How to Learn Arabic in Egypt (Study Fusha, Tajweed, Hifz, Quran)

Asalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu:

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem

So you want to study Arabic overseas do you? I'm going to try and give you a realistic picture inshAllah, because there will be surprises. Allah accept this effort and reward you for your intentions.

I HIGHLY recommend also reading this blog post and resources:

http://mustaqeem.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/egypt/

http://studyarabicinegypt.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/UsNEgypt

Pros of studying Arabic in Egypt:

-So far, I can only speak of Egypt, because I haven't been anywhere else.

-It's possibly cheaper than studying in the West

-Its intensive, classes range from 3-6 hours per day

-You won't be distracted by work or family

-You get to practice Arabic with fellow students

-Local Egyptian can understand you

-However, you won't understand them, because they speak Ammiyah (slang Arabic)

Cons:

-It's a huge adjustment from the West

-I came from Canada. Americans and Canadians will have to adjust from their cozy life

-Egyptian speak slang Arabic, so its hard to practice with the locals.

-Egypt does suffer from poverty

-You need to renew your intention regularly (which is actually a good thing)

-If you have a huge personality issue (i.e. are very impatient), then Egypt is not for you

-And Allah knows best

Summary:

Okay. I've been studying in Egypt for almost 2 months now. In a way, my heart has become attached to Egypt. I love praying in the Musallah's and Masjids regularly. I love how I can say "Asalamu Alaykum" to anyone and they respond in an even better manner with "Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu." I love anybody with a beard here, they are super kind and possess super humble character. However, I hate the piles of garbage which can be seen on every block and stray dogs. I dislike the amount of poverty, Allah have mercy on these people. I dislike the organization and clusters of people. But at the end of the day, I realize that what I have is a blessing from Allah. I've always wanted to learn Arabic, being born and raised in Canada, coming from an Indo-Pakistani background, I felt that the Western Islamic education I was receiving just wasn't structured. It was also my fault because I wasn't disciplined. So I ask Allah to help me on this journey. Ameen.

So where do you start?

First of all make the intention. Do sincere dua to Allah. Next, do your research, talk to Imams, friends who have studied in Arabic. It's no joke. You will be tested. But do not worry, you'll get thru it. Remember you being tested, is a sign that Allah loves you. So what's a test? Well you might get sick here for a few days. You might get ripped off by taxi cab drivers a few times. You might get frustrated with the lack of organization. Your expectation of Egypt might be turned upside down. But you know what? Your goal is to better understand the speech of Allah, and the Sunnah of RasulAllah salalahu alayhi wasalam. What else do you have to lose man? Allah put you to it, and so Allah will get you through it. :) - By the 2nd week you're in Egypt you'll have forgotten all your worries. You'll have a smile on your face and you'll be better adjusted.

Where will I live? How much does an Apartment in Egypt cost?

That depends on you and how cozy you want to live. Through my research and through what I've seen, it's fairly difficult to find a "Western" style apartment. You get a small kitchen with gas stove, 1 living room, and usually most apartment are 2 or 3 bedrooms. It's hard to find a 1 bedroom (studio), though I know they exist. You need to contact a Simsaar. But you know what, finding an apartment in Cairo is a headache. So it's best to ask the institute you're studying with, or if you have a friend here, ask them. Or find a Simsaar (real estate agent/apartment broker) that speaks English. Regardless, I highly recommend getting a apartment near the institute you study. I also highly recommend if you can, to get one no more than 5 or 10 minutes walking distance. Personally the further away I am, the less motivated I am to go to class.

You never told me how much an apartment costs!

Oh yeah sorry, um, I mean, "Yani," um, apartment will range from 1000 EGP to 3000 EGP (Egyptian pounds, the rate is approximately 6 EGP=1 U.S. dollar). I have two roommates and we're each paying 1,000. However, I've seen apartment nicer than mine in the same location, and the brother are paying 2,500. So yeah...

Okay, what's the total cost, tuition, food, apartment, and all that?

I don't want anybody to come here and be short on cash, so I will provide you with an over-estimate. If you can work for a year or two in the West and save some money and then come over here, that's a good idea. But essentially, if you're just by yourself, I believe, you shouldn't spend more than $500 (for everything) per month that is. Again though, I don't know HOW cozy each of you live so it depends from person to person. Here's a break down:

-2000-2500 EGP for an apartment/month - if you have a roommate, it makes things MUCH easier.

-I personally pay about $283 for mine, and my place is decent Alhamdulillah, which I share with 2 other brothers

-Food, about 1000 EGP per month. Maybe $5 U.S. per day, but again, depends on how much you cook, can you eat the street food, do you like to eat out a lot, etc.

-Tuition: This varies from place to place. Some institutions charge you $80 U.S. per level (1 level is about 60 to 75 hours and takes 5 weeks to complete). Others will charge you $115 U.S. Keep in mind these are group rates. If you want semi-private or 1-on-1, you'll pay more. You can find private teachers for about 20 EGP per hour. And intensive (5.5 hours per day) courses (i.e. completing a level in 2.5 weeks), are more expensive, sometimes double the price almost per level, so $200 U.S. per level! That's expensive. But group rates are pretty cheap and you can bargain with them if you tell them your budget. I can't tell if you should do intensive or group, you have to decide that.

-Taking a cab to City Stars (Spinny's is a grocery store in this mega mall and its similar to Kroger, Meyers, or Superstore), will cost you about 2 U.S. dollars.

-Again, I believe, I could be wrong, but I think a person should come here with at least $10,000 U.S. dollars. If you stay for about 8 months (complete 5-6 levels of Arabic, in total there are 12 or 14), then you could spend in that 8 months about $6,000. But if you live cheaply and smartly (is "smartly" a word, heh, heh), then you'll spend less. Allahu Alim.

Which institute do I choose?

Okay this is important. This is my advice, you don't have to take it. Come to Egypt first then choose an institute. Try to come before September or before mid-September, as I hear that's when all the semester start. But really if you join a BIG institute (the bigger ones usually have a a website and over 100 students), then you can join any time, because every month they have Arabic starting from level zero. Again my advice is that you come to Egypt first. Stay in a hotel called "International Scouts Cairo" or something (located at 2 Yusuf Abbas, Madinat Nasr). They charge $175 EGP per night (around $35 U.S. dollars I think). There's also a cheaper hotel right across from them. And for 1 week, you can do your research on your lap top, and take a taxi to every institute. See which one suites you. I am currently studying at Markaz Fajr, but you may not like that one. If you want a cozier place, than you may want to look at Al-Diwan. And if you want super cheap, you may want to go to Alexandria and study with Qortoba. But again, I am warning you, and MY SUPER advice is this: Don't give any institute a down payment. First come here then choose one. Go to Alexandria by train if you have to (Ramses train, first class) to see Qortoba's campus. Many institutes are the size of a small house with 3-6 rooms that fit 9 to 12 students. There are even institutes that don't have a website. Go to Kalimah institute (near Markaz Fajr), go to Sibaway, Aleem, Daad Centre, Markaz Safeer, etc. You may be the type of person that can live in the jungle. Or you may be a like me, you need a little bit of coziness, but not too much coziness. Remember these institutes are a business. Some of them will reduce their price if you tell them your budget. For Quran, Tajweed, Qiraat, Hifz, Tilawat, there are tons of institures. Markaz Masarawi and Dar-Al-Fajr located on Mustafa Nahhas are two that are nearby me. One of my teachers, a 25-year old named Ustaz Amr was blind, but was amazing in his voice mashAllah. You can pay 10 to 15 EGP/hour for 1-on-1 or pay 40 EGP per month for a group (twice per week). |Though many people are charging 20 EGP as the standard for 1-on-1, Arabic or Quran. Yes, you can find free teachers too, but it's a bit difficult, and I haven't been here long enough to know, Allahu Alim.

How do I get around in Egypt?

Take the white taxis initially. They have meters. And say Asalamu Alaykum to all cab drivers. Let them know your Muslim, but also imply that you're not a stupid foreigner who will give them 100 EGP tip. You can take the black taxis, but that is riskier. There is also micro-bus and regular bus. You can take those after awhile when you're more comfortable. Crossing the street is tough initially but Alhamdulillah, I'm use to it. Have you ever been to Pakistan or India or Bangladesh? Well being from Pakistan, I went to visit my family in 2004/2005. I can tell you Pakistan is NO different than Egypt. It's the exact same, even the people look the same (you find all the colors in the world in Pakistan). The only difference is that they have Cricket in Pakistan, and Football in Egypt, and the language of course.

How does the Visa issue work? Will I be interrogated at the airport?

-Okay. You come to Egypt and as soon as you step into the Airport, you'll see a row of tellers. Go to one of them, and they charge you about $14 U.S. dollars for a 5 week tourist visa. It's easy for Westerners with a Western passport (Canadian, American, British, etc.) to enter Egypt, but harder others. After that, you can ask your institution to give you a student Visa, or you can go to the Mugama (government building in Tahrir Square) and renew your visa ever 3 months. They might give you for longer (6 month visa), Allahu Alim. But make sure you go with someone your first time, because it's a headache and can take half a day.

How are things after the Egyptian revolution (January 2011)?

I am writing this as of November 19, 2011, after the revolution, but before elections, so I really can't say. And I was never in Egypt before the revolution, but speaking with locals, they do tell me that there was a bit more security and more tourists. All in all, not too much difference. If you're Muslim, and you look like a Muslim (brown skin, black skin, white skin with a kufi), you'll be fine. The locals are friendly with Muslims. Well they are friendly with non-Muslims as well, but in my opinion, they may try to rip you off even more. Don't expect to find the Deen in Egypt. But what you will see and feel is brotherhood, kindness, you'll hear the Quran in stores instead of Muslim, you'll hear the Athan 5 times a day, you'll pray Fajr in the Masjid, you can get someone to teach you Tajweed, it's great.

Which curriculum?

I chose Al Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk (Arabic between your hands). I've also used a bit of Kitab Assasi. It's easy and picture friendly. It's a lengthy discussion, but essentially, M.S.A. (Modern Standard Arabic) and Fusha (classical Arabic) are now referred to as the same thing. Some curriculum's are more Islamic orientated I hear, like Muhammad Ibn Saud, and the Madina Books. You could study these later after you pick up the speaking skill. I will tell you what I was told: Make learning Arabic fun. If the first thing you learn is Nahu, Sarf, Qawa'id, Balagha, etc. - it might demotivate you. That's why the Bayna Yadayk curriculum is designed to get you comfortable with speaking, reading, having a conversation about your daily life and daily routine (i.e. Your name, Your status, Where do you pray, etc.). But I can't speak on the other curriculums, because I haven't gone through it. But I know that I really enjoy learning and going to class. Try to have someone who speaks your native tongue in your class who you can talk to in case you don't understand something. At the end of the day, once you have a good teacher you are set. If you don't like your Ustaz, you can always ask your institute to change him/her. By the way classes are segregated for those wondering Alhamdulillah.

How long will it take me to learn Arabic? And what do I do after Arabic?

I don't know but man, it's a blessing. Now you can study Islamic topics, go to Azhar, Islamic University in Islamabad, Madinah, I really don't know though, but go to YouTube and watch some Arabic lectures. Now don't you want to understand what they're saying? Don't you want to read Hadiths in Arabic from Imam Nawawi's heart-softening books? Don't you want to better understand the Qur'an and travel throughout the Arabic world on a journey of knowledge? Allahu Alim, but I was told you can develop a foundation of Arabic in 1 year. And I will assume to perfect if after that, perhaps 1-2 years, but you may be able to do that part time while you work on other Islamic topics. You can also work on your Tajweed and/or Quran memorization.

Where do I live?

As for Cairo, Egyot, Madinat Nasr is the place to be. Though there are institutes in other areas of Cairo such as in Maadi, 6th of October City, Giza, etc. You need to come here and choose, but make sure to live walking distance from your institute.

What do I eat?

Western chain restaurants costs you about 15 EGP per meal. Street food and/or mediocre food (i.e. Shabrawi's

Where do I buy stuff from?

There are tiny grocery stores all over the place, and also a larger chain called Ragab and Sons. Also, there is a place called Tawheed Al-Noor, this the "Walmart" of Egypt. It's not as big, but you can get thobes, kitchenware, housewares, furniture, slippers, etc.

Can I bring my family?

There are a few American, British and French brothers here with the families. And they even have their kids in school here. But that's all I will say, because I just don't want to give the wrong information. Of course your wife can learn Arabic here too, that is not a problem at all .

How many students are there?

-In my class 9. In my institution, maybe a few hundred. But we all obviously study at different times in the day. I highly recommend staying up after Fajr and studying.

Tell me more about Madinat Nasr in Cairo:

-Wow. I've never met so many Muslims from around the world. Russian Muslims, Chinese Muslims, Malaysian Muslims, European Muslims, Muslims from American, France, Canada, etc. The most visible minorities in Egypt are probably Sudanese and Somalis, lots of them, they are great, friendly, helpful, and humble people.

-There are 3 phone providers: Etisilat, Vodaphone, and Mobinil. I don't know which is the best, ask people, they are all decent though. You will spend about 50 EGP per month (10 U.S. dollars for credits) and can get a cheap phone for about 30 U.S. dollars. I have this cheap LG phone with FM radio (P.S. there's a Quran radio station here, awesome huh!?).

-Internet: You can share with neighbors (cheap) or spend 150 to 200 EGP per month for an internet USB stick.

-Make sure you bring dental floss man and buy a miswaak. Seriously, dental hygiene is important akhee. I don't know why but I find myself having to floss quite a bit when I'm over here.

Resources:

-Type in Bayna Yadayk in YouTube. This is probably the most popular curriculum. Just watch the first video at least.

-Nouman Ali Khan, Arabic, and his motivational videos on YouTube

-Kamalullah, their Arabic section

-MuslimMedia.ca - My website, click on Quran

-A Student of Knowledge Guide to Egypt by Dhikrullah.com