Safar Academy vs Other Online Islamic Schools (2026 Review)

Introduction

Safar Academy is the online delivery arm of Safar Publications — the publisher whose Qaida and Tajweed sequence has become the standard for UK madrasahs. Where Safar Publications produces the materials, Safar Academy delivers them online with live teachers, enabling students anywhere in the world to learn the Safar curriculum from qualified instructors without needing to attend a physical madrasah.

For UK families who want the continuity of the Safar curriculum delivered online, or for diaspora Muslim families globally who want the structured Quran programme that British madrasahs use, Safar Academy is a natural choice. This review explains what the Academy offers, how its delivery works, and where it fits relative to other online Islamic school options.

About Safar Academy

Safar Academy is a UK-registered online Islamic school operating as the online delivery extension of Safar Publications. It is not a full K–12 academic school — it teaches Islamic content only (Quran, Tajweed, Islamic Studies, Arabic) — but within that focus, it delivers the structured, well-regarded Safar curriculum through live online classes.

FieldDetails
TypeOnline Islamic education provider (Islamic subjects only)
RegistrationUK-registered
AccreditationNot Cognia-accredited
DeliveryLive teacher-led online classes
Programme scopeQuran (Qaida → Tajweed → advanced recitation), Islamic Studies, Arabic
Primary marketUK families; global Muslim diaspora
CurriculumSafar Publications curriculum
Theological orientationMainstream Sunni (Hanafi)
Websitesafaracademy.org

Source: Safar Academy website; ilmify research, April 2026.

Programme Offering

Safar Academy offers three main programme tracks, all taught live by qualified teachers:

TrackContentFormat
Quran (Tajweed)Safar Qaida through advanced Tajweed workbooksLive one-on-one or small group
Islamic StudiesSafar Publications Islamic Studies curriculum by levelLive group classes
ArabicFoundational Arabic language instructionLive group or one-on-one

Source: Safar Academy website; ilmify research, April 2026.

Students can enrol in one or multiple tracks depending on their needs. Many families use Safar Academy for the Quran track and attend a local maktab or use a separate provider for Islamic Studies — or vice versa.

The Quran Track

The Quran track is Safar Academy’s strongest offering and its primary reason for existence. Using the Safar Publications Qaida and Tajweed sequence — the same materials used in hundreds of UK madrasahs — teachers guide students from Arabic letter recognition through proficient Quran recitation with correct Tajweed.

StageComponents UsedTypical Student
BeginnersSafar QaidaChildren starting from scratch; adults with no Arabic base
Early TajweedSafar Tajweed Workbooks Level 1–2Post-Qaida; learning recitation rules
Advanced TajweedSafar Tajweed Workbooks Level 3+Students with established recitation foundation
Quran ReadingJuz-by-Juz recitation practiceStudents working through the full Quran

Source: Safar Publications curriculum; Safar Academy programme structure; ilmify research, April 2026.

The one-on-one format available for the Quran track is particularly appropriate — Quran teaching is a deeply oral, direct tradition (Talaqqi) that benefits from the teacher hearing each student’s recitation individually and correcting in real time.

The Islamic Studies Track

Safar Academy teaches Islamic Studies using the Safar Publications curriculum — covering Aqeedah, Fiqh, Seerah, Duas, Surahs, and Hadith across levelled classes. Students are placed by level based on their prior knowledge rather than age alone.

The group class format for Islamic Studies allows students to learn alongside peers — a social dimension that purely self-paced online learning lacks.

Teaching Model

All Safar Academy instruction is live — teachers and students interact in real time through video. There are no pre-recorded video lectures that students watch independently. This is particularly important for Quran teaching, where the teacher must hear the student recite to identify and correct errors.

Teachers at Safar Academy are qualified in their subject — Quran teachers hold relevant Tajweed qualifications; Islamic Studies teachers have appropriate Islamic knowledge credentials. The quality assurance of the Safar Publications connection means there is institutional accountability for how the curriculum is delivered.

Fees and Scheduling

Safar Academy charges per class or per course — not full school annual fees. This makes it significantly more accessible than Sahlah or EDIA for families who want Islamic education online without the commitment of full private school fees.

Service TypePricing ModelNotes
Quran one-on-onePer session or monthly subscriptionVaries by session frequency
Islamic Studies groupPer term or monthlyFixed schedule group classes
ArabicPer term or monthlyGroup or one-on-one options

Source: Safar Academy website; ilmify research, April 2026. Verify current pricing directly with the school.

Scheduling is based on UK time zones, which suits UK families and some European, Middle Eastern, and South Asian time zones well. Families in North America or the Far East need to consider time zone compatibility when scheduling classes.

Strengths

The Safar curriculum delivered online with live teachers. For UK families who want the same structured, well-regarded curriculum their local madrasah uses, but need online delivery for scheduling, distance, or quality reasons, Safar Academy is the natural first choice.

One-on-one Quran teaching. The individual recitation format mirrors the traditional Talaqqi model and is the most effective way to ensure correct Tajweed development. Pre-recorded videos and apps cannot replicate this.

Course-based pricing. Families pay for the courses they need — not full school fees. This makes Safar Academy accessible to a much wider range of budgets than full online schools.

UK curriculum alignment. For UK families, Safar Academy’s curriculum is directly aligned with what their child’s peers in local madrasahs are learning — useful for continuity if the child attends both.

Weaknesses

Islamic subjects only — not a full academic school. Families needing a full academic school alternative should look at Sahlah Academy, EDIA, or Legacy International. Safar Academy supplements mainstream schooling; it does not replace it.

UK time zone scheduling. The UK scheduling base creates friction for families in North America, Australia, or East Asia who want classes outside antisocial hours.

Not Cognia-accredited. For US families requiring accreditation, Safar Academy does not provide it. Its UK registration has no equivalence for US college admissions purposes.

Who Is Safar Academy Best For?

Safar Academy is the strongest choice for:

  • UK families who want the Safar curriculum delivered online with live teachers
  • Muslim diaspora families globally wanting the structured Quran programme that UK madrasahs use
  • Families whose children cannot attend a local madrasah but want to follow the same curriculum as their peers
  • Adults wanting to improve their Quran recitation through the Safar Tajweed sequence with a qualified teacher

It is a weaker choice for:

  • Families needing full academic school delivery
  • US families needing Cognia accreditation
  • Families in significantly different time zones from the UK

Comparison with Other Online Providers

CriterionSafar AcademySahlah AcademyStudio ArabiyaZaid Academy
Full academicsNoYes ✅NoNo
Quran programmeExcellent ✅GoodGoodGood
Live instructionYes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅Yes ✅
UK curriculum alignmentExcellent ✅LowLowLow
Cognia accreditationNoYes ✅NoNo
Cost modelPer course ✅Full school feesPer course ✅Per course ✅
Primary marketUK, globalUSAGlobalGlobal

Source: ilmify editorial comparison, April 2026.

Conclusion

Safar Academy is the online delivery channel for the UK’s most widely used madrasah curriculum — and it delivers that curriculum well through live instruction with qualified teachers. For families who want the Safar Quran programme or Islamic Studies delivered online, it is the natural first choice. For families wanting full academic schooling online, they need to look elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — Safar Academy was established by the same team behind Safar Publications and teaches the Safar Publications curriculum. The two organisations are directly connected, which is why Safar Academy’s Quran and Islamic Studies delivery is consistent with what students learn in Safar-using madrasahs.

Yes — the Safar Qaida is designed for complete beginners. Students start from zero knowledge of Arabic letters and progress through the structured sequence. There is no prior knowledge requirement to start the Quran track.

Yes — Safar Academy accepts adult learners. Adults who can read the Quran but want to improve their Tajweed are a significant part of Safar Academy’s learner base. The one-on-one format is particularly well suited to adult learners who want to focus on specific recitation gaps.

Safar Academy issues course completion certificates for students who complete its programmes. These are not formal state qualifications but are recognised within the community of Safar-curriculum institutions as meaningful indicators of attainment.

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Author

Rahman

Educational expert at Ilmify, dedicated to modernizing Islamic institution management through smart technology and holistic Tarbiyah.