How to Memorise the Quran: A Practical Plan for Adults and Students
A practical method to memorise the Quran: choosing one mushaf, small daily portions, repetition, linking verses, revision schedules and how to keep what you learn.
Last updated: 2026-10-03
Millions of people have memorised the whole Quran, and many more know large parts of it. A person who has memorised it all is called a hafiz. You don’t need a special memory — you need a method, a little time every day, and a lot of revision. This guide sets out a method used by many teachers.
Before you start
- Use one mushaf. Memorisation is partly visual: you remember where a verse sits on the page. Choose one layout — for example the 15-line Madinah mushaf — and keep it.
- Fix your recitation first. Correct mistakes before memorising, or you will memorise them. Basic tajweed helps.
- Choose one reciter to listen to, so your ear learns one rhythm.
- Find a teacher or partner to listen to you regularly. Mistakes you don’t hear yourself are easy to catch for someone else.
The daily method
- Listen to the new portion several times while following the text.
- Read it from the mushaf slowly, verse by verse, until it is smooth.
- Memorise one verse at a time: repeat it from the page, then without looking, until it is fluent.
- Link each new verse to the one before by reciting them together.
- At the end, recite the whole portion from memory and check it against the page.
- Recite the new portion in your prayers that day.
How much per day?
Start small: three to five verses, or a few lines. Many full-time students reach one page a day; people with work or school often manage half a page or less. A portion you can review faithfully is better than a big portion you forget.
Revision is the real work
Teachers often divide daily time into three parts:
- New (sabaq): today’s new portion.
- Recent (sabqi): the last few weeks, reviewed every day.
- Old (manzil): everything memorised before, reviewed in a rotation — for example one juz a day.
Once you have memorised a lot, revision should take more time than new memorisation. Skipping revision is the main reason people forget.
Where to start
Begin with Surah Al-Fatihah (1) and the short surahs at the end of the Quran — see the last 10 surahs. Then continue backwards through Juz Amma, or choose surahs you love, such as Al-Mulk or Al-Kahf.
Tips that help
- Memorise at the same time every day; after the dawn prayer is a popular time.
- Learn the meaning of what you memorise — it makes the order of the verses easier to remember.
- Pay attention to similar verses (mutashabihat) that differ by a word; note the difference.
- Write a passage from memory occasionally to test yourself.
- Be patient with slow days. Steady practice over months matters more than speed.
Revising with audio? A short video of your passage with the text synced to a recitation can help you review on the go — make one.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to memorise the Quran?
- It varies widely. Full-time students often take two to four years; people memorising alongside work or school may take much longer. Consistency matters more than speed.
- What should I memorise first?
- Most people start with Al-Fatihah and the short surahs of the 30th juz, which they can use in prayer straight away.
- How do I stop forgetting what I memorised?
- Revise daily. Many teachers suggest spending more time revising old memorisation than adding new, and reciting it in prayer.
This article explains common understanding and history for general readers; it is not a religious ruling. For questions of practice, consult a qualified scholar. See the disclaimer.
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