Indo Pak vs Madinah mushaf: what is different
The Indo-Pak and Madinah mushafs contain exactly the same Quran. The difference is the style of script and reading marks: the thicker South Asian script many UK families learned at the madrasa, and the Madinah print used in most mosques and apps. Here is what differs and how to switch.
Last updated: 8 October 2026
Indo-Pak vs Madinah mushaf: the differences
| Madinah (Uthmani) mushaf | Indo-Pak mushaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Script style | Naskh, close to modern printed Arabic | Thicker South Asian naskh with extra marks |
| Long vowels | Small letters (dagger alif, small waw and ya’) | Standing fatha, kasra and inverted damma |
| Sukun | A small round head (like a circle) | A differently shaped jazm mark |
| Pages | 604 pages, 15 lines each; every juz ends at a page end | Varies by edition (commonly 13, 15 or 16 lines per page) |
| Ruku‘ markers | Not shown | Marked with ‘ain in the margin |
| Stop signs | A smaller modern set | More, including older signs |
| Common in | Arab world, mosques and most apps | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and many UK madrasas |
Page counts vary by printer; the 604-page Madinah mushaf is the most widely used reference. See how many pages are in the Quran.
Why there are two styles
Both follow the same spelling of the early copies of the Quran made under ‘Uthman. Over centuries, scribes in different regions added reading aids for their learners. South Asian scribes added more marks for non-Arabic speakers; the King Fahd Complex in Madinah standardised its print in the 1980s. See the Uthmani script and how and when the Quran was written.
Switching between them
Read one page a day in the new script for two or three weeks, focusing on long-vowel marks and sukun. Keep your harakat knowledge in mind: the sounds are the same. If you learned from the Noorani Qaida, a teacher can bridge the gap in a few lessons; see how to improve Quran reading fluency.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Indo-Pak Quran different from the Arabic Quran?
No. The words, letters and recitation (Hafs ‘an ‘Asim) are the same. Only the style of writing and the marks that help readers differ, much like two fonts.
Which mushaf should my child learn from?
Whichever matches the Qaida they learned and the mushaf at your mosque. Noorani Qaida is usually printed in Indo-Pak script, so many UK children start there; switching later takes a few weeks of practice.
Can I switch from Indo-Pak to the Madinah mushaf?
Yes. Most fluent readers adjust within a few weeks. The main changes are the long-vowel marks and sukun shape. A teacher can go through a page with you and point them out.
Read fluently from either mushaf
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time.