Educational Outreach
Field Trips
Promoting an enduring interest in medicine and science through guided campus tours, rare manuscript discoveries, and interactive hands-on science exhibitions.
NIIMS Field Trips & Science Fairs
NIIMS hopes to promote an interest in medicine and science. We welcome schools, libraries, and community organisations for guided visits through our museum and library, offering students a hands-on introduction to the history of Islamic contributions to science and medicine.
Our sponsorship programme helps make these educational visits accessible to as many young people as possible, including schools that may otherwise have difficulty covering the cost.
If you are interested in scheduling a field trip to NIIMS, or in sponsoring one of our field trips, please click on the appropriate link.
Cross-Cultural Exchange
CBS School Field Trip
Date: September 26, 2026 | Group: CBS School | Attendance: 50 Students
Activity: Guided Tour & Calligraphy
NIIMS was delighted to welcome fifty students from CBS School to the Quran Museum. The group explored the collection with a focus on the history and preservation of the Qur'an, moving through the gallery to see firsthand how centuries-old manuscripts have been cared for and kept intact. The visit closed with a hands-on calligraphy session, giving students the chance to practice the script traditions they'd just spent the afternoon learning about. Their curiosity throughout made it one of the most engaged visits of the season.
Seasonal Outreach
A Season of Visiting Scholars
Period: June – August, 2026 | Groups: Families, College Students, Summer Programs
Activity: Self-Guided Exploration
Rather than a single scheduled trip, this was a season of steady visits from a wide mix of groups. Families came to explore the collection together, college students spent time studying individual manuscripts more closely, and summer program cohorts folded a museum visit into a broader day of learning. Together, these visits reflected just how far beyond school field trips our audience has grown this year.
Heritage Immersion
Al-Iman School Field Trip
Date: March 29, 2026 | Group: Al-Iman School
Activity: Guided Tour & Calligraphy
Al-Iman School joined us for a visit centered on the history and heritage of the Qur'an. Students spent the afternoon examining original manuscripts in the gallery, tracing how calligraphic styles have shifted across different regions and eras. Many returned to the same pieces a second time for a closer look, a sign of just how engaged the group was throughout. The visit closed with a guided calligraphy session, putting that history into practice.
Student Cohort Immersion
Romeoville High School Field Trip
Date: March 25, 2026 | Group: Romeoville High School, MSA
Activity: Guided Tour & Calligraphy
Members of Romeoville High School's Muslim Student Association spent the day exploring the history of the Qur'an and the tradition of Arabic calligraphy. Thoughtful questions shaped the pace of the gallery tour from the very start. Students examined manuscripts closely before moving into a hands-on calligraphy session, applying what they'd just learned with their own hands. Their enthusiasm throughout made it clear the visit left a lasting impression.
Off-Site Outreach
Unity Academy of Chicago Educational Session
Date: March 6, 2026 | Location: Unity Academy of Chicago
Activity: Qur'an & Calligraphy Session
NIIMS visited Unity Academy of Chicago for a dedicated educational session exploring why the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, and the depth and beauty of the language itself. Students took part in a hands-on Arabic calligraphy activity, learning to write their own letters under guidance. This was a different kind of visit than our usual on-site field trips, one where our team brought the museum's teaching directly to a school's campus. Schools and organizations interested in hosting a similar program are welcome to get in touch.
Community Engagement
Illinois Muslim Education Fair
Date: February 7, 2026 | Location: Benedictine University, Krasa Student Center
Activity: Educational Fair
NIIMS took part in the Illinois Muslim Education Fair at Benedictine University, joining Muslim schools, organizations, and families from across the state for an afternoon of connection. Our table gave visitors a window into the museum's collection and the educational programs available to schools and community groups. It was a chance to meet new partners outside our usual museum visits and introduce NIIMS to families who might not have found us otherwise.
Distinguished Guests
Orland Park Mosque Leadership Visit
Date: February 1, 2026 | Group: Orland Park Mosque
Attendance: 37 Leaders
We had the pleasure of hosting thirty-seven leaders from the Orland Park Mosque at the museum for an afternoon centered on discussion and reflection. The visit carried a different tone than our student field trips, shaped by conversation as much as by the tour itself, with guests sharing their own reflections on Islamic history as they moved through the collection. It was a meaningful exchange with respected voices from the community, and we look forward to welcoming this group back.
Winter Open House
A Season of Winter Visitors
Period: November – December 2025 | Groups: Multiple Visiting Parties
Despite the cold Chicago weather, the museum stayed full of energy through the final weeks of the year. We welcomed a steady stream of groups during this period, each bringing their own questions and curiosity into the gallery. Sharing our exhibits with so many visitors through the colder months was a genuine joy, a reminder that interest in this history doesn't pause for the season. We're grateful to everyone who braved the chill to explore, learn, and connect with us.
Student Discovery Visit
Islamic Foundation School Field Trip
Date: November 21, 2025 | Group: Islamic Foundation School
We were glad to welcome students from Islamic Foundation School to the museum for an afternoon full of energy and discovery. The group moved through the gallery exploring our collection of rare manuscripts, taking in centuries of history across the exhibits. Their enthusiasm was evident throughout the visit, exactly the kind of response we hope to spark in every student who walks through our doors. We'd love to welcome Islamic Foundation School back again soon.
Distinguished Guests
A Visit from Sh. Haitham and Sh. Ahmed
Date: November 19, 2025 | Guests: Sh. Haitham, Sh. Ahmed
We were honored to welcome Sh. Haitham and Sh. Ahmed to the museum for a guided tour of our exhibits. The visit included time with our team discussing the collection and NIIMS's ongoing work, along with reflections from both guests on the significance of what the museum preserves. Their continued support means a great deal to us, and we're grateful for the chance to host them.
Curatorial Encounter
CPSA School Field Trip
Date: October 15 - 18, 2025 | Group: CPSA School
CPSA School visited the museum for an afternoon exploring our collection of rare manuscripts and exhibits. We were genuinely impressed by the depth of curiosity and knowledge the students brought with them, asking thoughtful questions throughout their time in the gallery. It was the kind of visit that reflects exactly what we hope every school trip becomes, a group that leaves having learned something, and having asked good questions along the way.
Student Cohort Immersion
Al-Aqsa Field Trip
Middle School Delegation
Aqsa middle School made a field trip to NIIMS museum. The girls were fascinated by our unique collection of Qurans from around the world. Who knew that there were so many different sizes of Qurans and different styles of calligraphy. These pieces are priceless. The girls received a tour of the museum and campus. They also experienced a hand's on calligraphy session where they each got a chance to write their names in calligraphy and take home their works of art.
65 Student Research Group
65 students from Aqsa school came to the Quran museum of NIIMS. Students explored the unusual works from across the world with an eye toward what qualities make those pieces of Masahif so unique. They worked closely with their peers and engaged in interactive gallery activities. Students also examined principles like calligraphy styles, texture, and dimension to understand various calligraphers' choices and the development of writing Al-Quran.
Curricular Foundation
What Every Tour & Presentation Delivers
Rooted in historical veracity and active participatory learning, each session provides an intellectually rigorous 4-pillar experience.
Multimedia Lecture & Scientific Roots
A live dynamic slide presentation explaining how Islamic culture influenced and actively propelled empirical inquiry and scientific advancements.
Living Artifact Exploration
Physical inspection of artifacts, early surgical tools, astrolabes, and medicinal glassware demonstrating early pioneering feats.
Curated Research Library Access
Exploration of our reference volumes filled with anatomical woodcuts, herbal remedies, and multilingual translated manuscripts.
Subject Matter Expert Dialogue
Dedicated Q&A sessions where visiting students converse directly with physicians, historians, and research fellows.
Exemplar Lecture Thesis
The Scintillating Era of Islamic Medicine (622 CE – 1600 CE)
For one thousand years during the triumphant centuries of Islamic civilization, there was no other medical tradition practiced except “Islamic Medicine.” This golden era began after the Hijra (622 CE) and spanned nearly a millennium.
In our exhibit halls, we trace the origins of this scintillating period: the rapid assimilation of medical knowledge from declining civilizations—including Greek, Byzantine (Roman), Syriac, Indian, and ancient Chinese sources. This collective wisdom was systematically translated into Arabic and Syriac, rigorously codified, critically analyzed, tested in bimaristans (hospitals), and transformed into a rational, scientific healthcare system that subsequently shaped modern medical thought worldwide.