[4] Principal: Ustazah Warintek Ismail Vice Principal (Academic): Mdm Faizah Abdul Rahman Vice Principal (Administration): Mr. Zuremi Sukri Manager (Operations): Ustaz Saddam Hussien Norazman Coordinator (ICT): Mr. Rizal Jailani Madrasah Irsyad Zuhri Al-Islamiah was founded as Mahadul Irsyad at Hindhede Road (off Upper Bukit Timah Road) where the village called Kampong Quarry used to be.

[4] Its education system was adopted from Johor, Malaysia, but starting from 1965, upon the suggestion of the then President of Singapore Mr Yusof Ishak, it was changed gradually to suit its needs.

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.

[3] Ustaz Ahmad Sonhadji Mohamad, the then Chairman of Irsyad, contributed significantly to the Muslim population in Singapore by introducing Iqra'.

The change in location caused a switch to double-sessions due to space constraints and the introduction of a standardised school uniforms to differentiate between Irsyad and Aljunied students.

[1] In 1998, Irsyad had its first batch of Secondary 1 students due to increased demand for madrasah education.

Previously, most of Irsyad's graduates continued their secondary school education at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah.

[7] To better prepare for that eventuality, Irsyad was the first madrasah to introduce a new integrated religious curriculum for the primary school.

It was composed while the school was at Hinhede Road by Cikgu A. Wahab Hamzah, Ms Faridah Ahmad and an ex-student Fazly A. Rahman.

Having a uniform that respects the aurat is one of the primary reasons why parents choose to send their children to madrasahs.

[3] For secondary school boys, the sleeves are long and the shirt is worn tucked in with a black belt.

For secondary school girls, the blouse and pants are replaced by a jubah (long loose dress).

However, due to the religious subjects that Irsyad students learn on top of mainstream secular subjects, a typical Irsyad primary school student's day ends at about 3 p.m; 2 hours longer than their mainstream counterparts.

To maintain its "designated institution" status, madrasahs have to meet a certain minimum PSLE benchmark.

Thus 2008 is the first year that Irsyad students will be sitting for their PSLE with the heavy burden of ensuring that their primary school remains in existence.

Students in Madrasah Irsyad also actively participate in National-level competitions and have achieved various awards such as the Raffles Institution Primary Math World Contest (RIPMWC), Singapore Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools (SMOPS) by Hwa Chong Institution and the National Mathematical Olympiad of Singapore (NMOS) by the NUS High School of Math & Science.

This means that with their GCE 'O'Levels, they enrol in either polytechnics, junior colleges or other institutes such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

At Irsyad, that grade is assessed based on Incentive and Penalty points awarded by all teachers concerned over a period of one year.

[3] This system is effective in developing a student's sense of responsibility and in cultivating the idea that each of one's actions has consequences on others.

In this programme, bright Muslim youths from tertiary institutes and beyond voluntarily serve as mentors (in the academic, emotional and spiritual sense) of Primary 6 Irsyad students in light of their upcoming PSLE exams.

[13] Irsyadee is a now inactive Nasyid group formed in 2007 for the same reason as Nur Irsyad; to raise funds for the Madrasah.

The complex will house the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah and Muhajirin Mosque.

The aim of the scheme is to address the perennial problems of madrasah operators: limited funds and the need to improve standards for primary and secondary students.