The Ten Qira'at are the ten authentic ways of reciting the Quran, each passed down by a famous reader and his narrators through unbroken chains. In this course you learn them online, one-on-one, with a Sheikh who specializes in the Qira'at, using the two classical poems that every serious student studies: Ash-Shatibiyyah for the seven readings and Ad-Durrah for the remaining three.
This is the most advanced Quran course we teach. It's for students who have already memorized the Quran and recite Hafs 'an 'Asim very well, and who now want to go deeper into how the Quran has been recited across the Muslim world.
The ten readers
| Reader | City | Two main narrators |
|---|---|---|
| Nafi' | Madinah | Qalun, Warsh |
| Ibn Kathir | Makkah | Al-Bazzi, Qunbul |
| Abu 'Amr | Basrah | Ad-Duri, As-Susi |
| Ibn 'Amir | Damascus | Hisham, Ibn Dhakwan |
| 'Asim | Kufah | Shu'bah, Hafs |
| Hamzah | Kufah | Khalaf, Khallad |
| Al-Kisa'i | Kufah | Abu Al-Harith, Ad-Duri |
| Abu Ja'far | Madinah | Ibn Wardan, Ibn Jammaz |
| Ya'qub | Basrah | Ruways, Rawh |
| Khalaf Al-'Ashir | Kufah | Ishaq, Idris |
The first seven are covered in the Shatibiyyah. The last three are covered in the Durrah.
Who this course is for
- Huffaz who have memorized the whole Quran.
- Students with an Ijazah in Hafs, or who recite at that level.
- Teachers of the Quran who want to broaden their knowledge.
- Students of Islamic knowledge interested in the sciences of recitation.
Everyone starts with an assessment class. If you need to strengthen your Hafs first, the Sheikh may suggest our Ijazah program before the Qira'at.
What you will study
Usul: the general rules
Rules that apply across the whole Quran for each reader, such as the lengths of madd, the handling of hamzah, imalah, and the treatment of ra and lam. These are learned first, reader by reader.
Farsh: word-by-word differences
Specific words that are read differently by different readers, studied surah by surah as you recite.
The poems
You'll study and memorize key verses from Ash-Shatibiyyah and Ad-Durrah, with explanation, so you understand where each rule comes from.
Recitation
Most class time is recitation. Many students start with one narration, such as Warsh or Qalun, then collect several readings together as they progress. The Sheikh guides you on the order.
How long does it take?
The Ten Qira'at is a long journey. Learning one or two narrations can take a year. Completing all ten with an Ijazah usually takes several years of steady classes. We'll give you a clear plan after the assessment, with milestones along the way.
How classes work
Classes are live and one-on-one on Zoom or Google Meet, usually 45 or 60 minutes. You recite, the Sheikh corrects, and part of the class is spent on the rules from the poems. Most students take 3 to 5 classes a week.
Price
The Qira'at course is part of our monthly plans. See the pricing page, or message us on WhatsApp for a talk with the Sheikh about your level.
Certified Al-Azhar teachers · male & female · kids and adults
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to know all of Hafs perfectly before starting? You should recite Hafs with strong Tajweed and solid memorization. The assessment class will show whether you're ready.
Do I need to memorize the Shatibiyyah? It's strongly recommended, at least the verses for the rules you study. The Sheikh explains each verse, so you're not memorizing blindly.
Which narration should I learn first after Hafs? Often Shu'bah, because it's also from 'Asim, or Warsh, because it's widely recited in North and West Africa. The Sheikh will suggest the best route for you.
Will I get an Ijazah? Yes. When you complete a narration or reading to the Sheikh, you can receive an Ijazah with sanad for it.
