Quran Classes in English for Families in Germany

English-speaking Muslim families in Germany can give their children Quran lessons in a language they fully understand through one-to-one online classes taught in English. Noor Elbayan Academy offers live 30-minute lessons on Zoom or Google Meet with certified Azhari teachers, for children from age 6 and for adults. This page explains why the language of teaching matters, which afternoon times suit the German school day, and how to plan around holidays that differ from one federal state to the next.

When the mosque class is not in your language

Many mosque classes in Germany are taught in German, Turkish or Arabic, according to the community that founded the mosque. That serves most local families well. It is harder for a family that has recently arrived for work or study, or whose children attend an international school and are still finding their feet in German.

A child can sit in such a class and copy the sounds, but miss the explanation: why this letter is heavy, where the tongue should be, what to practise at home. Parents face the same barrier when they try to ask the teacher how things are going. Learning in English removes it. Your child understands the correction the first time, and you can read the written report that follows every lesson.

This need not replace the mosque. Friday prayers, Eid and the company of other Muslim children remain valuable, and attending them will also help your child’s German. Online lessons simply make sure the Quran itself is being learned properly in the meantime.

Afternoon lesson times after the German school day

In many German schools, particularly primary schools, lessons end around midday or in the early afternoon, although all-day schools and after-school care are now common. Either way, there is usually a clear window in the afternoon. Germany is normally one hour behind Cairo, so the times are easy to match.

German time	Cairo time (usual)	Suits
2.00pm to 2.30pm	3.00pm to 3.30pm	Primary children who are home by lunchtime
3.30pm to 4.00pm	4.30pm to 5.00pm	Children after lunch and homework
5.00pm to 5.30pm	6.00pm to 6.30pm	Children in all-day school or after-school care
7.00pm to 7.30pm	8.00pm to 8.30pm	Teenagers and parents
Saturday, 10.00am to 10.30am	11.00am to 11.30am	Anyone with full weekdays

These times are indicative. Germany changes its clocks at the end of March and the end of October; Egypt moves forward in late April and back in late October. For roughly a month in spring, and for a few days in autumn, the two countries share the same time. Please confirm your slot at each change.

A sample week for a primary school child

• Monday, 3.30pm: 30-minute lesson. New letters or a new line of reading.
• Wednesday, 3.30pm: 30-minute lesson. Revision, then the next step.
• Friday, 4.30pm: 30-minute lesson, after Jumu’ah and lunch.
• Tuesday and Thursday: five minutes of practice from the lesson report.

Holidays that change from state to state

School holidays in Germany are set by each federal state. The summer break lasts about six weeks everywhere, but the dates are staggered, so it may begin in late June in one state and at the end of July in another. Autumn, Christmas, winter and Easter or Whitsun breaks also vary. A few practical steps keep lessons running smoothly:

1. Send your state’s holiday dates when you book, and again at the start of each school year.
2. Move lessons to the morning during holidays, when children are most alert.
3. Use the summer break to consolidate. Six weeks is long enough to finish a stage of the reading book with three or four lessons a week.
4. Travelling home in the summer? Lessons continue wherever you have internet, and a lesson cancelled at least six hours ahead is made up.
5. Watch for bridge days and state public holidays. A free weekday is a good moment for a catch-up lesson.

What English-medium teaching looks like

The Quran is always recited in Arabic. What changes is the language around it: instructions, corrections, encouragement and the report are in English. Teachers also speak Arabic and French, which is useful for families who use more than one language at home.

Most children start with the Noor Al-Bayan and Qaida reading track. It moves from the letters and their sounds to short vowels, joined letters and words, until the child can read from the mushaf unaided. After that come Tajweed and memorisation on the Hifz track. The academy also teaches Arabic for children and Islamic studies for children, which some families add once reading is established.

Teachers are Azhari graduates with more than ten years of experience and hold an Ijazah with a connected Sanad. Female teachers are available for girls and women.

Is one-to-one online right for your family?

It is likely to be a good fit if several of these apply:

• Your child’s strongest language is English.
• You want to understand and follow your child’s progress yourself.
• You may move again, within Germany or abroad, and want the same teacher to continue.
• Your child is ahead of, or behind, the group they would join locally.
• You live some distance from a mosque with a children’s class.

Fees and how to begin

Fees are stated in US dollars, from $40 per month. The amount in euro depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay and on your bank’s conversion terms. The first lesson is a free trial, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee after enrolment.

Frequently asked questions

My child speaks English at home and German at school. Is English still best?

Usually, yes, because explanations land most easily in the language a child thinks in. The teacher will quickly see what works in the trial lesson.

Can siblings share a lesson?

Lessons are one-to-one, so each child has their own 30 minutes and their own pace. Siblings are often scheduled back to back, which keeps the routine simple.

From what age do you teach?

From age 6. Adults are welcome as well, and parents sometimes learn alongside their children.

What if my child is ill on the day?

Let the academy know at least six hours before the lesson and it will be made up.

See a lesson for yourself. Book a free trial lesson in English at a time that suits your afternoon.