By QuranClassOnline Editorial Team · Updated 2026-10-04
Short answer
To read the Quran, beginners first learn the Arabic letters: their shapes, how they change position in a word, and their sounds. Similar-looking letters and sounds that do not exist in English need the most practice, ideally with a teacher listening.
Letters change shape
Most Arabic letters look slightly different at the start, middle or end of a word, or when standing alone. Beginners learn the standalone shapes first, then the joined forms.
Some letters look alike
Several letters share the same basic shape and are told apart only by dots. Learning these in groups helps beginners notice the difference.
Some sounds are new
Arabic includes sounds that do not exist in English or many other languages. These take time, and they are where a teacher who listens is most useful, because it is hard to hear your own mistakes.
Practice ideas
- Say each new letter aloud several times, not only look at it
- Point to letters on a page of the Quran and name them
- For children, trace letter shapes with a finger
- Revise earlier letters before learning new ones
Watch a first lesson
Our Noorani Qaida lesson 1 video introduces the single letters (Mufradat) and shows how a teacher presents them.
Next steps
Read from Noorani Qaida to Quran reading, see Quran classes for kids, or book a free trial.