Quran Recitation Classes Online, With a Teacher Who Listens
Quran recitation classes teach you to read the Quran aloud correctly and steadily, from the first letters to fluent recitation with Tajweed, with a teacher correcting each mistake as you read. Ours are live, one to one or in a small group, for children from four and adults, explained in English. They cost $9.50 an hour, falling to $7.00, from $34 a month, and the first lesson is free.
Book a free recitation lesson How the free lesson works
Hear what you are learning towards
The same verse, al-Fatiha 1:2, ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ, recited three ways by recognised reciters. Press play and listen to how each word is held.
| Style | What to listen for | Hear it |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching recitation | Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Husary reads slowly, for learners, so every letter and every held vowel can be copied. This is the pace a beginner practises at. | |
| Murattal | Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdus Samad at a measured, even pace: the style of daily recitation and of the prayer. | |
| Mujawwad | The same reciter, slower and melodic, with long held notes. A performance style built on the same rules, learned last if at all. |
Recordings from Quran.com and QuranicAudio. What changes between them is pace and melody; what does not change is the pronunciation of each letter and the length of each vowel. That part is what recitation classes teach.
The steps from first letter to fluent recitation
| Step | What the lessons work on | You are ready to move on when |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The letters | Each Arabic letter and its sound, through the Noorani Qaida | You recognise every letter and join them into words |
| 2. Reading | Vowel marks, long vowels and joined words, on real pages of the Quran | You read any line slowly without the teacher spelling words out |
| 3. Tajweed | The rules of recitation applied while reading: Tajweed rules such as ghunnah, the noon rules and the lengths of madd | You apply the rules without stopping to think about them |
| 4. Fluency | Steady murattal recitation, stopping and starting in the right places | You can recite a whole surah at an even pace, correctly |
At two or three lessons a week, most children finish the Noorani Qaida in 6 to 12 months and adults in 3 to 6, then take a further 6 to 12 months to read any page steadily. A child who is heard every week gets there faster than one who reads alone, because mistakes are caught before they become habits.
How a recitation lesson runs
You and the teacher share the same page on a video call. You read; the teacher listens and stops you on the word where a letter or a length went wrong, then has you read it again. Each lesson ends with a short passage to practise before the next. You may sit in on your child’s lessons at any time, and lessons are not recorded unless you agree first.
The different recitations, briefly
People searching for recitation classes often ask what the “types” of recitation are. There are two different answers.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| The readings (qira’at) | Authentic ways of reciting the Quran transmitted from the Prophet, traditionally counted as seven, or ten with three more. The most widespread today is the reading of Hafs from Asim; Warsh from Nafi is common in North and West Africa. Our classes teach Hafs. |
| Tahqiq, tadwir, hadr | Three paces within any reading: tahqiq is slowest, for learning and precision; tadwir is moderate; hadr is quick, for revision. All keep the rules. |
| Murattal and mujawwad | Styles of delivery: murattal is measured and even, mujawwad slower and melodic. Both are heard above. |
What it costs
$9.50 an hour, falling to $7.00 as you book more hours in a month, with plans from $34 to $84 a month and 10 per cent off for a second child. Every plan is on the pricing page.
Tilawat courses, cost, the seven recitations and adults
Is there an online course that teaches Quran tilawat?
Yes. Tilawat simply means recitation, and a live online class teaches it the same way a teacher at the masjid would: you read, the teacher listens and corrects. Recorded courses help with listening, but only a live teacher can correct your own reading.
How much does an online Quran recitation class cost?
Ours starts at $34 a month, with a free first lesson. Rates elsewhere vary widely, so compare what the teacher does in the lesson, not only the price.
What are the 7 types of Quran recitation?
They are the seven canonical readings (qira’at), each traced to a master reciter and transmitted with its own chain. Scholars later added three more, making ten. Most of the world recites in the reading of Hafs from Asim.
Can adults learn to recite the Quran?
Yes. Adults start at the letters or wherever they are, at their own pace; see Quran classes for adults. An adult who learned as a child usually regains steady reading quickly.
Do I need Tajweed to recite the Quran?
Tajweed is the set of rules that makes recitation correct, so it is part of reciting well rather than an extra. Beginners learn to read first and add the rules step by step.
Can I have a female teacher?
Yes. Female teachers are available for every subject at the same price. Give two or three possible times when you book.
Beginner guides, local classes and a free lesson
If you are starting from nothing, read learning the Quran as a beginner; for a class, see our Quran classes for beginners, or look for Quran classes near you. When you are ready, book the free first lesson.