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Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah

From Humble Beginnings to Educational Excellence

In a quiet kampong in Hindhede Road, a small school began its humble mission of imparting Islamic knowledge to the villagers of Quarry. That was 1947. Today, over seven decades later, that same school stands as a beacon of educational excellence—renowned as Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah.



🕌 Humble Beginnings

Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah traces its roots back to 1947, when it was first founded as Mahadul Irsyad at Hindhede Road (off Upper Bukit Timah Road). It began as a small village school in kampong Quarry, focusing on teaching basic Qur’an and Islamic knowledge to the villagers. In 1965, Singapore’s first President, Yusof Ishak, suggested a change to the curriculum so it would better suit the needs of Singapore. To sustain the school, it relied heavily on funds from the community.



🚚 Multiple Moves, One Mission

Madrasah Irsyad’s journey has seen it move across the island:


  • 1991: Relocated to Woodlands Road due to redevelopment, and renamed Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah. It now had over 400 students in a full-day, primary-level format.

  • 1996: Moved to Winstedt Road, sharing space with Madrasah Al-Junied. Students wore different uniforms to distinguish between the two.

  • 2009: Finally found its home at the Singapore Islamic Hub (SIH) along Braddell Road—complete with modern amenities like science labs, a football field, and ICT facilities.

  • 2015: Renamed Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah to honour Kiayi Haji Ahmad Zuhri Mutammim, a respected local Islamic scholar.



💫 Vision, Mission, and Values

With the verse from Surah Al-Baqarah as its guiding principle, Irsyad aims to nurture a new generation of khalifah—leaders grounded in:


  • Iman (Faith)

  • Itqan (Excellence)

  • Ihsan (Virtue)



Its mission? To be the first choice in madrasah education in Singapore, forming students who are academically capable, spiritually anchored, and socially responsible.



📘 A Dynamic Curriculum

Irsyad has consistently evolved to meet the educational needs of its students:


  • 1990s: Introduced the Ministry of Education (MOE) General Curriculum alongside Islamic subjects, allowing students to sit for the PSLE.

  • 1998: Launched secondary education, offering both the Sijil Thanawi Empat (STE) and the GCE ‘O’ Levels.

  • 2008: Joined the Joint Madrasah System (JMS) with a renewed focus on primary-level education, with students advancing to Al-Junied or Al-Arabiah.


Irsyad was also one of the first madrasahs to adopt the Iqra’ method for Qur’an learning, under the leadership of Ustaz Sonhadji.



🤝 Beyond the Classroom

Life at Irsyad isn’t just about books and exams. The school believes in holistic growth:


  • 🌙 Iftar Jamaie – Annual Ramadan gatherings.

  • 🏅 Irsyad Games – Showcasing talent and team spirit.

  • 🤖 CCAs like Robotics, Archery, STEM, and ODAC.

  • 💻 A strong ICT Department supports both staff and students through workshops and training.



They even offer parent workshops, including Arabic classes and father-focused engagement sessions.



🏆 Achievements That Inspire

Irsyad has proudly produced:


  • 🎓 The top 10 PSLE madrasah students in 2019.

  • 🥇 Champions of the National Robotic Competition.

  • 🧠 Winners in Math Olympiads and the BEBRAS International Competition.


And let’s not forget the nasyid groups born from Irsyad:


  • 🎤 Nur Irsyad (est. 2000) – Sold over 15,000 albums across SG & MY.

  • 🎵 Irsyadee (est. 2007) – Debuted with Petunjuk Sepanjang Jalan.



🌟 Acheivement

Over the years, Irsyad has achieved remarkable success. In the 2019 PSLE, the top 10 madrasah students in Singapore were all from Irsyad.


The school has also won various Math Olympiad competitions, including the Singapore International Math Olympiad and the Raffles Institution Primary Math Olympiad. In the same year, Irsyad emerged as Primary-level champion in the National Robotic Competition and earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in the BEBRAS International Computational Thinking Competition.



🌟 A Living Legacy

From its days in kampong Quarry to the polished halls of the Singapore Islamic Hub, Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah represents the resilience and spirit of the Muslim community in Singapore. Its journey is not just one of relocation or rebranding, but of continuous renewal, adaptation, and excellence—both in the dunya and for the akhirah.


🔎 Fun Fact!

  • According to Ustaz Idris Bin Hj Ahmad, the Principal of Mahadul Irsyad in the 1950s and 1960s, teachers and villagers used to raise funds by selling paper flowers from door to door at Malay areas such as Geylang, Jalan Tempeh and Race Course.


  • Do you know that in the early days after they relocated in Windstet, their building was side by side Madrasah al-Junied. At that time, they were shifted there temporarily to allow renovation at their old premise.


  • At Irsyad, learning extends beyond students, as the school also offers workshops for parents, covering various skills and educational topics such as weekly Arabic language classes, father workshop, science workshop.


  • Irsyad has produced successful nasyid groups like Nur Irsyad and Irsyadee. Nur Irsyad began in 2000 to fundraise for the school and later became a commercial group, selling over 15,000 albums in Singapore and Malaysia. Irsyadee then debut in 2007 wth their first album, Petunjuk Sepanjang Jalan.

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