Khatm al-Quran: completing the whole Quran
Khatm al-Quran means completing the whole Quran, from Al-Fatihah to An-Nas. For a child it may be the first complete reading after the Qaida; for an adult it is a habit renewed every month or every Ramadan. Here is how long a khatm takes at different paces, how the early Muslims approached it, and how families mark the occasion.
Last updated: 3 October 2026
How long a khatm takes
The standard Madinah mushaf has 604 pages, about 20 pages per juz. At different daily paces:
| Daily reading | Time for one khatm |
|---|---|
| 1 page a day | 604 days (about 20 months) |
| 4 pages a day | about 5 months |
| 10 pages (half a juz) a day | 2 months |
| 1 juz a day | 30 days |
| 2 juz a day | 15 days |
| About 4½ juz a day | 7 days, the shortest period the Prophet ﷺ advised ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr |
See how many pages are in the Quran and how the Quran is divided for the divisions people use to plan.
What the Sunnah teaches about pace
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr wanted to read the whole Quran every night. The Prophet ﷺ told him to complete it in a month, and when he insisted he could do more, allowed seven days but no fewer (Sahih al-Bukhari 5054). In another narration, he said that whoever completes it in less than three days has not understood it (Sunan Abi Dawud 1394, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2949). The lesson: steady reading with understanding matters more than speed.
Many of the early Muslims completed the Quran every seven days, dividing it into seven parts (the manzils), which is still marked in many mushafs.
A child’s first khatm
For children who learn in a madrasa or at home, the first full reading of the Quran after the Qaida is a milestone, and many UK families celebrate it with a gathering (often called an “ameen” or khatm party) where the child recites the last surahs and the family makes du‘a. Keep it simple and joyful; the point is to encourage a lifelong habit. See how to motivate your child to learn Quran.
Planning your own khatm
- Pick a realistic daily amount from the table, using how much Quran to read daily.
- Tie it to a prayer, such as four pages after each of the five prayers for a monthly khatm.
- Track it with a bookmark, an app or a simple chart.
- In Ramadan, plan ahead with our Ramadan Quran reading plan.
If reading is still slow, work on fluency first: see how to read Quran fluently. Our Quran reading course takes learners through their first complete khatm with a teacher, page by page.
Frequently asked questions
What does khatm mean?
Khatm (خَتْم) means “sealing” or “completing”. A khatm al-Quran is one complete reading of the Quran from Al-Fatihah to An-Nas. In South Asian usage it is often spelled “khatam”.
Is there a special du‘a for completing the Quran?
Du‘a at the completion of the Quran is a recommended time to ask Allah, and it is reported that Anas ibn Malik gathered his family and made du‘a when he completed it. The long “du‘a khatm al-Quran” printed in many mushafs is not authentically attributed to the Prophet ﷺ, so you may use any good du‘a.
Can a khatm be shared between several people?
Many families and mosques divide the 30 juz between people so the Quran is completed together, especially in Ramadan. Each person is rewarded for what they read.
Does reading on an app count towards a khatm?
Yes. Reading from a phone or tablet is still reading the Quran, and many people track their khatm with an app.
Complete your first khatm with a teacher
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, with your recitation checked as you go.