🌿 Conversational Arabic — 6-Week Course, Sundays · View all courses →
Cape Town · Est. 2016

Consciousness
Knowledge.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونَ Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 56
Explore Our Courses About Baseerah
2026 Registration Open

Where would
you like to begin?

Arabic Mastery, Hifth, Conversational Arabic, Aqīdah — and more. No prior knowledge required. All are welcome.

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Meet Our Teacher

Shaykhah
Rukayya Samsodien

Six years in Damascus. A degree in Sharī'ah. An ijāza in Hafs. A life dedicated to bringing this knowledge home to Cape Town.

Her Story
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her learning.

Zakaat. Lillah. Sadaqah. Sponsor a student. Every contribution keeps this knowledge alive and within reach for women who need it.

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2500+
Students Taught
9
Years of Scholarship
4+
Publications
0
Prerequisites Needed
Who We Are

Female-led scholarship, since 2016.

Baseerah Institute is a female-led Islamic institution that seeks to raise the level of female education and scholarship through the teaching and publishing of traditional Islamic texts and sciences.

Founded by Shaykhah Rukayya Samsodien in response to a real gap she witnessed in Cape Town — accessible, rigorous, women-led Islamic education — Baseerah has grown from a small weekly gathering into a trusted institution.

No prior knowledge is ever required. All are welcome, exactly where they are.

About the Institute View Courses
Baseerah Institute

Founded in Cape Town, rooted in Damascus.

ب
2026 Programmes

Where would you like to begin?

From Hifth to Arabic Mastery — structured programmes designed for busy women.

📖
Flagship · 2-Year Course · Arabic
2-Year Course · Arabic

Arabic Mastery Programme

The first of its kind in Cape Town — a comprehensive two-year Arabic journey designed to give you a firm grasp of the Arabic language and its workings. We graduate students who can read, understand, and engage with the Qur'ān and classical texts with real confidence.

Mon–Wed · 8:20am–12:40pm
R300 reg · R800/month
Register Now
🌙
Part-Time · Hifth
Part-Time · Hifth

Ladies Hifth Programme

Pioneering an innovative Hifth structure designed for busy moms, mature students, and professionals. Students choose fro…

Mon–Thu · 8:20am–12:40pm
R300 reg · R900/month
Learn More
📜
Weekly · Ongoing
Weekly · Ongoing

Thursday Arabic Dawrah — The Sealed Nectar

A weekly ladies-only gathering studying Al-Rahīq Al-Makhtūm (The Sealed Nectar) — awarded first prize out of 171 manuscr…

Thursdays · 9:00am–12:30pm
Free
Learn More
💬
6-Week Course · Short Course
6-Week Course · Short Course

Take a Leap to Speak — Conversational Arabic

A practical, conversation-based Arabic course designed especially for women, focused on helping you actually speak Arabi…

Sundays · 9:00–11:00am · 7 practical lessons
R750 total
Learn More
View All Programmes
بصيرة
Shaykhah Rukayya Samsodien

Degree in Sharī'ah · Abū Nour Institute, Damascus · High Court Accredited Translator

Our Teacher

Shaykhah Rukayya
Samsodien

Six years of study in Damascus. A degree in Sharī'ah. An ijāza in the narration of Hafs. A life devoted to bringing this knowledge back home — to Cape Town, to its women, to its families.

Founder & Director of Baseerah Institute since 2016.

Publications

  • Hifth Guide: Assisting Your Loved Ones
  • Hifth Guide: An Educator's Manual
  • Muhadathah Workbook 1 & 2 — Take the Leap to Speak
Her Full Story
2026 Calendar

Upcoming Events

All events held at Masjid al-Salaam, Athlone unless otherwise noted.

23 May

Dhul Hijjah Dowrah

A historical walk through the Sacred Lands

1pm – Asr

Free
26 Jul

4-Week Aqīdah Course (Pt.1)

Jowharat al-Tawhid: Attributes of the Divine · Sundays 9–11am

9:00–11:00am

R350
23 Aug

Rabi Al-Awwal Dowrah

The Daughters of Rasulullah ﷺ & their Mother RA · Sun 9am–12pm

9:00am–12:00pm

Free
30 Aug

4-Week Aqīdah Course (Pt.2)

Attributes of the Prophets ﷺ & the Afterlife · Sundays 9–11am

9:00–11:00am

R350
Oct 2026

Take a Leap to Speak (Mod.2)

6-Week Conversational Arabic · Sundays 9–11am

9:00–11:00am

R750
Join the Channel →
"
"Having attended Hajj last year, I can confidently say that this course was incredibly beneficial. It gave me the ability to communicate, even at a basic level, with Arabic-speaking locals — which added so much value to my experience. I made a friend in Makkah who only speaks Arabic."
Shafeeqah Soeker Wife · Mom · HR Graduate
"
"I was quite apprehensive about immersing myself in an Arabic environment — I find speaking and memorising Arabic difficult. Muallima Rukayya managed to put us at ease and had us speaking and understanding sentences with ease, alhamdulillah. Highly recommend."
Fadeelah Kenny Electrical Engineer · Wife · Mom
"
"We are blessed to sit at the feet of a female scholar with this wealth of knowledge — in Qur’an, Arabic, Fiqh, Aqeedah, Tafseer, and all the Islamic sciences. As women, we need to equip ourselves with the tools and guidelines from Allah and His Messenger."
Fierdous Solomon Baseerah Student
From the Institute

Publications & Resources

Books authored by Shaykhah Rukayya, articles on Islamic sciences, and course materials — all in one place.

Baseerah Publications Shop
Publications & Books

Authored by Shaykhah Rukayya

Hifth Guides, Fiqh texts, and the Muhadathah Conversational Arabic workbook series — also available at Chapter 96 Bookz, Lansdowne.

Browse the Shop
Baseerah Blog Blog
Articles & Reflections

Knowledge worth sharing

Insights on Arabic language, Hifth, Fiqh, and the journey of seeking Islamic knowledge — written for students and curious minds alike.

Visit the Blog
Find Us

We'd love to hear from you.

Questions about a course, registration, or anything else — reach out and we'll respond within 1 business day, in shā Allah.

Phone / WhatsApp+27 067 214 4963
Emailbaseerahinstitute.sa@gmail.com
AddressMasjid al-Salaam (upstairs), 34 St Athans Road
Athlone, Cape Town, 7764

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We'll get back to you within 1 business day.