Our Story

At Harvard University in 1968, the Ghazis questioned how they would teach Islam to their children. Deciding to make America home, they knew they had to nourish their children’s fitrah with more than the memorization of Islamic tenets.  Even more, they wanted their children’s Islamic education to positively impact those around them. 

Their answer? As educators – by training and vocation – they conceived an entire curriculum of Islamic Studies, based on the traditional madrasah syllabus yet framed within a modern educational methodology.  Inspired by Jewish and Catholic approaches to religious education, they created rudimentary syllabi, textbooks and workbooks.

Along the way, they gathered like-minded Islamic educators and professionals until, in 1983, their collective efforts coalesced to found IQRA’ International Educational Foundation.  Since then, the Ghazis and the IQRA’ staff created the defining Program of Islamic Studies, which includes 150 books of syllabi, textbooks, workbooks and teacher’s guides.​

As the Muslim community grew, so did their educational needs.  IQRA’ designed workshops and assessment tools for school administrators and teachers, coaching for parents to nurture their children’s classroom experience, and school events for children. ​

All this, sprung from the concern of two parents. 

Today, IQRA’ calls Skokie, Illinois home.  Staffed by educators, professionals, and volunteers, we grew to become synonymous with Islamic education worldwide.  Our Program of Islamic Studies is one of the most widely used in the Islamic world, and our textbooks are trusted where ever Muslim communities are established.  From Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia, to Muslim communities in Siberia, IQRA’s Islamic school curriculum is recognized for seamlessly weaving together Islam and modern education.  Our approach to education is nuanced, for we consider such things as pedagogy and grade readability when we design our textbooks and workbooks.  The standards we set for ourselves is something licensed teachers appreciate.  What solidifies that trust is that we submit our school textbooks to the scrutiny of Islamic scholars and educators.  Teachers can trust that our school books are authentic. 

It’s why the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the Republic of Singapore trusted IQRA’ to design its Islamic curriculum.

Our scope is not limited to textbooks and workbooks, however.  IQRA’ collaborates with Strategic Measurement and Evaluation – leaders in educational assessment – to design and implement the first Islamic Studies Standardized Test (ISST).  The use of this test give teachers a tool to measure retention and aptitude, and enables easy transfer of students between Islamic schools.  IQRA’ also facilitates training programs that offer accreditation for teachers and administrators to effectively run schools and classrooms.  And IQRA’ recognizes that Islamic learning must extend outside the classroom, which is why we facilitate coaching for parents and students, and hold Islamic book fairs at Islamic schools. 

Our history and scope of our vision is why we believe IQRA’ is where Islamic education begins.