Arabic and Islamic learning families can follow.
Hira Learning puts trained teachers into Islamic school programs and shows parents what their child is learning, week by week. We are starting in New York City, together with Fajr Institute's Arabic teachers in Egypt.
- 3 yearsrunning our school-to-family model in Queens
- 36+ schoolswhere our lead trainer has coached teachers
- Weeklyprogress updates parents can read at home
اقْرَأْ Iqra, the Arabic word for "read"
Iqra. Read.
Named for the cave where reading began.
Hira is the cave outside Makkah where the first word of revelation came: iqra, read. We took the name because this work starts in the same place, with a child learning to read well and with teachers who know how to teach.
What we do
Three parts that work together, so schools gain capacity and parents gain clarity.
Live Arabic teachers
Fajr Institute's teachers in Egypt join your school day by video, matched to your schedule and to each student's level. A trained person in the room supports the class so students stay focused and teachers can teach.
Coaching for your teachers
Practical training in instruction and classroom management, from an educator who has coached teachers at more than three dozen Islamic schools across North America.
A parent dashboard
A simple view of what your child is learning, where they are stuck, and what to practice this week. It is in design now, and the preview is below.
Lisan: Arabic and culture after school
Our after-school program for grades 3 to 8. Children speak, read and write Arabic and explore the cultures that speak it, in small groups with trained teachers, twice a week. Lisan means language, and tongue.
From Cairo to your classroom.
Hira Ventures has been connecting schools with Arabic teachers in Egypt for remote learning. Now Fajr Institute's team joins that work, so a school in New York can offer real Arabic instruction without hiring a department.
Arabic taught by a school with more than thirty years of experience
Fajr Institute in Cairo has taught Arabic to non-native speakers since 1995. Hira Learning brings that teaching to American families, with local coaching and a clear way for parents to follow progress.
- 1995
- Teaching Arabic since
- 80,000+
- Students from 77+ nationalities, as stated by Fajr
- 18 levels
- An introductory level plus 17, about 30 class hours each
- 10 or fewer
- Students per online class, grouped by level
- Ages 5 to 15
- Dedicated kids courses, on site and online
- Licensed
- Supervised by Egypt's Ministry of Education
Figures come from Fajr's own website, fajr.com, and are being confirmed with the Fajr team before launch.
The people behind Hira Learning
A teaching institute, a teacher trainer and a New York City organization, working on one plan.
Fajr Institute
Arabic teachers and curriculum from Cairo, with more than thirty years of experience teaching Arabic to non-native speakers.
Michael Abraham, Abraham Education
Author of Engaging Muslim Students in Public Schools (2020) and an instructional coach who has trained teachers at more than three dozen schools. Leads teacher development and program quality in the U.S.
Yasser Salem, OneNYC and Hira Ventures
Founder and chairman of OneNYC, a New York City Muslim civic and business organization. Hira Ventures is a New York State certified minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) that has run its school-to-family model in Queens for three years.
Join the plan
We are looking for schools, masjids and nonprofits to shape the first programs with us. Tell us what your students need.
Draft biographies for partner review.
Parents should not have to guess.
Every family gets a clear picture: what their child practiced, what is going well, and one or two things to do at home this week. Teachers and school leaders see the same data, so follow-up is specific.
Concept preview with sample data. The dashboard is in design.Layla's Arabic this week
Great rhythm. One more this week.
Read one page aloud for five minutes. Then say the letters ع غ ف (ayn, ghayn, fa) slowly together.
How it works for a school
A short path from the first conversation to a running program.
We listen and map
We look at your Arabic and Islamic studies schedule, your staffing, and what you want students to be able to do.
We match teachers and level students
Students are placed by level, and teachers are matched to your timetable and your classrooms.
We launch with coaching
Your staff get onboarding and ongoing coaching, so the program fits how your school already runs.
We share progress with families
Parents see progress and get guidance on follow-up. Your leaders see results by class and by level.
Who it serves
Islamic schools
Add strong Arabic capacity without hiring a full department. New York City has more than 25 Islamic schools, and we are starting there.
Parents and families
Clear progress, one-on-one options, and practical next steps, whether your child attends an Islamic school or not.
Masjids and community programs
Weekend and after-school programs that want a consistent curriculum and trained instructors.
Muslim students in public schools
Arabic study for students who attend public schools, including through state language-credit pathways where they exist.
Where we are
The partnership between Hira Ventures, OneNYC and Fajr Institute is being written down now. Here is where things stand.
Bring Hira Learning to your school.
Tell us about your program and what you want your students to reach. We reply personally.
Email us