Fawakih Institute

What Fawakih Institute does

Fawakih Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (operated under Polaris Foundation, Inc., headquartered in Herndon, VA) that provides structured Quranic Arabic education to adult Muslims, Islamic studies students, and partner educational institutions across the US, Canada, and internationally. Founded in 2008 by Saif Omar, the organization targets a specific functional gap: adult Muslims who can read the Quran in Arabic but cannot understand it, and who have struggled with general Modern Standard Arabic or dialectal programs that are not optimized for Quranic comprehension. The company's core product is a proprietary 6-level Quranic Arabic curriculum (Levels 1-6, each subdivided into A/B/C semesters) covering Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced tiers, with each level providing access to approximately one-third of the Quran. The curriculum is delivered via an inverted (flipped) learning model in which students consume standardized video lessons before live instructor-led sessions, with class time reserved for interactive exercises, quizzing, translation practice, TeachBack, and Q&A. Supporting technical assets include a 12,000+ question bank, a gamified vocabulary learning app with 1,000+ Quranic words, 18 fillable PDF textbooks, and a Kajabi-hosted online learning portal with 24/7 academic coaching via WhatsApp and email.

Fawakih's business model combines paid tuition with auxiliary product sales and donations. Core cohort tuition is $1,800 per level as a one-time payment (or $75/month for 18 months via a subscription payment plan), plus separate textbook purchases ($120 for a 3-textbook bundle or $50 per individual textbook). Add-on revenue streams include a MORE subscription ($30/month for supplementary live sessions), flashcards ($39-$89 by configuration), Tajwid and Level 0 add-ons ($200 and $275 respectively), Advanced Arabic classes ($216.67-$575), Summer Weekly courses ($575), and private tutoring (from $585). A 30-day free trial of the self-paced curriculum is offered as a funnel into the paid subscription. Because Fawakih is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations to a General Fund and a Student Fund (with monthly tiers from $25 to $250) supplement tuition revenue and support scholarships and curriculum development. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth within mosque networks, Islamic centers, and endorsements from named scholars, with institutional partnerships at universities and seminaries (University of Michigan, University of Chicago, Mishkah University, TISA, Hartford Seminary, Drexel University) providing both a delivery channel and credibility. The leadership team is founder-led: Saif Omar (CEO), Dr. Ismail ibn Ali (Executive Director), and Dr. Suheil Laher (Academic Dean, Harvard PhD), supported by a small professional team of approximately 11 employees and a roster of instructors trained in traditional Islamic sciences and Western academic institutions.

Name

Fawakih Institute

Legal name

Polaris Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://fawakih.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fawakih Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing structured Quranic Arabic education through live cohorts, an online learning portal, and university partnerships. It serves adult Muslims, Islamic studies students, and partner universities and seminaries across the US, Canada, and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Religious Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Live Online Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes (EDAMAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF), Islamic Colleges & Sharia/Fiqh Institutes (EDAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Quranic Arabic education
• Islamic studies curriculum
• Online Arabic learning
• Religious education programs
• Flipped classroom instruction

Headquarters

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition (Cohort-Based): Live instructor-led cohort tuition charged as a one-time payment covering one level/semester of instruction ($1,800 for Level 1). Includes access to the learning portal, video lessons, quizzes, academic coaching, and WhatsApp support. Payment plans also available ($75/month for 18 months).
2. Textbook Sales: Physical and digital textbooks sold for each level. Level bundle (3 textbooks) priced at $120; individual textbooks at $50 each. Textbook revenue supports Quranic Arabic research and curriculum development.
3. Flashcard Products: Quranic Arabic vocabulary flashcards sold at various bundle configurations: Level 1 Set ($39-50), Level 1+2 Bundle ($68), Three-Set Bundle ($89), Surah-specific bundles ($50-89).
4. Supplementary Add-On Courses: Additional paid offerings including Tajwid Add-On ($200), Level 0 Add-On ($275), Summer Weekly courses ($575), Private Tutoring (from $585), Advanced Arabic Classes ($216.67-$575).
5. MORE Subscription: Monthly subscription add-on offering supplementary live sessions (Quran Speaking Saturdays, Sarf-ing Saturdays, Quran Line-by-Line Thursdays) for $30/month, exclusively for core students.
6. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Fawakih accepts donations to a General Fund (supports instructor salaries, curriculum development, programs) and a Student Fund (supports student scholarships). Monthly donor tiers range from $25 to $250.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fawakih Institute delivers a structured 6-Level Quranic Arabic curriculum (Levels 1-6, each with A/B/C components) through live instructor-led online cohorts, supported by an inverted (flipped) learning model that combines pre-recorded video lessons with interactive live sessions. The curriculum is supplemented by physical and digital textbooks, a 12,000+ question bank, a gamified vocabulary app, and 24/7 academic coaching, serving adult Muslims seeking direct comprehension of the Quran.

Product overview

Fawakih Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit Quranic Arabic education organization operating primarily through its Kajabi-hosted online platform at arabiconline.fawakih.org. Its core offering is a structured 6-level Quranic Arabic curriculum (Levels 1–6, each with A/B/C parts) taught in live instructor-led cohorts, supported by the Inverted Learning model (video lessons pre-watched, class time for interactive exercises). The curriculum is supplemented by physical and digital textbooks (sold individually or in bundles), Quranic Arabic Vocabulary Flashcards (Level 1, Level 1+2, and three-set bundle including Surah Al-Baqarah), a gamified vocabulary learning app (Memrise-style), MORE add-on weekly sessions (Quran Speaking, Sarf-ing, Line-by-Line), advanced Arabic classes, summer intensives, private tutoring, Tajwid and Level 0 add-ons, the Hans Wehr dictionary, tuition assistance/scholarships, and monthly donation programs. Institutional partnerships exist with universities and seminaries including the University of Michigan, Harvard, and Hartford Seminary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% Quran comprehension per level (30% total by end of Level 1: 15% direct comprehension + 15% via dictionary)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFawakih founder Saif Omar majored in Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan. The university is listed as one of the institutions where Fawakih's curriculum has been taught.
• University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFawakih's Quranic Arabic curriculum is taught at the University of Chicago as part of their Islamic studies or Arabic programming.
• Mishkah UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFawakih's curriculum is taught at Mishkah University as part of their online Islamic education offerings.
• The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Dr. Yasir Qadhi, TISA incorporates Fawakih's Quranic Arabic curriculum into its seminary program, indicating a formal institutional adoption.
• Hartford SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFawakih's curriculum is taught at Hartford Seminary, a well-known institution for Islamic scholarship in the US, providing academic credibility and student recruitment.
• Drexel UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFawakih's Philadelphia year-long Quranic Arabic course was held at Drexel University in 2015, representing an early institutional partnership for campus-based delivery.
• Harvard UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic Dean Dr. Suheil Laher completed his PhD in Islamic Studies at Harvard University and has previously taught Arabic and Persian at Harvard, Brandeis, and Boston Universities. CEO Saif Omar completed a Masters in Public Policy at Harvard. These academic connections lend institutional credibility.
• ADAMS CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImam Mohamed Magid serves as Resident Scholar at the ADAMS Center and is an advisor to Fawakih, representing a personal advisory connection to this Islamic community center.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Rabata: Rabata is a US-based nonprofit focused on Islamic education, with programs including Arabic and Quranic studies. It overlaps with Fawakih in nonprofit Islamic education for adult women and families and competes for similar donor and learner mindshare.
• Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research: Yaqeen is an emerging Islamic research and education organization producing content, courses, and publications for English-speaking Muslims. It overlaps thematically with Fawakih in serving the same adult learner audience interested in structured Islamic knowledge.
• Madina Institute: Madina Institute offers Arabic and Islamic sciences programs with both in-person and online delivery, including Classical/Quranic Arabic tracks. It overlaps with Fawakih in structured adult Arabic learning for English-speaking Muslims, particularly in the US.

Direct peers

• Mishkah University: Mishkah is an online Islamic university that incorporates Fawakih's curriculum into its Quranic Arabic program. As a partner and direct overlap in online Islamic higher education, it competes for the same Islamic studies student segment requiring Arabic credit.
• AlMaghrib Institute: AlMaghrib is a large North American Islamic education provider running seminar-based weekend intensives across multiple Islamic sciences. It overlaps with Fawakih in premium Islamic adult education, cohort-style delivery, and the same English-speaking Muslim demographic.
• Bayyinah Institute: Founded by Nouman Ali Khan, Bayyinah is a leading structured Quranic Arabic program delivered through video courses, live cohorts, and apps. It directly competes with Fawakih for the same English-speaking Muslim learner seeking Quranic comprehension, with overlapping premium-pricing and cohort-based delivery.
• Qalam Institute: Qalam Institute has historically offered structured Quranic Arabic and Islamic sciences programs targeted at English-speaking Muslims. It is a directly comparable Quranic Arabic curriculum provider with overlapping pedagogy and audience, even though its operations have fluctuated.
• Qasid Institute: Qasid is an Arabic language institute based in Amman, Jordan offering Classical/Quranic Arabic programs online and in-person. Several Fawakih instructors (e.g., Syed Omair, Fahd Yasin) trained at Qasid, making it a directly comparable Quranic/Classical Arabic curriculum provider and a feeder pipeline for talent.
• The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA): TISA, led by Dr. Yasir Qadhi, is a US-based seminary incorporating Fawakih's Quranic Arabic curriculum. It overlaps with Fawakih in seminary-level Arabic instruction and competes for the same institutional and adult-learner audience in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Hartford Seminary: Hartford Seminary is an established graduate institution offering Islamic studies and Arabic programs, including Fawakih's curriculum. It is a broader incumbent in Islamic higher education and a partner institution, overlapping at the academic/credentialed end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fawakih-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fawakih Institute