How to memorise Quran: a method that sticks
Memorising the Quran is less about talent and more about method: correct recitation first, small daily portions, and a revision routine that never stops. Here is a step-by-step method that works for children and busy adults, with a worked example using Surah Al-Mulk.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
Get the recitation right first
Whatever you memorise, you will recite that way for years, so make sure your reading is correct before you start. You should be able to read the Arabic fluently with the basic tajweed rules. If not, spend a few months on reading first; it will save far more time later. A teacher in our tajweed course can check your level.
Small portions, every day
- Listen to the portion several times from a reciter with good tajweed.
- Read it from the same mushaf every time, so you remember its position on the page.
- Repeat one line until you can say it without looking, then add the next and join them.
- Recite the whole portion from memory, then check it against the mushaf.
- Recite it to someone who can correct you, ideally a teacher, the same day or the next.
Revision: sabaq, sabaq para, manzil
Traditional hifz teaching splits each day into three parts, and you can use the same structure on your own:
| Part | What it is | Typical share of time |
|---|---|---|
| Sabaq | Today's new lines | About a third |
| Sabaq para | The last few days or weeks of new memorisation | About a third |
| Manzil | Older memorisation, on a rotation | About a third, growing over time |
As you memorise more, revision takes more of your time. That is normal and is what keeps your hifz strong. Read more in how to revise hifz.
Worked example: Surah Al-Mulk
Surah Al-Mulk has 30 verses over about 3 pages (pages 562 to 564 of the Madinah mushaf). At five lines a day, the plan looks like this:
- Weeks 1–2: the first page, five lines a day, revising all previous lines daily.
- Weeks 3–4: the second page, revising page one daily.
- Weeks 5–6: the final page, then recite the whole surah each night.
Many people recite Al-Mulk before sleeping, which becomes daily revision; see our guide to Surah Al-Mulk. Shorter starting points are the last 10 surahs.
Memorising with a full-time job
- Use a fixed 20–30 minute slot, such as after Fajr or before work.
- Revise during the day: on the commute, in salah, or while waiting.
- Set targets in lines, not pages, and adjust them each month.
- Keep a written record of what you memorised and when you last revised it.
To see how long your plan will take, try the hifz planner. To memorise with a teacher who sets sabaq and tracks revision, see our online hifz course.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses should I memorise a day?
Start with what you can keep: three to five lines a day for most beginners, half a page to a page for experienced students. It is better to memorise less and revise it properly.
What is the best time to memorise?
Many people find the time after Fajr best, when the mind is fresh and the house is quiet. Whatever time you choose, keep it the same every day.
Why do I keep forgetting what I memorised?
Almost always because revision has not kept pace with new memorisation. Revise recent pages every day and older pages on a rotation; reciting them in salah helps too.
Can I memorise if I cannot read Arabic well?
Learn to read first. Memorising from transliteration or by ear alone usually locks in mistakes. Start with Noorani Qaida and fluent reading.
Memorise with a teacher listening
Three free one-to-one hifz lessons in UK time, with a plan you can keep.