How to Read the Quran for Beginners

First learn the 28 Arabic letters, their shapes at the start, middle and end of a word, and their sounds. Then learn the short vowel marks and the sign for a doubled letter.

Use a beginner book such as a noorani qaidah style primer, or join a class with a teacher. A teacher can hear your mistakes and correct them, which a book cannot do. Many people also learn well with a trusted online teacher.

Do not feel shy about starting as an adult, and do not lose heart if reading is hard for you. The Prophet ﷺ said that the one who recites the Quran and stumbles over it, finding it difficult, will have two rewards. Every learner begins with the same letters.

Tajweed means reciting each letter correctly and beautifully, as the Quran was taught. Allah tells us in Quran 73:4 to recite the Quran slowly and clearly. You do not need to learn everything at once. Begin with these ideas:

• Every letter comes from a certain place in the mouth or throat. Learn where, so that similar letters do not sound the same.
• Long and short vowels matter. Hold a long vowel for its proper length, and do not stretch a short one.
• Noon sakinah (a noon with no vowel) and tanween (the double vowel at the end of a word) change their sound depending on the letter that comes next. A teacher can show you each rule with examples.
• Stopping: stop where the meaning is complete or at the end of a verse, and take your breath there. Small signs in the text guide you.

Reading the Arabic is an act of worship, and understanding the meaning brings the heart closer to it. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah earns a good deed, and a good deed is rewarded tenfold. Keep a trustworthy translation beside you and read the meaning of what you recited.

A translation is only an explanation of the meaning, not the Quran itself. For deeper questions, use a respected tafsir or ask a knowledgeable person.

Start with short passages. Read the Arabic first, then the meaning, and then read the Arabic again. This helps the meaning stay with you when you recite in prayer.

A small daily habit is better than a large effort that stops after a week. Many printed copies have about 600 pages, so one page a day finishes the whole Quran in under two years, by Allah's permission.

• Choose a fixed time, such as after Fajr or before sleep.
• Begin with one page or even half a page.
• Recite slowly, and mark places where you need help.
• If you miss a day, simply continue the next day.
• Keep the copy of the Quran with respect. Most scholars say that you need wudu to touch a printed copy, while reciting from memory does not need it. Scholars differ on a screen and on reading during menstruation or after sexual intimacy, so see the article on the etiquette of reading the Quran.

Listen to a clear reciter while you follow the text. This trains your ear for the sounds and the pace. Choose a reciter who reads slowly, and repeat after them.

When you are ready, memorise short surahs from the end of the Quran, such as Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. They are short, and you can use them in your prayer. Review them often so they stay in your memory.