How to Start Reading the Quran: A Beginner’s Guide to Learn Quran

The glorious Quran is a guide sent by Allah to this world. As Muslims, it’s our duty to learn to recite the Quran correctly. Have you wondered how to start reading the Quran? If you are a beginner, don’t worry! It’s not too hard. You can learn it within one or two months of sincere practice inshaAllah. 

This article will guide you through some effective ways of learning to read the Quran. Let’s begin. 

Importance of Learning to Read the Quran

1. Reciting the Quran is an Ibadah. It’s a must to recite a portion of it correctly in every prayer. Therefore learning the proper recitation of the Quran is mandatory for every Muslim.

You don’t have to learn Arabic language and grammar to read the Quran, but you must learn to recite it accurately. It’s commendable to learn Arabic grammar to better understand the Quran.

Allah says in the Quran:

بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّۢ مُّبِينٍۢ

Meaning: “(The Quran) in a clear Arabic tongue.” [Surah Ash Shuara: 195]

2. Another crucial reason to learn to recite the Quran properly is the soundness of its meaning. If you mispronounce certain letters in Arabic, it might alter the meaning of a word or even the entire sentence. For example in the first verse of Surah Al Ikhlas Allah says: 

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ 

Meaning: “Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is Allah—One ˹and Indivisible˺” [Surah Ikhlas: 1]

The first word of the verse is ‘قُل’ which contains the letter ‘ق’. Let’s say someone mispronounces it with ‘ك’. The word becomes ‘كل’. This is how the verse looks afterwards:

كل هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

Meaning: “Eat, He is Allah the One.”

Astagfirullah! Ma’dhallah! You see how the entire meaning of the verse changes because someone mispronounced a single letter. This is why one must learn how to read the Quran correctly. 

Virtues of Reading the Quran

The virtues of properly reciting the Quran are endless. Here we have mentioned a few. 

1. Each Letter of the Quran Gains You Ten Rewards

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 

مَنْ قَرَأَ حَرْفًا مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُ بِهِ حَسَنَةٌ وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا لَا أَقُولُ الم حَرْفٌ وَلَكِنْ أَلِفٌ حَرْفٌ وَلَامٌ حَرْفٌ وَمِيمٌ حَرْفٌ

Meaning: “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will receive one good deed as ten good deeds like it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is one letter, but rather Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter, and Mim is a letter.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2910]

2. Quran will Intercede for You on the Day of Judgement

Rasulullah ﷺ said: 

 اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ شَفِيعًا لأَصْحَابِهِ

Meaning: “Recite the Qur’an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite It.” [Shaih Muslim: Sahih Muslim 804a]

3. Double Reward for You if You Find it Difficult

Recite the Quran even if you find it difficult to do so. Because the Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said: 

 وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ وَهُوَ يَشْتَدُّ عَلَيْهِ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ

Meaning: “He who finds it hard (to recite the Qur’an) will have a double reward.” [Sahih Muslim: 798]

How to Learn to Read Quran: 7 Effective Tips

A few simple steps can get you started on your journey to learn to read the Quran properly. They are as follows: 

1. Learn From a Ustadh

The most effective way to learn to read the Quran is to learn directly from a qualified Ustadh (teacher). It will help you to learn the Quran fast. You should learn the following things properly from him/her: 

• Tajweed Rules: It includes Makhraj, Gunnah, Madd, Idgham, Ikhfa, and more.
• Pronunciation: Be sure you are pronouncing every Arabic letter correctly. And gradually learn to pronounce words and sentences accurately.
• Proper Recitation: Once you are familiar with the Arabic letters, Tajweed and others start reciting  Surahs from the Quran. You can start from the short suras that we frequently recite in Salah including Surah Al Fatiha.

2. Use of the Noorani Method

The method that most Ustadhs follow in the Indian subcontinent is the use of Qaidah and Ampara. They’ve named it the ‘Noorani Method’. 

Qaidah is a short handbook where all the Arabic alphabet, various forms, usage, Tajweed, Makhraj, and their application in the Quran are depicted in written format. Ampara is a handbook where some small and most common Surahs are compiled. It is designed to be easily memorised and read in prayers. 

For beginners, this method has been proven to be one of the best and most effective ways to learn to recite the Quran. You can search for a Ustadh who teaches in this method or find online courses that follow it.

3. Online Basic Quran Learning Courses 

You can find plenty of great courses online on beginners’ guides on how to recite the Quran. These courses can help you learn Quran recitation.

4. Use a Quran App

A good way to learn to read Arabic is through digital apps. There are amazing apps available online to help you learn to read the Quran. Check out our Quran app where you can read the Quran in Arabic, transliteration, word-by-word pronunciation & translation of every word, recitation, and much more.

5. Listen to Different Recitations

The Quran is meant to be recited. The word itself means recitation. Recitation means reading out something while others are listening. That has been the case since the Messenger’s ﷺ time. He ﷺ said: 

إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ كَانَ يُعَارِضُنِي الْقُرْآنَ كُلَّ سَنَةٍ مَرَّةً، وَإِنَّهُ عَارَضَنِي الْعَامَ مَرَّتَيْنِ

Meaning: ‘Every year Jibril (Gabriel) used to revise the Qur’an with me once only, but this year (the last year of the Prophet’s life) he has done so twice.’ [Sahih al Bukhari: 3623]

So the proper way of learning to recite the Quran is to read and listen. You can listen to renowned Qaris from all over the world online. This will help you to remember the correct pronunciation of words in the Quran.

6. Use Colour-Coded Quran

‘Colour-coded/Tajweed Enhanced’ Qurans are readily available everywhere nowadays. Most Quran apps also include this feature. It uses different colours on specific alphabets. Each colour represents a different meaning. For example, red could mean Gunnah, yellow could mean Ikhfa, and more.

These help beginners and sometimes even experts know exactly what to pronounce and where.

Keep in mind that this ‘Colour-coded/Tajweed enhanced’ Quran is just a helpful tool. This should not hinder you from learning proper recitation. 

7. Use Transliteration 

If you are completely new to learning the Quran, transliteration can come in handy. There are some amazing apps available online with quality transliteration of Quranic Arabic. 

N.B. Transliteration can only be helpful for absolute beginners who are unable to read Arabic at all. It is not the correct or accurate way of reciting the Quran properly. You should learn to read the Quran in Arabic. 

FAQs

Q. What should I do before starting to recite the Quran?

Ans: Before starting to recite the Quran, you must learn the correct pronunciation of Arabic letters. You should learn under a Ustadh and follow the Noorani method. 

Q. How can I learn the Quran quickly? 

Ans: Learn from a qualified and experienced teacher. Also, there are online programs available to help you learn the Quran quickly and in an interactive way. You can enrol in such programs as well. 

Q. How can I recite the Quran without any mistakes?

Ans: To recite the Quran without any mistakes, you must learn and practise the Tajweed rules properly. Also, you must learn from a reliable source. 

Conclusion 

Every Muslim should learn to recite the Quran correctly. We hope this article will help you understand how to start reading the Quran. After learning to read the Quran, practice is essential for improvement. May Allah make it easy for us to recite His glorious words correctly.