Masha Allah, we are half way through the six steps. So just to summarize till here.

Alhamdulillah you have a great system to study Arabic (that’s step 1), and masha Allah as well as having everything in place for your study journey, this system also fills you with self-belief (Step 2 – and yes alhamdulillah the Shine program does have these two steps in place)

But inevitably, there are going to be some bumps in the road. After all, this is a new language which does require effort. But more importantly, you have many other responsibilities to juggle too. And that’s where step 3 comes in; ‘enjoy the process’.

Now let’s digress slightly (and sorry if you are reading this if you are fasting). Imagine your favorite cheat meal (maybe a smash burger, or one of those southern fried burgers. MmmmMmm). What do you need to do to get that meal?

Now you may have answered, “I’ll go onto Uber Eats” or something like that. And whilst there is seemingly nothing wrong with the answer, it tells us something about our mentality today. We want instant gratification in everything. Yes everything. Including developing proficiency in Arabic. We want to go from 0% to 100%, like now.

But with important things like health and education, we must have a long term view.

The great news is that at Shine, Alhamdulillah, it’s more about turning up. And if you do that, Insha Allah you won’t fail. The tasks are handed to you as simply as a ‘Hello Fresh’ recipe card. Just follow the instructions and hey presto!

But getting back to Arabic, enjoying the process involves finding joy in the tasks, activities, and challenges that come with learning Arabic, rather than solely focusing on the outcome of knowing Arabic.

Because when you appreciate the journey, you learn from your experiences and find fulfillment in what you are doing. There’s excitement at every step. You can’t wait till the Qur’an finally opens up to you without the translation! And it’s this growth mindset that will lead to a more positive attitude, increased motivation, and a sense of fulfillment, before, during and after every lesson. Subhanallah!

Remember, Allah leaves us with challenges, and getting through them makes us more grateful of the gift Allah leaves us with, as well the gift of perseverance which is such a beautiful bonus we didn’t even realize we had.

Action step: When you get to a complex area in Arabic, something that sends you for a six, just change your perspective and say “hmmm, interesting. I wonder how that works?”. And even if you don’t find your answer immediately, don’t worry. This is not about instant gratification. (You would however let your tutor know and they will help out and get you to a level that is suitable to keep moving forward with, even if grasping this area fully might then come later in your journey. Different people. Different levels of progress. Nothing wrong with that at all).

Now there are many reasons why our progress may seem to be hindered. After all, we are very busy individuals. The trick however is to find your very own rhythm and routine. And Alhamdulillah that’s also something we can help you with at Shine. Different students progress at different levels throughout there different journeys. But masha Allah all these wonderful people have the same goal; to understand the Qur’an.

Top tip: When you hit a road bump on your study journey, just think to yourself, “okay, it wasn’t written in my fate to understand this right away”. Now go for a walk and get a fresh mind (5 – 10 mis will do the trick). Now come back to that difficult area. And like magic…………..! (Actually, its just your brain assessing it from another angle. Pretty cool hack, eh!)

Insha Allah with the Shine program, you will also discover new strengths and capabilities that you didn’t know you had. Insha Allah this program is going to impact you in more than just Arabic. Insha Allah it will make you into a more resourceful, creative, and adaptable person than you ever realized you were.

So don’t forget. It’s always journey before destination. Make the most of it.

(and if you haven’t already registered your interest, you can do that here and get some more info sent directly to you. Enjoy)

Moulana Mohammed Daud

Founder of Shine Arabic

PS. Feel free to leave some feedback too. And duas requested.

Still to come in the PDF
Students feedback of what Shine has done for them
What are incremental goals? And how do we use them at Shine
Another brain hack (I have to study Arabic vs I get to study Arabic)

The smart choice is Shine

A Review from a Mother of Four

I have always desired to study Arabic simply because I wanted to understand what I was praying whilst reciting the Holy Qur’an and my daily du’as. I first started learning Arabic many years ago by attending a weekly course. I soon realised that this wasn’t working for me and I eventually gave up.  At one point I even tried to learn by myself without a teacher, but again, I realised that this was just not feasible. In August this year I discovered the Shine Online Arabic course, after a friend recommended it to me. Since then, I have not looked back! The Shine Online course is absolutely perfect for me. Even though I have more personal responsibilities now than when I did when I first started to learn Arabic, I have managed to keep up with my work and Alhumdulillah I have made significant progress. This is due to the way the course has been structured. I pick a time during my day which suits me, to complete my work, without the pressure of having to attend classes away from home. The Friday Live sessions perfectly compliment and consolidate the lessons I have covered during the week. The daily video lessons are clear and concise and explain the text book very well, and if there’s still something I have difficulty understanding, or if I have any further questions, then I know my tutor is only a text message away. The assignment-based assessments also ensure that I know which chapters I need to brush up on, without the stress of timed examinations. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who is passionate about learning Arabic, but is worried that their daily responsibilities might hold them back. As a mother of four young children and multiple household responsibilities, I can definitely say this course fits perfectly into my busy schedule, and gives me the opportunity to pursue something I have always been passionate about. JazakAllah to everyone at Shine for providing such a fantastic and easy gateway to the wonderful world of Arabic.   Aisha Harif