Learn to read the Qur'an correctly, from the very first letter

Who this course is for

• Starting from zero

  You never learnt to read Arabic and want to begin with the alphabet.

• Coming back to it

  You learnt as a child but it has faded. This is a calm place to rebuild.

• New to Islam

  You want a clear start, explained in English, one small step at a time.

• Reciting correctly

  You can already read but want the rules of tajweed explained properly, so you recite the way it was taught.

No Arabic needed. If you can read this page, you can start.

By the end of Level 1 you will be able to

• Read every Arabic letter and say it from the right place, including the sounds English does not have
• Read short vowels, tanween, sukoon, shaddah and madd
• Apply the rules of noon and meem sakinah
• Stop correctly at the end of an ayah
• Read Al-Fatihah and the last three surahs with tajweed

How each lesson works

1. Watch

   Every lesson starts with a short video at the top of the page.

2. Practise

   Hear each sound, say it back, then check yourself with a short quiz.

3. Print

   Download the lesson sheet to practise away from the screen.

Take the lessons in order. Each one builds on the last, so the next one is marked Up next.

The lessons

Lessons 1 to 5 are draft versions for now. New lessons are added regularly.

Level 1 · Qur'an Reading Foundations

1. 1Welcome: how this course worksStart
2. 2The Arabic alphabet: letter namesStart
3. 3Letter shapes and how letters joinStart
4. 4Fathah: the first short vowelStart
5. 5Throat letters: sounds English does not haveStart
6. 6Heavy letters and their look-alikesComing soon
7. 7Kasrah and DammahComing soon
8. 8Practice 1: short vowels and first wordsComing soon
9. 9Tanween: the double vowelsComing soon
10. 10Sukoon: closing a syllableComing soon
11. 11Qalqalah: the bouncing lettersComing soon
12. 12Practice 2: tanween, sukoon and qalqalahComing soon
13. 13Shaddah: the doubled letterComing soon
14. 14Ghunnah: noon and meem with shaddahComing soon
15. 15Madd: the three long vowelsComing soon
16. 16Small signs in the Mushaf: standing alif, small waw and yaa, the madd signComing soon
17. 17Leen: the soft sounds (aw, ay)Coming soon
18. 18Practice 3: guided reading of Surah QurayshComing soon
19. 19Al-: sun and moon letters, hamzat al-wasl, silent lettersComing soon
20. 20Heavy and light: the word Allah, heavy letters and RaComing soon
21. 21Noon sakinah and tanween, part 1: the four rules, Izhar and IkhfaComing soon
22. 22Noon sakinah and tanween, part 2: Idgham and IqlabComing soon
23. 23Meem sakinah: the three rulesComing soon
24. 24Practice 4: noon and meem sakinah in Juz 'AmmaComing soon
25. 25Stopping at the end of an ayahComing soon
26. 26Madd: when a madd is longer than two countsComing soon
27. 27Beginning your recitation: isti'adhah and basmalahComing soon
28. 28Guided reading: Al-FatihahComing soon
29. 29Guided reading: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-NasComing soon
30. 30Level 1 review and next stepsComing soon

Level 2 · Letters and Sounds

1. 1The five articulation regionsComing soon
2. 2Throat letters in depthComing soon
3. 3Back and middle of the tongueComing soon
4. 4Side of the tongueComing soon
5. 5Tongue tip, part 1Coming soon
6. 6Tongue tip, part 2Coming soon
7. 7Tongue tip, part 3: whistling lettersComing soon
8. 8Tongue tip, part 4Coming soon
9. 9The lipsComing soon
10. 10Empty space and the noseComing soon
11. 11Qualities with oppositesComing soon
12. 12Qualities without oppositesComing soon
13. 13Similar letters clinicComing soon
14. 14Level 2 reviewComing soon

Level 3 · Tajweed Rules in Depth

1. 1Ghunnah in depth: its levels and ikhfa taking the next letter's heavinessComing soon
2. 2Tafkhim and tarqiq: the levels of heavinessComing soon
3. 3The rules of Ra in fullComing soon
4. 4The rules of LamComing soon
5. 5Madd lazim in depth and the opening letters; badal, 'iwad, silahComing soon
6. 6Stopping signs and how to restartComing soon
7. 7PracticeComing soon
8. 8Level 3 reviewComing soon

Level 4 · Applied Tajweed and Guided Reading

1. 1Guided reading: Al-Kawthar, Al-'Asr and An-NasrComing soon
2. 2Guided reading: Al-Kafirun and Al-MasadComing soon
3. 3Guided reading: Al-Fil and Al-Ma'unComing soon
4. 4Guided reading: At-Takathur and Al-HumazahComing soon
5. 5Guided reading: Al-Qari'ahComing soon
6. 6Guided reading: Az-Zalzalah and Al-QadrComing soon
7. 7Guided reading: Al-'AdiyatComing soon
8. 8Guided reading: At-Tin and Ash-SharhComing soon
9. 9Guided reading: Ad-DuhaComing soon
10. 10Guided reading: Al-BayyinahComing soon
11. 11Guided reading: Al-'AlaqComing soon
12. 12Guided reading: Ash-ShamsComing soon
13. 13Guided reading: Al-A'laComing soon
14. 14Waqf and ibtida in depthComing soon
15. 15Two meeting letters: mithlayn, mutajanisayn, mutaqaribaynComing soon
16. 16Special cases in HafsComing soon
17. 17Common mistakes clinic for English speakersComing soon
18. 18Course completionComing soon

Questions