Reading the Qur'an starts with recognising letters that change shape depending on where they sit in a word. Work through these three lessons and a child can sound out any ayah, slowly and correctly, instead of only copying audio.
Lesson 1 · ages 5-7
The 28 letters
Arabic is written right to left, and most letters change shape depending on whether they start, sit inside, or end a word. Learn the 28 names first, then the shapes.
1Right to left
Words and lines run from right to left — the opposite of English.
228 letters
From Alif to Ya. Some of them have no close English sound, so listen carefully.
3Three positions
Most letters have an initial, middle and final shape — the same letter, dressed differently.
4Six loners
Alif, Dal, Dhal, Ra, Zay and Waw never join to the letter after them.
5Dots matter
Ba, Ta and Tha share a shape; only the dots tell them apart.
“The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
Do this before next time
Say all 28 letter names in order without looking, then write your name in Arabic letters.
Lesson 2 · ages 5-7
Vowel marks and long sounds
Arabic letters are consonants. The little marks above and below tell you which vowel to say, and when to hold a sound longer.
1Fatha, kasra, damma
a, i, u — the three short vowels that sit above or below the letter.
2Sukun
A small circle means stop the letter dead, with no vowel after it.
3Shaddah
Doubles the letter: rabb, not rab.
4Tanwin
Double marks at the end of a word give an, in or un.
5Madd
A long vowel is held for about two counts — this is where recitation starts to sound beautiful.
“Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah earns a reward, and that reward is multiplied by ten.”
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2910
Do this before next time
Read one line of Surah Al-Fatihah out loud, naming each haraka as you go.
Lesson 3 · ages 8-11
Tajweed basics
Tajweed means giving every letter its right sound and its right length. These few rules cover most of what you meet in the short surahs.
1Start properly
Say A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim, then Bismillah, before you begin reciting.
2Ghunnah
Nun and mim with a shaddah hum through the nose for about two counts.
3Qalqalah
The letters ق ط ب ج د bounce when they carry a sukun — like the d in 'ahad'.
4Heavy letters
ص ض ط ظ ق غ خ are said with a full, heavy mouth — not like their light cousins.
5Stopping signs
The small marks above the line tell you where it is best to pause and where you must not.
6Slow is correct
Allah told us to recite with tartil — measured and unhurried. Speed is not the goal.
Fa izaa qara tal Quraana fasta'iz billaahi minashh Shai taanir rajeem
“So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].”
Do this before next time
Record yourself reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas slowly, then listen for the qalqalah on 'ahad'.
Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path
The 28 letters
Each letter with its name, its sound, and how it changes shape at the start, middle and end of a word.
