How to memorize the Qur’an by yourself
Memorizing the Qur’an is done a little at a time: a few words, then a verse, then a surah, with plenty of listening and review. This page sets out a simple way to do it by yourself, at your own pace. There is no real shortcut: the fastest way is a little every day, without skipping review. It works best alongside a qualified teacher, who can check your recitation.
1. Learn to read the letters
If you can’t read Arabic yet, start with the 28 letters. You don’t need to speak Arabic to memorize the Qur’an: many adults learn to read it letter by letter, then learn the meaning word by word as they go. Knowing their names, shapes and sounds lets you memorize from the page and check yourself, instead of relying only on what you hear.
2. Start with short surahs
Begin with Al-Fatihah, then the short surahs at the end of the Qur’an in Juz Amma, such as An-Nas, Al-Falaq and Al-Ikhlas. Finishing a whole surah early on keeps you going.
3. Understand each word
Read the surah word by word, with its meaning. A verse you understand is easier to remember, and you notice when a word is missing.
4. Listen, then repeat
Listen to a reciter several times before you try. Then say one verse at a time, aloud, until you can say it without looking. Join it to the verse before, and say both together.
5. Review every day so you don’t forget
New verses fade quickly unless you come back to them. Spend part of each session on what you learnt yesterday and last week before you add anything new. A short daily session does more than a long one once a week. To see how long your plan will take, use the memorizing calculator.
6. Test yourself without looking
Cover the text and recite, or have someone listen. Mark the places where you stop or mix up words, and practise those first next time.
How MyDugsi helps
MyDugsi is a free app to memorize the Qur’an online, on your phone or computer. It follows these steps: the letters, then words, then whole verses, each with recitation you can replay, practice that only moves on when you answer correctly, and a daily goal to keep your review going.
Start learning · Read Juz Amma word by word · The last 10 surahs · How long it takes