HIRA Institute was founded in 2018 as a part time program for tahfeedh at the Guiding Light Islamic Center (GLIC). After completing three hours of tahfeedh in the early morning, the students joined Nur Islamic School of Louisville for academic classes.
In August 2019, students enrolled full time at HIRA Institute at the GLIC location. The students had tahfeedh in the morning for four hours. Then the students had online academics in the afternoon for 3rd to 9th Grade. HIRA Institute opened a new musallah in Indiana.
In August 2020, the school partnered with Prospect Foundation and moved into the campus at 4711 Progress Blvd. The school expanded to offer Grade 3 to 12. In the morning, Elementary and Middle School students had tahfeedh. High school students had two choices for the morning program. They could join tahfeedh or they could learn Islamic Studies subjects such as Fiqh, Sirah, Aqeedah, and Hadith in depth. In the afternoon, the students had in person teachers for Islamic Studies, Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Electives (Art/PE/Health).
In May 2021, the school graduated our first Hafiz, Muad Yusuf in 8th Grade. Our first 12th Grade graduate, Shahid Sami went to Jefferson County Community College.
In Augus 2022, the school expanded to offer boys and girls classes. The school graduated our second Hafiz, Hafiz Anas Ali who also completed 12th Grade in three years. He and Sabah Hamid entered University of Louisville with full scholarships.
In May 2023, the school graduated two Hafiz, Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf in 6th Grade and Hafiz Mustafa Malik in 11th Grade. Mahasen Alsaadi received a full scholarship from Wayne State University, Muhais Noor received a scholarship to University of Louisville, and Saad Iqbal attended the newly opened Alimiyyah Program.
In August 2023, the school opened the Alimiyyah Program. The Alimiyyah Program is a six year program equivalent to a Masters in Islamic Studies. The students study Islamic subjects such as Arabic, Qur’an, Hadith, Aqeedah, Fiqh, and Sirah.
HIRA Institute continued to have the Tahfeedh and Islamic Studies After School Program at the Prospect Foundation. HIRA Institute also started a Tahfeedh and Islamic Studies After School Program in the HIRA musallah. The following year, the school mentored Masjid Bilal to offer a Tahfeedh and Islamic Studies After School Program and partnered with the Muslim Community Center to offer a new After School Tahfeedh and Islamic Studies Program.
In 2023, HIRA Institute continued to expand the weekend programs for the community. HIRA Unity offered social programs for the whole family such as carnivals, picnics, and weekend trips. HIRA Youth offered programs for High School and college students such as weekend retreats and sports tournaments. HIRA Kids offered educational and Islamic programs for Elementary and Middle School students. HIRA ILM offered intensive Islamic courses.
In 2020, the school was searching for a new campus location. In October 2022, with the help of local, Muslim business owners, the school signed the contract to purchase the building on 3819 Bardstown Road. The building was previously a public school. Then it was sold briefly to a Jewish school. For the last twenty years, the building was an antique mall. The school is currently remodeling the building. The building currently has a halal grocery store that is renting a section of the building that provides continuous income for the school.