Best Islamic Studies Publishers for Global Schools

Introduction

A school’s Islamic Studies programme is only as consistent as the curriculum behind it. Without a structured publisher series, Islamic Studies becomes whatever the teacher decides to cover this week — and when that teacher leaves, the programme leaves with them. With a structured series, the school has scope, sequence, and continuity regardless of who is teaching.

Why Publisher Choice Matters

A curriculum publisher is not just a supplier of textbooks. When you adopt a publisher’s series, you are also adopting:

• A specific theological orientation and approach to Islamic knowledge
• A scope and sequence designed for a particular age range and teaching context
• A pedagogical methodology embedded in how lessons are structured
• A geographic and cultural context that shapes which examples, stories, and references appear

Mismatches on any of these dimensions create friction in delivery. A curriculum designed for North American Muslim families will use cultural references that feel distant to students in the UK or South Asia. A series with a Salafi theological emphasis will create tension in a school community that follows the Hanafi or Shafi’i tradition.

None of the major publishers are bad. All of them have significant track records and are used in good Islamic schools worldwide. The question is fit — which one fits your institution, your students, and your teachers.

The Major Publishers at a Glance

Source: Publisher websites; ilmify research, April 2026.

IQRA International

IQRA International Educational Foundation, based in Chicago, is one of the oldest and most widely used Islamic curriculum publishers in the English-speaking world. Founded in 1983, its materials have been used in Islamic schools across North America for over four decades.

What IQRA covers: The core Islamic Studies series runs from Kindergarten through Grade 12. Each year level includes a student textbook, student workbook, and teacher guide. Topics progress from foundational concepts of Iman and basic worship practices in the early years to Fiqh, Seerah, Hadith studies, and contemporary Islamic issues at the secondary level.

Strengths:

• Complete K–12 coverage with no gaps between grade levels
• Detailed teacher guides that reduce preparation burden
• Extensively tested across hundreds of North American Islamic schools
• Well-resourced supplementary materials including activity books and tests

Weaknesses:

• Cultural references are strongly North American — some content feels distant to students in the UK, South Asia, or Africa
• Later editions have addressed some gaps but the series has uneven revision history across grade levels
• Available primarily in English; limited bilingual support

Best for: Full-time Islamic schools in North America and internationally that use English as the primary language of instruction and want a complete, well-supported series with comprehensive teacher resources.

Safar Publications

Safar Publications, based in the UK, has become the dominant curriculum publisher for British Islamic schools and madrasahs, and is now widely used across the English-speaking world. Its Qaida and Tajweed sequence is particularly well regarded — arguably the most carefully structured Quran learning programme in the English-language market.

What Safar covers: Safar’s curriculum divides into two main tracks. The Quran track begins with the Safar Qaida (a structured introduction to Arabic letters and recitation), progresses through graded Tajweed workbooks, and extends into advanced Tajweed and recitation. The Islamic Studies track covers Aqeedah, Fiqh, Seerah, Hadith, and Islamic character across multiple levels.

Strengths:

• Exceptional Qaida and Tajweed sequence — used in hundreds of UK and global madrasahs with strong outcomes
• Structured workbook format that makes independent student practice feasible
• Strong teacher training support through Safar Academy
• Clear theological framing consistent with the mainstream Sunni (Hanafi) tradition
• Well-designed for maktab and supplementary school delivery, not just full-time schools

Weaknesses:

• The Islamic Studies series is not yet as comprehensive at the upper secondary level as at primary
• Less suitable for schools wanting fully integrated curriculum across all subjects
• Teacher guides are detailed but the programme assumes some teacher familiarity with the tradition

Best for: UK madrasahs, maktabs, and weekend Islamic schools; any institution wanting a rigorous, structured Quran programme as its foundation; full-time Islamic schools wanting a well-regarded Islamic Studies series alongside their Quran programme.

Goodword Islamic Studies

Goodword Books, based in New Delhi, has produced one of the most widely distributed Islamic Studies textbook series in the South Asian and global English-language market. Its Grades 1–10 series is used in thousands of schools across India, Pakistan, South Africa, and beyond — and its affordability has made it accessible to institutions with limited budgets.

What Goodword covers: The Islamic Studies series runs from Grade 1 through Grade 10, covering Aqeedah, Quran (with selected surah study), Seerah, Fiqh, and Hadith. Selected textbooks are available as free PDFs from the publisher, making it one of the most accessible options for budget-conscious institutions.

Strengths:

• One of the most affordable paid Islamic Studies series globally
• Free PDF availability for selected grades lowers the barrier to adoption
• Clear, simple language appropriate for children with varying levels of prior Islamic knowledge
• Widely used and recognised in South Asian and African Muslim school communities

Weaknesses:

• Coverage ends at Grade 10 — no secondary completion materials
• Some editions have received criticism for factual oversimplification at upper grade levels
• Cultural framing reflects the South Asian Muslim context; some references require localisation for UK or North American students
• Less detailed teacher guidance than IQRA or Safar

Best for: South Asian schools and madrasas; budget-conscious institutions globally; schools wanting a simple, accessible Islamic Studies series without high procurement costs; institutions in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia familiar with the Goodword brand.

Dar-us-Salam Publications

Dar-us-Salam, operating from both Saudi Arabia and Houston, Texas, is one of the largest Islamic book publishers globally. Its Islamic Studies textbook series for Grades 1–12 is used in many Islamic schools in the USA and the Gulf, and its broad catalogue of Islamic titles gives it visibility in Muslim households worldwide.

What Dar-us-Salam covers: The Islamic Studies series runs Grade 1 through Grade 12, covering Quran, Hadith, Aqeedah, Fiqh, and Seerah. The series is available in both English and Arabic, and has been updated through multiple editions.

Strengths:

• Complete K–12 coverage in both English and Arabic
• Strong emphasis on Hadith study and Quranic content — reflects the publisher’s Saudi intellectual context
• Well-distributed globally; easily procured across North America, Gulf, and online
• Extensive back catalogue of supplementary Islamic titles for school libraries

Weaknesses:

• Theological orientation is Salafi-influenced, which creates friction in Hanafi or Sufi-tradition school communities
• Some schools outside the Gulf and USA find the cultural context less directly applicable
• Teacher support infrastructure is less developed than IQRA or Safar
• The theological distinctiveness means it is not universally recommended by madrasahs across all traditions

Best for: Schools in the USA with a Salafi or broadly Sunni-without-specific-madhab orientation; Gulf-region Islamic schools; schools wanting an English-Arabic bilingual Islamic Studies series.

An-Nasihah Publications

An-Nasihah is a UK-based Islamic curriculum publisher that has produced a well-regarded series used in British madrasahs and Islamic schools. Less internationally prominent than IQRA or Safar, it has built a strong reputation within the UK community and among British-diaspora schools globally.

What An-Nasihah covers: The series covers the core Islamic Studies subjects — Aqeedah, Fiqh, Seerah, Hadith, and Quran knowledge — across multiple levels from primary through secondary. The materials are designed with the UK context in mind, making cultural references more immediately applicable to British Muslim students.

Strengths:

• Designed specifically for the UK Muslim context — cultural references, language level, and community framing are locally appropriate
• Strong Fiqh content with clear Hanafi orientation
• Respected among UK madrasah teachers and well-suited to the UK maktab environment
• Available through major UK Islamic bookstores

Weaknesses:

• Less internationally distributed than IQRA, Safar, or Goodword
• More limited teacher guide infrastructure than larger publishers
• Smaller publisher with a less extensive supplementary materials catalogue

Best for: UK Islamic schools, madrasahs, and maktabs wanting culturally appropriate materials; British diaspora communities globally; schools following a Hanafi approach wanting UK-produced content.

MFERD (India)

The Millat Foundation for Education Research and Development (MFERD), based in Hyderabad, India, has produced a value-based integrated Islamic school curriculum that has been widely adopted across Muslim schools in India. Founded in 2004 as a not-for-profit, MFERD’s approach emphasises Tarbiyat (character formation), Taleem (academic knowledge), and Miyaar (standards) as the three pillars of Islamic education.

What MFERD covers: MFERD’s curriculum runs from Grades 1 through 10 and covers Islamic Studies integrated with values-based education. Unlike purely subject-focused series, MFERD’s materials are designed to shape the character and Islamic identity of students alongside their knowledge of Islamic subjects.

Strengths:

• Integrated values framework — Tarbiyat, Taleem, and Miyaar — is distinctive and well-conceived
• Strong track record across Indian Muslim schools with measurable adoption
• Relevant to the Indian Muslim educational context in a way that North American or UK publishers are not
• Available in English and Urdu

Weaknesses:

• Primary market is India; some materials presuppose the Indian Muslim educational context
• Less internationally distributed than the major publishers
• Not widely known outside South Asia

Best for: Indian Muslim schools; South Asian Muslim schools broadly; institutions wanting a values-integrated curriculum rather than a purely subject-focused Islamic Studies series; schools affiliated with the broader South Asian Islamic educational tradition.

Publisher Comparison Matrix

Source: Publisher websites; ilmify editorial research, April 2026. Ratings are comparative, not absolute.

How to Choose Between Them

Apply three filters in sequence:

Filter 1 — Geography and cultural fit. Where are your students? If you are in the UK, Safar and An-Nasihah are the most culturally aligned. If you are in North America, IQRA International is the most field-tested option. If you are in South Asia, Goodword or MFERD will feel most locally relevant.

Filter 2 — What you most need. If Quran education is your primary programme, Safar Publications’ Qaida and Tajweed sequence is the strongest option in the English-language market. If you need a complete K–12 Islamic Studies series with strong teacher support, IQRA International is the most comprehensive. If budget is the primary constraint, Goodword’s combination of affordability and free PDFs is hard to match.

Filter 3 — Theological alignment. If your school community follows the Hanafi tradition, IQRA, Safar, and An-Nasihah are all appropriate. If your community follows a Salafi methodology, Dar-us-Salam is more aligned. If theology is explicitly not a differentiator for your school, Goodword’s broadly mainstream Sunni framing creates the least friction across diverse communities.

Conclusion

There is no single best Islamic curriculum publisher for all contexts. IQRA International, Safar Publications, Goodword, Dar-us-Salam, An-Nasihah, and MFERD are all reputable, field-tested options that serve different institutions well in different contexts. Use the comparison matrix and three-filter framework in this guide to identify your shortlist, request samples from each, and make the decision based on how the materials actually feel in your teachers’ hands.

Once you have chosen, the management challenge begins — ensuring consistent delivery, tracking progress, and reporting to parents. ilmify.app is built to support that delivery process for any curriculum you choose.

👉 Explore ilmify.app for Islamic curriculum management →

Related Articles

• 🏫 IQRA International Curriculum Review
• 🏫 Safar Publications Review: The Structured Curriculum Used Globally in Madrasahs
• 🏫 Goodword Islamic Studies Review: Grades 1–10 Textbooks Explained
• 🏫 Dar-us-Salam Islamic Studies Review
• 🏫 An-Nasihah Curriculum Review: What Islamic Schools Need to Know
• 🏫 MFERD Curriculum Review: India’s Value-Based Integrated Islamic School Programme
• 📚 How to Choose an Islamic Curriculum: A Decision Framework
• ⚙️ How to Implement an Islamic Curriculum in Your School