Teach Qur’an with understanding, not memorisation alone, scholar tells teachers

* As Mahdul Furqaan matriculates 31 students, calls for stronger parental support for Arabic education

The Head of the Da’wah Research Unit (HDRU) at the National Headquarters of The Muslim Congress (TMC), Ustadh Salman Roji, has said Arabic proficiency does not limit career prospects, urging Muslims to embrace the language for its religious, educational and global relevance.

He made the submission while delivering a lecture titled “Relevance of Arabic and Islamic Education” at the matriculation ceremony of Mahdul Furqaan Foundation for Arabic and Islamic Studies, held on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the school’s premises in Lagos.

Ustadh Roji described Arabic as a globally relevant language, noting that it is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. He added that proficiency in Arabic could enable scholars to attain the peak of their careers in academia and other fields.

The ceremony formally welcomed newly admitted students and brought together the school’s management, parents and other stakeholders to prepare the learners for the responsibilities of their academic journey.

Muslim News gathered that the foundation admitted 31 students into different levels of its Arabic and Islamic studies programme for the new academic session.

Of the new intake, 25 students were admitted into Awwal Ibtidaiy, the beginners’ level; two into Thani Ibtidaiy, equivalent to Primary two; one into Thalith Ibtidaiy, equivalent to Primary Three; and three into Awwal Idaadi, equivalent to Junior Secondary School One.

Arabic language offers wider career opportunities

Speaking on the relevance of Arabic, Ustadh Roji said the language’s international standing and rich vocabulary made it an important tool for communication, scholarship and intellectual development.

“Arabic is one of the six languages from across the globe regularly used when nations assemble for United Nations’ gatherings. It is the official language of 22 countries, with 12 in Asia and 10 in Africa. In fact, not less than 420 million people speak Arabic,” he said.

He added that the language’s vocabulary offered broad possibilities for expressing complex ideas and developing comprehensive thoughts.

“These indicate speakers of Arabic can be relevant anywhere they find themselves. We’ve seen scholars of Arabic become professors in Nigerian universities, attain the peak of their respective careers in academia and other fields of endeavour,” he said.

The renowned Muslim scholar maintained that Islamic education, such as that provided by Mahdul Furqaan and similar institutions, could help nurture sound judgement, self-reliance, discipline and time consciousness among learners.

His remarks challenged the perception that Arabic and Islamic studies restrict students’ professional choices, arguing instead that the language could complement other areas of learning and create opportunities for those who develop proficiency in it.

…Urges Muslims to learn Arabic

Ustadh Roji, who is also the mudir of Fushaa Arabic Academy stressed the importance of learning Arabic for every Muslim, regardless of age, describing it as essential to understanding the Qur’an and the Sunnah, the teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“Every Muslim should strive to understand Arabic. It has become sacrosanct because it is the language of Kitab wa Sunnah, and as such, lacking its understanding is a disservice to ourselves,” he said.

He encouraged both young and older Muslims to make deliberate efforts to learn the language, arguing that a better understanding of Arabic could strengthen their engagement with Islamic teachings.

The speaker also attributed a statement to the renowned Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah concerning the consequences of not understanding Arabic. However, the precise wording and source of the quotation require verification before it can be published as a direct quotation.

Chairman urges students to uphold core values

In his welcome address, the Board Chairman of Mahdul Furqaan, Dr Muhammad Abdus-Salaam, congratulated the newly admitted students and urged them to regard their admission as an opportunity to be valued and used responsibly.

“On behalf of Mahdul Furqaan, I welcome everyone to this occasion. I also send a warm congratulatory message to the new students. Many applied to study here, but just a few were offered admission,” he said.

He encouraged the students to take advantage of the educational opportunities available at the institution, expressing admiration for the work being done by the school in Mushin, Lagos.

The chairman also urged the students to make academic excellence, discipline and moral character the foundation of their conduct throughout their studies.

“Having said that, I must highlight our core values, which are academic excellence, diligence, discipline and moral character. If you want to be here, you must be ready to study hard. There is no other way to go about it,” he said.

He added that the school would not tolerate indiscipline or compromise its expectations regarding students’ character.

Dr Abdus-Salaam thanked parents and guardians for entrusting their children to the institution and prayed that Allah would continue to strengthen and enrich them.

School prioritises understanding alongside memorisation

In his address, the Mudir of the school, Ustadh Abdul-Hadi Abdul-Ghaniyy, said the school’s approach to Qur’anic education goes beyond memorising the scripture to ensuring that students understand its meaning.

He explained that the institution wants its Huffaz (students who have memorised the Qur’an) to appreciate the message of the verses they learn rather than focus exclusively on memorisation.

“Here, we ensure that our learners understand the meaning of the Qur’an as they memorise it through a subject known as Tafheemul Quran, because we’ve seen atrocities being committed by some memorizers of the Qur’an in the world today. Understanding the message will save society from such menace,” he said.

Ustadh Abdul-Ghaniyy added that achieving the desired results required commitment from parents and guardians, as well as cooperation between families and the school.

“We are open to feedback and constructive criticism. That’s what we’ve taken upon ourselves. We plead with parents to complement the efforts of the school when they get home. Parents should also strive to understand Arabic to avoid being bamboozled by the children,” he said.

His remarks highlighted the institution’s emphasis on combining memorisation with comprehension and encouraging parents to participate actively in their children’s Arabic and Islamic education.

From mosque-based classes to a growing institution

Established in September 2022, Mahdul Furqaan Foundation for Arabic and Islamic Studies was founded by professionals seeking to promote Arabic and Islamic knowledge, deepen understanding of Islam and encourage Qur’an memorisation.

The institution began its activities at Ayosoluwa Central Mosque in Mushin, Lagos, where it spent 2 years before moving to a rented facility in January 2025 as its programmes expanded.

In September 2025, the school held its fourth matriculation ceremony, admitting 18 students for the 2025/2026 academic session. Earlier reporting also documented its first graduation ceremony in the year 2025, at which three students received certificates after completing three years of study in Arabic grammar, Qur’anic recitation and other Islamic education subjects.

The foundation has since broadened its activities through initiatives that include Qur’an boot camps, holiday Tahfidh classes, data analysis training and entrepreneurship programmes, reflecting efforts to connect Arabic and Islamic education with practical skills.

In August 2026, the institution held her second Haflah and Convocation Ceremony for four students who completed its Idaadi programme and announced a launching of her N250M permanent Madrasah building facility, which is still begging for the support of general Muslims philanthropist and we’ll wishers

The October 11 matriculation marked another stage in the institution’s development, with 31 students joining its various classes.

… Students rewarded for excellence

The ceremony also featured the recognition and presentation of awards to students who excelled academically and demonstrated discipline and good character during the session.

The recognition reinforced the institution’s stated commitment to academic excellence and moral development as complementary aspects of education.

The event ended with renewed emphasis on the importance of Arabic proficiency, understanding the Qur’an and strengthening cooperation between the school and parents to support the students’ educational progress.

Sponsored

Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025

Global Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/2025