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Noorani Qaida

Noorani Qaida is the traditional first step to reading the Quran. It teaches the Arabic letters, their sounds and how they join, so learners can move on to reading the Quran itself.

At a glance

Who this course is for

  • Children starting to learn the Quran
  • Adults who never learned to read Arabic
  • Anyone who wants to restart from the basics with correct pronunciation

Before you start

No previous knowledge is needed. This is where complete beginners start.

The natural next step afterwards is Quran Reading with Tajweed.

About the subject

What is Noorani Qaida?

Noorani Qaida is a beginner’s primer for reading the Arabic of the Quran. It is widely used in South Asia and in Muslim communities around the world as the first book a learner works through before reading from the Quran itself.

The Qaida moves in small steps. Learners first meet the individual letters, then see how letters change shape when they join, and then add the vowel marks that show how each letter is pronounced. Later lessons combine these into whole words, so a learner can sound out words they have never seen before.

Why start this way? Arabic letters that look alike can sound very different, and a small change in pronunciation can change the meaning of a word. Learning each sound carefully at the beginning makes later Quran reading, and later Tajweed study, much easier.

In a one-to-one lesson the teacher listens to every letter the learner reads, so mistakes can be put right straight away instead of being repeated.

The Arabic alphabet

The 28 letters you meet first

Every Qaida journey starts with these letters. Arabic is read from right to left, so the grid below runs the same way, starting with Alif.

اAlif
بBa
تTa
ثTha
جJeem
حHa
خKha
دDal
ذDhal
رRa
زZay
سSeen
شSheen
صSaad
ضDaad
طTaa
ظDhaa
عAin
غGhain
فFa
قQaf
كKaf
لLam
مMeem
نNoon
هHa
وWaw
يYa
ب ـبـ ـبMost letters change shape depending on where they sit in a word. The Qaida teaches each form step by step, before moving on to vowel marks and whole words.

Proposed course content

What the course covers

Pending confirmationThis outline is proposed, based on how the subject is usually taught. It will be confirmed by the academy before the page is published.

  1. The Arabic alphabet and the shapes of each letter
  2. Correct pronunciation of every letter (makharij)
  3. Short vowels: fathah, kasrah and dammah
  4. Tanween, sukoon and shaddah
  5. Long vowels and the letters of madd
  6. Joining letters into words and reading short phrases

Your teacher adapts the order and pace to the learner, and will suggest a starting point during the trial class.

How it works

Starting is simple

Three easy steps from booking to reading your first letters with a teacher.

  1. 1

    Book a free trial

    Pick a time that suits you. The first class is free, with no commitment.

  2. 2

    Meet your teacher

    Your teacher checks your current level and suggests the right starting point.

  3. 3

    Learn one-to-one

    Live lessons on Google Meet, in English or Urdu, at a pace that suits the learner.

FAQ

Questions about Noorani Qaida

Yes. The Qaida is often linked with children, but it works in exactly the same way for adults: it starts from the letters and builds up step by step. It is a good way for adults to restart their Quran reading with correct pronunciation.

It depends on the learner’s age, how often classes take place and how much they practise between lessons. Your teacher can give you a better idea after hearing the learner in the trial class.

No. The Qaida begins with the first letter of the alphabet, so no previous knowledge is needed.

Your learning path

Where Noorani Qaida leads

Once the letters and sounds are secure, learners move on to reading the Quran itself with Tajweed.

Step 1 · You are here

Noorani Qaida

Letters, sounds, vowel marks and joining letters into words.

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Related courses

Try a free Noorani Qaida class

Book one trial lesson to meet your teacher and find the right starting point. Fees depend on the course and schedule, so we share them with you directly.