Ain Al-Arabiyyah: Arabic Winter Camp 2025

Hosted at Minaretein Center, the Arabic Winter Camp offers a holistic learning experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through three interconnected stages — Ta’leem (Learning), Tamkeen (Empowerment), and Tarseekh (Rooting) — participants progress from foundational communication to advanced expression and cultural understanding.

Guided by experienced instructors from the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU, the camp combines language immersion, authentic practice, and hands-on cultural engagement, helping learners experience Arabic as a living, breathing tradition.

Program Stages

🗣️ Ta’leem (تعليم) — Learn to Express

The Ta’leem stage introduces learners to Arabic as a language of connection. Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners, this stage helps students move beyond memorized phrases toward meaningful communication.
Focus Areas:

Vocabulary building and sentence structure

Everyday conversation and cultural topics

Reading, listening, and writing basics

Understanding Arabic customs and expressions

💬 Tamkeen (تمكين) — Learn to Flourish

In the Tamkeen stage, learners refine their fluency and gain confidence to interact naturally in both academic and everyday contexts. The focus shifts to cultural and intellectual engagement with the Arabic-speaking world.
Focus Areas:

Intermediate-level grammar and fluency

Islamic history, arts, and Arab culture

Analytical reading and discussion skills

Expressing complex ideas with clarity and confidence

📚 Tarseekh (ترسيخ) — Learn to Think

Tarseekh invites advanced learners to explore Arabic through the lens of classical and modern scholarship. Students engage directly with authentic texts that reflect the intellectual legacy of the Islamic world.
Focus Areas:

Classical texts and academic Arabic

Rhetoric, oratory, and interpretive analysis

Writing and discussion on scholarly topics

Deep appreciation of Arabic as a civilizational language

Cultural & Immersive Activities

To complement classroom learning, the Winter Camp integrates interactive experiences that bring Arabic and Islamic heritage to life. Each activity links linguistic practice with cultural understanding.

Activities Include:
13/12 12:30–1:30 | Minaretein Building Tour:
This segment consists of a guided tour of the Minaretein Building. The students will explore and get to know more about the architecture of the building and the symbolism of its various features. Moreover, through samples of Islamic architecture from around the world engraved in the walls of the building, the students will also be introduced to the legacy of Islamic architecture.

14/12 2:00–4:00 | Calligraphy Masterclass (Riq‘a):
This masterclass will introduce the students to the art of Arabic calligraphy and its significance in Islamic tradition. The students will also have a hands-on experience of the Riq‘a script and take home a self-made souvenir.

15/12 2:00–4:00 | Trip to Al Khater House:
In this trip, the students will have the opportunity to visit the traditional Al Khater house and observe its Herfa program, which focuses on reviving and promoting traditional crafts deeply rooted in Qatari and Islamic culture.

16/12 2:00–4:00 | Calligraphy Masterclass (Tadhhīb):
This session will introduce students to the art of Tadhhīb—the classical technique of Islamic manuscript illumination. Students will learn how geometric patterns and gold leaf designs were traditionally used to beautify Qur’anic manuscripts and calligraphic works, gaining an appreciation of the harmony between script, color, and ornamentation in Islamic art.

17/12 2:00–4:00 | QBG Tour (Qur'anic Botanic Garden):
In this tour, students will explore the Qur'anic Botanic Garden and learn about plants mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The activity highlights the deep connection between Islamic ecological ethics and environmental preservation, fostering an understanding of nature’s sacred role in Islamic tradition.

20/12 2:00–4:00 | Calligraphy Masterclass (Dīwāni):
In this advanced session, students will delve into the elegance of the Dīwāni script—a calligraphic style renowned for its ornamental grace and fluidity. Guided by expert instructors, participants will refine their artistic expression and gain deeper insight into the sophistication of Arabic handwriting.

21/12 2:00–4:00 | QNL Heritage Library Tour:
This visit will allow students to explore the Heritage Library at Qatar National Library, home to rare manuscripts, maps, and historical documents of the Islamic world. Students will discover the intellectual legacy of Arabic scholarship and the preservation of Islamic heritage in contemporary times.

22/12 2:00–4:00 | Jalsa with a Shaykh: 
In this engaging Jalsa with a renowned Qur’an reciter(tbc), the students will get the opportunity to listen to his recitation and follow him in it. The students will also learn about the Sheikh’s personal journey with Qur’an and his insights into what makes the Qur’an so special as a text.
 

Instructors

Dr. Fadi Al Shatnawi – PhD in Qur’anic Readings; specialist in linguistic and interpretive aspects of the Qur’an. Advanced Classical Arabic Language Instructor at CIS, HBKU.

Dr. Hanan Al-Qudah – PhD in Islamic Jurisprudence and its foundations; expert in Classical and Media Arabic. Reading and Writing - General Arabic Language Instructor at CIS, HBKU.

Asma Salman – MA in Applied Linguistics, specialist in curriculum design, and educational content development. Semantics Classic Arabic Language Instructor at CIS, HBKU.

Eman Khaled – MA in Arabic Language: Applied Linguistics. Certified OPI Tester (ACTFL), Educational Content Developer. Advanced Classic Arabic Language Instructor at CIS, HBKU.

Sarah Zuhair – MA in Arabic Language – Criticism and Literature. Arabic instructor and translator with extensive experience in advanced Arabic pedagogy and literary translation. Grammar Classic Arabic Language Instructor at CIS, HBKU.

Course Details

🗓️ Dec 13 – Dec 25, 2025
🕔 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (9:00–1:30 Classes | 2:00–4:00 Activities)
📝 This course is open to students ages 16+
💰 Fees: 800 QAR (If accepted, our team will provide the payment link for the course fee)

⚠️ Completing the registration form does not guarantee placement in the course.
Applicants will be required to attend a short 10-minute placement interview to ensure they meet the required language level.

Program Essence

The Arabic Winter Camp embodies Minaretein’s mission to inspire lifelong learning and ethical consciousness through faith-rooted education. By connecting language with cultural identity, the camp fosters understanding, humility, and appreciation for the depth of the Arabic tradition — empowering learners to Connect through experience, Inspire through knowledge, and Transform through reflection.