Quran for beginners: learn to read the Quran from zero, 1:1 online
Maybe you have wanted to read the Quran for years and never found the way in. Maybe your child is old enough to start and you want it done properly. Either way, you need to know nothing before your first class: not the alphabet, not a word of Arabic. Our online Quran classes for beginners take you from zero to reading the Quran yourself, live and 1:1, as part of all online Quran classes at Taqwa Foundation.
Book your 2 free trial classes: no payment, no obligation, and no prior knowledge needed.
Reviewed by the Taqwa Foundation teaching team.
Starting from zero? That's exactly who this is for
Most beginners arrive knowing nothing: not the letters, not the vowel marks, not which direction Arabic reads. That is normal, and it is exactly who this pathway is built for. Since 2009 we have taught more than 5,500 students. A large share of them started at the very first letter.
The Prophet ﷺ said the best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it. Everyone who ever learned it started where you are now.
The beginner pathway, step by step
Learning to read the Quran as a beginner follows four steps: a placement assessment, the Noorani Qaida, guided Quran reading, and tajweed. Each step has a clear finish line, so you always know how far you have come and what comes next.
- 1
A free placement assessment
No level is assumed. Your teacher assesses your reading during the first class itself, then tells you what they found and recommends a level, so the first paid week starts at exactly the right point. A student who already knows some letters skips what they know; a student at zero starts at zero.
- 2
Noorani Qaida, from letters to reading
The Noorani Qaida is the beginner’s foundation: the Arabic alphabet, harakaat (the vowel marks), joining letters, sukoon, tanween, shaddah and madd, one small lesson at a time. The full curriculum lives on the Noorani Qaida: the first step page. Between classes, your child (or you) can also read Noorani Qaida online free.
- 3
Reading the Quran to fluency
Once joined reading holds, you move into the Mushaf itself: short surahs from juz amma first, then longer passages, with revision built into every week so nothing already learned slips away. Speed and confidence grow together, and one day you hear yourself, or your child, read a full surah alone. That is the moment parents message us about, and the reason the early months are worth it.
- 4
Tajweed, reciting it correctly
When reading is fluent, the rules of recitation begin: makharij, madd, and the rest, taught in our tajweed course.
Book your 2 free trial classes and the pathway starts this week.
How long does it take a beginner to read the Quran?
It depends on age, frequency, and practice between classes. Timelines move with all three, and your teacher will give you an honest estimate for your student after the first assessment rather than an average for somebody else’s. These are typical ranges from 15+ years of beginner outcomes, never guarantees.
What we can say for certain: after the trial classes, your teacher will tell you where the starting point is and what the first stage looks like for you.
For parents starting (or restarting) a child
If your child is 4 to 8 and it is time to begin, this is the orderly, unhurried start you are looking for. Classes are 30 minutes, short enough for a young attention span, and you can sit beside them in every class for as long as you like, until you are comfortable letting them attend alone. Most parents do exactly that at the start.
If your child learned before but discontinued when life got busy, restarts are normal here. We assess where you actually are now rather than where you once were, set the pace from that, bring you back to the level you had, and carry on from there.
And if you left a previous teacher because the teaching pattern was not working, you will not be asked to trust us on faith. Sit in on the classes, watch how the teacher handles your child, and judge for yourself. You can meet our teachers before you book, and our Quran classes for kids page explains how we teach younger learners.
For adults starting from zero
Adult beginners are a large and ordinary part of who we teach. Some are reverts learning for salah. Some read as children and let it lapse decades ago. Some never had the chance at all. Nobody will be surprised by your starting point, and nobody will rush you.
Classes are 30 minutes, scheduled around work: early morning, evening, or weekends, and readjustable anytime your calendar shifts. Our Quran classes for adults page covers the adult experience in full.
My daughter is 6 and very shy with new people. First two classes she barely said a word. Her ustadha was so gentle with her, by the third class she was reading out loud.
I'm a revert and put this off for almost 2 years because I was embarrassed. My teacher never made it weird. We started from the alphabet and 8 months later I can read short surahs on my own. Slowly but I can.
What it costs
Beginner classes start at $55/month for 2 classes a week, rising to $85/month for 5. Other weekly schedules sit between the two.
| Weekly rhythm | Per month | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 2 classes per week | $55 | The usual starting rhythm while reading is still new. |
| 5 classes per week | $85 | Reaches fluent reading in the shortest time. |
Households learning together pay less: 2 students get 25% off the total, 3 or more get 50% off. There is no contract, and you can cancel anytime.
Taqwa Foundation is a US-registered business, and you pay through local payments in the US, Canada, New Zealand or Australia.
Sponsor a student
Some families cannot afford classes. If you would like to cover a child's monthly fee, in whole or in part, mention it on your welcome call and we will match your sponsorship with a student who needs it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start learning the Quran as a beginner?
Book the 2 free trial classes. Your teacher runs a placement assessment inside them, and your pathway (Qaida, reading, then tajweed) starts from exactly your level.
Can I learn the Quran without knowing any Arabic?
Yes. The Noorani Qaida stage assumes zero: it begins with the alphabet itself. Many of our beginners could not name a single letter on day one.
How long does it take to learn to read the Quran?
It depends on the learner, and your teacher gives you a realistic estimate after the first class. Typical ranges, never guarantees.
What age should a child start learning Quran?
4 to 8 is the common window, when children absorb sounds quickly and classes feel like play. See our Quran classes for kids for how we teach that age.
Is it too late to learn the Quran as an adult?
No. Adult beginners are a normal, large part of our student body, and many start in their 40s, 50s and beyond. You will be one of many, not the exception.
What happens in the free trial classes?
Two full 1:1 classes, free and with no obligation. The teacher hears you (or your child), runs the placement assessment, and maps your starting point.
Book 2 free trial classes
You do not need to prepare anything. Book your 2 free trial classes : no payment, no obligation, over Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, or WhatsApp. The teacher finds your starting point, and the first letter happens this week.
Book your 2 free trial classes