Most children start with Surah Al-Fatihah, then memorise the short surahs at the end of the Quran, such as Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Kawthar, Al-Asr, An-Nasr and Al-Kafirun. These surahs are short, they are recited in daily prayer, and each one builds confidence for the next.
If your child is just starting, it can feel like a lot to remember. It isn’t. One short surah at a time, recited together at bedtime or in the car, is how almost every child begins.
Below you will find the order most teachers use, a table of the first 15 surahs with how many verses each has, and simple tips to help your child remember them well.
- Begin with Al-Fatihah, because it is recited in every unit (rak’ah) of every prayer.
- Then move to the short surahs at the end of the Quran. Shorter does not always mean easier, so follow your child.
- Your child does not need to read Arabic yet: young children memorise by listening and repeating.
- Five minutes of revision a day works far better than racing through new surahs.
Why start with Al-Fatihah?
Al-Fatihah (“The Opening”) is the first surah of the Quran and only seven verses long. It is also the one surah your child will need every single day: the Prophet ﷺ said, “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book” (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). Once your child knows it, they can join you in prayer straight away, which makes the effort feel real and rewarding. Take it slowly, and make sure your child recites it well before moving on.
Then: the short surahs, from the end of the Quran
After Al-Fatihah, most children memorise the last surahs of the Quran, found in Juz Amma, the 30th and final part (juz) of the Quran. They are the shortest surahs, so children see quick progress.
The order our teacher Shaimaa uses
- Al-Fatihah
- Al-Ikhlas
- An-Nas
- Al-Falaq
- Al-Kawthar
- Al-Asr
- An-Nasr
- Al-Kafirun
“This is a suggested order, not a fixed rule. One child memorises Al-Kawthar easily, while another finds An-Nas easier because its words repeat. That is completely normal.”
Many teachers follow the order of the Quran instead, starting from the very last surah, An-Nas, and moving backwards. Here are the first 15 surahs in that order:
| Order | Surah | Verses | What it is about |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Fatihah (1) | 7 | Praising Allah and asking Him for guidance |
| 2 | An-Nas (114) | 6 | Seeking Allah’s protection from evil whispers |
| 3 | Al-Falaq (113) | 5 | Seeking Allah’s protection from harm |
| 4 | Al-Ikhlas (112) | 4 | Allah is One, and nothing is like Him |
| 5 | Al-Masad (111) | 5 | The fate of Abu Lahab, who fought the message |
| 6 | An-Nasr (110) | 3 | The help of Allah and the victory |
| 7 | Al-Kafirun (109) | 6 | Being clear and firm about our faith |
| 8 | Al-Kawthar (108) | 3 | A great gift from Allah to the Prophet ﷺ |
| 9 | Al-Ma’un (107) | 7 | Caring about prayer and helping others |
| 10 | Quraysh (106) | 4 | Thanking Allah for food and safety |
| 11 | Al-Fil (105) | 5 | The army of the elephant |
| 12 | Al-Humazah (104) | 9 | Not mocking people or loving money too much |
| 13 | Al-Asr (103) | 3 | Using our time well |
| 14 | At-Takathur (102) | 8 | Not being distracted by wanting more and more |
| 15 | Al-Qari’ah (101) | 11 | The Day of Judgement |
Both orders work. Some teachers start with the very shortest surahs, such as Al-Kawthar, Al-Asr or An-Nasr (three verses each), because a quick early success motivates young children. What matters most is steady progress and good revision.
From a teacher: “Shorter is not always easier”
One of the most common mistakes we make when our children memorise the Quran is thinking that the shorter the surah, the easier it is. That is not always true.
Picture a child memorising a surah. Every time they recite it, they forget a verse or mix up the order. Their parents keep repeating the same surah with them, and every day the child gets a little more upset.
As a teacher, the first thing I do is stop pushing them to finish the surah. I split it into small parts. I recite the verses clearly, we repeat them together, and I make sure the child has mastered the first part before we move to the next.
And one piece of advice I always give parents: five minutes of revision every day is far better than memorising lots of surahs and letting your child forget them. We are not in a race to see who finishes first. We are helping our children memorise the words of Allah, love them, and keep them for the rest of their lives.
— Shaimaa Wagdy, Quran teacher at Bloomtivo
Three surahs with a special place
- Al-Ikhlas: the Prophet ﷺ said it is equal to a third of the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari 5013). Children love hearing this.
- Al-Falaq and An-Nas: together with Al-Ikhlas, the Prophet ﷺ recited them every night before sleeping (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017). They make a beautiful bedtime routine.
Can my child memorise before they can read Arabic?
Yes. Young children memorise beautifully by listening and repeating. Many Muslim children around the world know their first surahs long before they can read a single letter. The key is that they hear the surah recited correctly, because mistakes learnt early are hard to undo later. That is why a teacher who listens and corrects each word is so valuable.
Alongside memorising, it helps to start reading lessons too. Our guide to the Noorani Qaida explains how children learn to read the Quran step by step.
How to help your child memorise a new surah
- Listen first. Play the surah from a clear reciter a few times a day, in the car or at breakfast.
- Split it into small parts. Repeat one verse, or a few, together until it is easy, then add the next part.
- Join the parts. Recite verse one and two together, then one to three, and so on.
- Explain the meaning simply. One sentence is enough: “In this surah we ask Allah to protect us.”
- Use it in prayer. Encourage your child to recite the new surah in their salah. Using it keeps it alive.
- Revise every day. Five minutes of revision for older surahs stops them slipping away.
Teacher’s tip: keep a little chart on the fridge with one star for every surah your child knows. Watching the stars grow is often all the motivation a young child needs.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking shorter means easier. A short surah can still be hard for a particular child. Follow your child, not the verse count.
- Moving on too fast. A surah is not “done” until your child can recite it smoothly a week later.
- Skipping revision. New surahs push out old ones unless older surahs are revised regularly.
- Ignoring pronunciation. Letters like ع, ح and ق need careful practice. Learning them correctly from the start is much easier than fixing them later. Our guide to Tajweed for kids explains the basics.
- Making it a battle. Short, happy sessions build love for the Quran. Read how to help your child love the Quran for gentle ideas.
Learn the short surahs with a teacher
In our Hifz programme, children memorise surah by surah with a patient teacher who listens to every word, corrects pronunciation gently and builds revision into every lesson. Lessons are live and 1-to-1, and you receive a progress report every month. If your child is just starting to read, the Noorani Qaida programme goes hand in hand with memorising. You can begin with 2 free trial lessons, then continue on a paid plan if it suits your family.
Sources and further reading: Surah Al-Fatihah (Quran.com) · Surah An-Nas (Quran.com) · Surah Al-Ikhlas (Quran.com) · Sahih al-Bukhari 756 · Sahih al-Bukhari 5013 · Sahih al-Bukhari 5017
