Sumaya started her Arabic learning journey in 2002 and is still an eager Arabic student. She has taught Classical Arabic and Tajwid with the Fawakih Institute, and has taught children Tajwid and Islamic Studies at a private Muslim school in the USA for several years.

         

Her Tajwid and Arabic learning journey has spanned South Africa, Jordan, Syria and the USA. In 2005 she attained her ijazah (hafs ‘asim- hadir) in Damascus, by the late Shaykh Kurdy, may God have mercy on him. Sumaya has a B.A. in Arabic & English, and an Honours Degree in Arabic from the University of South Africa. She has a diploma in Islamic Studies from the Islamic College of South Africa (now IPSA). Sumaya has studied Islamic Studies both formally and informally in various countries, and is also a certified ING speaker (Islamic Networks Group), enjoying dialogue with other faith groups.

 

Learning to recite the Qur'an as a young girl, but having had no understanding of the Arabic language, she embarked upon her Arabic language learning journey 18 years ago and remembers the first time she heard an ayah from the Qur'an whilst able to finally understand the meaning. It was as if she was a deaf person who was suddenly given the ability to hear. Studying Arabic has opened up many spiritual doors for her, in facilitating a meaningful and profound connection to our Islamic sources and tradition.