you can
- Explain how Ramadan begins and ends.
- Make the intention for the fast the night before.
- Eat Suhur and break the fast in the Sunnah way.
Practise
On your next fast, set an alarm for a late Suhur, and keep dates or water ready to break the fast right at Maghrib.
What breaks the fastFasting · lesson 3 of 4 · 9 min
Know what breaks the fast, what does not, and what each one requires.
By the end you can
- List what breaks the fast.
- Explain that eating or drinking by forgetting does not break it.
- State what is owed for intercourse during a fasting day.
- Tell deliberate vomiting, cupping and the release of semen from what happens without choice.
Practise
Make a short note in your phone or notebook, “Breaks the fast / Does not break the fast”, using only this lesson.
If you cannot fast: excuses and making upFasting · lesson 4 of 4 · 9 min
Know who may break the fast, what each person must do afterwards, and how to make up missed days.
By the end you can
- Apply the rules for the sick, the elderly and the traveller.
- Apply the rules for menstruation, post-natal bleeding, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Say when Fidyah (feeding the poor) is due instead of, or as well as, making up.
- Make up missed days in time, and know what to do after breaking a fast without an excuse.
Practise
If you owe any days, write them down now and choose dates to make them up before next Ramadan.
Zakat al-Fitr: the charity at the end of RamadanZakah · lesson 1 of 4 · 7 min
Pay Zakat al-Fitr for yourself and those you support, in food, at the right time.
By the end you can
- Say who must pay Zakat al-Fitr and for whom.
- State the amount and that it is paid in food.
- Pay it at the right time.
Practise
Before your next Eid al-Fitr, count the people you must pay for and arrange one Sa' (about 2.25 kg) of staple food for each. If you pay through your masjid, ask: will you buy food with it and give it out before the Eid prayer?
Zakah: a pillar of Islam, and who must payZakah · lesson 2 of 4 · 8 min
Understand Zakah as a pillar of Islam and the conditions that make it due.
By the end you can
- Explain the place of Zakah among the pillars of Islam.
- State the conditions that make Zakah due (owning the nisab beyond essential needs for a full lunar year), and know to ask for the current cash threshold.
- Explain that money is zakatable, like gold and silver.
Practise
Write down what you hold in cash, gold and silver, and note the first date in the Islamic calendar on which you were Muslim and held the nisab, so that you can check in one lunar year whether Zakah is due. For cash savings, check today's price of 595 grams of silver: that is the nisab for your cash.
How much Zakah: gold, silver, money and trade goodsZakah · lesson 3 of 4 · 9 min
Work out the Zakah on gold, silver, jewellery and trade goods.
By the end you can
- State the rate: a quarter of a tenth (2.5%).
- State the nisab of gold and of silver.
- Apply Zakah to jewellery and to trade goods.
- Find the nisab for your cash savings from the price of silver.
Practise
Weigh, or find the weight of, any gold you own, and compare it with 85 grams.
Who receives ZakahZakah · lesson 4 of 4 · 8 min
Give Zakah only to those Allah named, and know who may not receive it.
By the end you can
- Name the eight kinds of people who may receive Zakah.
- Tell the poor from the needy.
- Say who may not receive Zakah.
- Make the intention for your Zakah and choose an agent to pay it correctly.
Practise
Before you give through a Zakah fund, ask which of the eight kinds it pays to, and whether it takes its running costs from Zakah.
Level 4 of 4
Hajj, and living as a Muslim
The goal
Know what Hajj and Umrah are and live Islam day to day.
Understand Hajj and Umrah, eat and dress well, live kindly among family, and keep learning.
- 9 lessons
- about 1 hour 15 minutes
- Level check: 12 questions
What you will learn to recite
Nothing to send to a teacher at this level.
Also good to learn (4)
Good to learn as you go. You can send these to a teacher too, if you like.
The Talbiyah
Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.
Here I am [at Your service], O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed all praise, favour and sovereignty are Yours; You have no partner.
Ayat al-Kursi (before sleep)
Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatuw-wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhituna bishay'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard. Wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma. Wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Adhim.
Allah: there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Who is it that intercedes with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they do not encompass anything of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi (Footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them both does not weary Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
The travel Du'a
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safari wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari, wa ka'abatil-mandhari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
Glory be to the One who has made this subject to us, and we could not have managed it ourselves; and to our Lord we will surely return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey of ours easy for us, and shorten its distance for us. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the One who takes care of the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a distressing sight, and from an evil return to wealth and family.
After eating
Al-hamdu lillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih, ghayra muwadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu rabbana
Praise be to Allah, abundant, good and blessed praise; [praise] not bidden farewell and not dispensed with, our Lord.
The 9 lessons
Hajj and Umrah: what they areHajj · lesson 1 of 4 · 7 min
Know that Hajj and Umrah are obligations of a lifetime for those who are able, and that Hajj should not be delayed once you are able.
By the end you can
- Explain the place of Hajj among the pillars of Islam.
- State how often Hajj and Umrah are obligatory.
- Explain why Hajj is not put off once you are able.
Practise
Write down your intention to perform Hajj and Umrah when you are able, and one step you can take towards it now.
Who must go: the conditions and abilityHajj · lesson 2 of 4 · 8 min
Know the conditions that make Hajj obligatory, what “able” means, and the rule of the mahram for a woman.
By the end you can
- List the five conditions that make Hajj obligatory.
- Explain the three parts of ability: financial, physical and safety.
- State the rule of the mahram for a woman's journey.
Practise
Write down what stands between you and “ability” today (money, health, a safe route, a mahram), and one step towards each. If money is what stands in your way, remember that Hajj is not yet due on you: you are not sinful.
Umrah in outline: Miqat, Ihram, Tawaf and Sa'yHajj · lesson 3 of 4 · 9 min
Know the pillars of Umrah, the Miqat, and how to enter Ihram.
By the end you can
- Name the three pillars of Umrah.
- Explain what the Miqat is and why it is not passed without Ihram.
- Describe entering Ihram for a man and for a woman, and say the Talbiyah.
- List the steps of your first Umrah, and say where to enter Ihram when flying in.
Practise
Learn the Talbiyah by heart: “Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.” Then write your own “first Umrah” checklist: (1) at the Miqat, Ihram, the intention and the Talbiyah; (2) Tawaf, seven circuits from the Black Stone, in Wudu, then two Rak'ahs; (3) Sa'y, seven trips from Safa to Marwah; (4) shave or shorten; (5) your Umrah is complete.
The days of Hajj in outlineHajj · lesson 4 of 4 · 9 min
See the days of Hajj as one simple timeline, built around its four pillars.
By the end you can
- Name the four pillars of Hajj.
- Place each day of Hajj (8th to 13th Dhul-Hijjah) at its site: Mina, Arafah, Muzdalifah, the Jamarat and the Ka'bah.
- Explain the difference between a missed pillar and a missed obligatory act, in one line.
Practise
Draw the days of Hajj (8th to 13th Dhul-Hijjah) as a simple timeline, with the place for each day. Learn the travel Du'a so that it is ready when you go.
Halal and haram in daily life: food and drinkWhat next · lesson 1 of 5 · 8 min
Know what a Muslim may eat and drink, what Allah has forbidden, and how to choose meat in the UK.
By the end you can
- Name the main foods Allah has forbidden, and explain that everything else is lawful.
- Explain why alcohol and every intoxicant are forbidden, a little or a lot.
- Say when meat is halal, and how to buy meat with confidence in the UK.
Practise
This week, check your kitchen for pork and alcohol and remove them, and find one butcher near you whom you trust to slaughter the Islamic way. Say “Bismillah” before every meal.
Dress and covering in daily lifeWhat next · lesson 2 of 5 · 8 min
Know what men and women cover in front of others, and the main rules of dress, outside Salah as well as in it.
By the end you can
- Say what a man keeps covered at all times, and what he may not wear.
- Describe the covering a woman wears in front of men who are not her mahram.
- Explain lowering the gaze, and why clothing is a blessing from Allah.
Practise
Check your wardrobe this week against this lesson. Men: the navel to the knee covered at all times, nothing below the ankles, no silk or gold. Women: one complete outfit for going out that covers you well, including your hair and feet.
Living as a Muslim among family and peopleWhat next · lesson 3 of 5 · 9 min
Understand loyalty for Allah's sake, together with the Qur'an's command of dutifulness to parents and of kindness and justice to non-Muslims who are not hostile, gentleness, and ordinary dealings with people.
By the end you can
- Explain wala' and bara': loyalty and disavowal for Allah's sake.
- Say, from the Qur'an, how a Muslim treats non-Muslim parents and non-Muslims who do not fight Muslims over their religion.
- Tell gentle courtesy for the sake of Islam (Mudarah), which is allowed, from compromising your religion (Mudahanah), which is forbidden.
- Say which ordinary dealings with non-Muslims are allowed.
Practise
This week, if it is safe and right for you now, do one act of goodness and service for a parent or another family member, with the intention of obeying Allah and showing them the beauty of Islam.
Your marriage and children after IslamWhat next · lesson 4 of 5 · 8 min
Know what happens to your marriage when you become Muslim, whom a Muslim may marry, and how your children are counted.
By the end you can
- Say what happens to a marriage when one or both spouses become Muslim.
- Say whom a Muslim man and a Muslim woman may marry.
- Say how your young children are counted, and where to turn about their custody.
Practise
If this lesson touches your own marriage, write down your question and send it privately through the portal this week; the College answers in confidence.
What next: holding to the Qur'an and the SunnahWhat next · lesson 5 of 5 · 8 min
Leave the course with one rule for the rest of the journey: hold to the Qur'an and the Sunnah together, and keep learning.
By the end you can
- State what holding to the Qur'an and the Sunnah means.
- Say what to do when Muslims disagree: refer it back to Allah and His Messenger.
- Choose your own next steps and know where to send questions marked “ask a scholar”.
Practise
Choose three next steps and write them down: a small daily portion of the Qur'an (once al-Fatihah is learned, begin learning Ayat al-Kursi, Qur'an 2:255, by heart), one regular class with a trusted teacher (and check who is teaching before you follow anything online), and your first question to send through the portal.
What it covers
The 8 subjects
The levels mix the subjects in the order a new Muslim needs them: praying comes first.
Welcome
Why Allah created you, how the religion is laid out (Islam, Iman and Ihsan), and how the course works.
1 lesson
Belief
Know what you testified to, who Allah is, what undoes faith, and the six pillars of Iman.
8 lessons
Purity
Purify yourself for Salah: Ghusl, the toilet, Wudu, wiping over socks, Tayammum, and the rules on bleeding.
6 lessons
Prayer
Pray the five daily prayers correctly and on time, pray with the congregation and at Jumu'ah, and know what to do when something goes wrong.
9 lessons
Fasting
Fast Ramadan correctly: who must fast, how a fasting day runs, what breaks the fast, and what to do if you cannot fast.
4 lessons
Zakah
Pay Zakat al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and know when Zakah on wealth is due, how much it is, and who may receive it.
4 lessons
Hajj
Know what Hajj and Umrah are, who must go, and their rites in outline, so that you can prepare for them one day.
4 lessons
What next
Live Islam among your family and people: what you eat and wear, your marriage and children, sound loyalty and good manners; and keep learning from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
5 lessons
How it works
Lessons and checks
Every lesson has five short steps
Lesson checks
Each lesson ends with a few easy questions. Try them again as many times as you like until you get them right; every answer explains itself.
Level checks
When you finish a level's lessons, the level check opens: 12 questions, mostly from that level and a few from earlier ones. Get 80% (10 of 12) to pass. There is no timer, and you can take it again as many times as you like; each time it shows you the lessons to look at again.
Opening the next level
The next level opens when you pass the level check and send your recordings of that level's recitations to a teacher.
Already know some of it?
Already know some of this? On a locked level you can take its check straight away. Pass it, and that level's lessons count as done.
At the end
The certificate
To get your certificate
- Pass all four level checks.
- Have your required recitations approved by a teacher.
- Show us a photo ID (passport, driving licence or national identity card) and a proof of address dated in the last three months.
We use these documents only to confirm who you are. A member of staff checks them, and we delete them 30 days after checking.
It is the College's own certificate of completion, not a formal qualification. Each certificate has its own number that anyone can check at theiic.uk/verify.
Where it comes from
Built on three trusted books
Every lesson is taken from three books written by scholars for ordinary Muslims and published by the King Fahd Complex in Madinah: Usul al-Iman for belief, al-Fiqh al-Muyassar for purity, prayer, fasting, Zakah and Hajj, and al-Dhikr wa-d-Du'a for the words of the prayer. Each gives its evidence from the Qur'an and the Sunnah. Read how we built it.
Ready when you are
Lessons open soon. Sign up now and we'll email you the day they open.
Syllabus v1.1, 13 Oct 2026. Lessons may change a little before they open.