Uthmani script: its origin and how it differs from IndoPak
The Uthmani script is the way of spelling the Quran that goes back to the copies made under the caliph Uthman, around 650 CE. Today the name usually refers to the Madinah-style mushaf. Here is where it comes from, how it differs from the IndoPak script used in many UK homes, and which one to learn with.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
What the Uthmani script is
Strictly, the "Uthmani script" (ar-rasm al-‘uthmani) is the spelling of words in the copies of the Quran made under Uthman ibn ‘Affan. Some words are spelled differently from ordinary Arabic, and every printed mushaf, Uthmani or IndoPak, follows that spelling. In everyday use, though, "Uthmani script" usually means the clear Naskh-style print of the Madinah mushaf, and "IndoPak" means the bolder style common in South Asia.
Its history
The copies sent out under Uthman had no dots or vowel marks. Over the following centuries, scholars added dots to tell letters apart and marks for vowels, sukoon and shaddah, so that new Muslims could read correctly. Modern mushafs carry these aids in slightly different styles. The Madinah mushaf, printed by the King Fahd Complex since the 1980s, has become the most widely used Uthmani-style print. Read more in when the Quran was written and compiled.
Uthmani vs IndoPak
| Uthmani (Madinah style) | IndoPak | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Thinner Naskh-style letters | Thicker, bolder letters |
| Silent letters | Left without a vowel mark, or marked with a small circle when never pronounced | A sukoon is shown on most letters that are not voweled |
| Long vowels | Small "dagger" alif and small letters show some long vowels | Long vowels shown with their own marks, often more fully |
| Stop signs | Fewer symbols (such as م, لا, ج, صلى, قلى) | More symbols, including ط, ز and ص |
| Common in | The Arab world and many mosques worldwide | South Asian families, including many in the UK |
| Typical print | Madinah mushaf: 604 pages, 15 lines | 13, 15 or 16 lines, with different page counts |
The stop signs in both styles are explained in stop signs in the Quran, and page counts in how many pages are in the Quran.
Which should you learn with?
Learn with the script you will read most. Children learning Noorani Qaida in the IndoPak style usually continue with an IndoPak mushaf; learners at a mosque that uses the Madinah mushaf may prefer Uthmani. Our teachers work with both, and many fluent readers can read either comfortably.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IndoPak Quran different from the Uthmani Quran?
No. The words, the order and the recitation (usually Hafs ‘an ‘Asim) are the same. Only the style of writing and some of the reading aids differ.
Which script should my child learn with?
The one your family and local mosque read from, so your child can read at home and in the masjid. Our teachers teach with either.
Who wrote the Madinah mushaf?
The widely used Madinah mushaf, printed by the King Fahd Complex in Madinah, was written by the Syrian calligrapher Uthman Taha.
Can I switch from IndoPak to Uthmani later?
Yes. Once you can read fluently, switching usually takes a few weeks of practice, mainly to get used to how silent letters and long vowels are marked.
Learn in the script your family reads
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, with the Uthmani or IndoPak mushaf.