Memorising the Quran: a method and a tool for learning the Quran by heart

The recommended method rests on regularity: learning a small portion every day, repeating it aloud while listening to a reciter, then systematically revising what has already been learned. Our tool shows each verse in Arabic, in transliteration and in English, and hides the words step by step to test the memory. Understanding the meaning through the tafsir also makes it easier to retain.

It is advisable to start with Juz Amma, the thirtieth part of the Quran (surahs 78 to 114). Its surahs are short, mostly Meccan, rhythmic and often recited in prayer, which helps in remembering them. One then moves on to longer surahs. You can also listen to the audio Quran to fix the pronunciation before memorising.

There is no fixed length of time: it depends on age, on the time given to it each day, on one's command of Arabic and on the quality of revision. The Quran has 6236 verses spread over 114 surahs and 30 juz. Some memorise it in a few years with a teacher, others take longer. What matters is steadiness and revision, without which what has been learned is forgotten.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it” (Sahih al-Bukhari). He also announced that whoever recites the Quran with mastery will be with the noble scribes, and that whoever reads it with difficulty will have a double reward (Bukhari and Muslim). The hafiz enjoys a particular standing with Allah.

The Quran is divided into 30 juz (parts) to make a complete reading in one month easier, and each juz is divided into 2 hizb, that is 60 hizb in all. These divisions do not change the text: they serve only as markers for organising reading and revision. Juz Amma (the 30th juz) is the one most used by beginners for memorisation.