Understand the Quran: basic tafsir classes online for adults
Murouj Academy's basic tafsir course helps adults understand the Quran: the meaning, context and lessons of the surahs you recite, starting with the short surahs and Juz 'Amma. It is a beginner course, not in-depth tafsir. Classes are live and one-to-one in English, and the first class is free.
Understand the Quran: Basic Tafsir for Adults at a glance
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online; never recorded
- Who it's for
- Adults (18 and over) who want to understand the Quran they recite
- Suitable for ages
- Adults (18 and over)
- Level
- Basic tafsir for beginners, not in-depth tafsir
- Starting point
- The short surahs and Juz 'Amma, then other passages as you progress
- Language of lessons
- English
- Arabic needed
- None; the meanings are explained in English
- Schedule
- 30, 45 or 60 minutes; 2 to 5 classes a week
- Teachers
- Native Arabic speakers; Murouj matches you with a teacher suited to tafsir
- Teacher matching
- Female teachers teach women and male teachers teach men
- Outcome
- Understand what the surahs you recite mean, why they matter and what they ask of you
- Classroom
- Live, with a shared whiteboard, slides and videos; never recorded
What is basic tafsir, and how do you understand the Quran with it?
Tafsir is the explanation of the Quran: what the verses mean, the setting in which they came and the lessons they carry. Basic tafsir gives an adult beginner the heart of that, one surah at a time, in plain English.
The course begins with Al-Fatihah, the short surahs and Juz 'Amma, then moves on as you are ready. It is a beginner course, not in-depth tafsir. Classes are live and one-to-one, and the first class is a free trial.
Tafsir, a Quran translation or Quranic Arabic: which one?
A translation tells you what the words mean. Tafsir adds the context and the lessons. Quranic Arabic teaches the language itself. Your teacher confirms the right one in the free trial class.
| Course | The question | You leave with |
|---|---|---|
| Basic tafsir (this course) | What does this surah mean and teach? | The meaning, context and lessons of the surahs you study |
| Quranic Arabic | What do these words and sentences say? | Understanding of the Quran's language |
| Tajweed Classes | How do I recite them correctly? | Correct, rule-based recitation |
Many students combine them: Quranic Arabic for the language, Tajweed for the sound. Cannot read the letters yet? Start with the Qaida.
Who is this course for?
Adults who pray
Understand the surahs you recite in every prayer, and recite them with more attention.
Readers of the Quran
Move from reading the words to knowing what they mean and when they were revealed.
Women
Always a female teacher, in a fully private one-to-one class.
Men
Always a male teacher, one-to-one.
What will you learn?
Your teacher builds a personalized curriculum from these stages, starting from your level.
How to read tafsir
- What tafsir is, and how it differs from a translation
- Why the setting of a surah and its verses helps you understand them
Al-Fatihah and the short surahs
- Al-Fatihah and the surahs you recite in prayer
- The meaning of each verse, explained plainly
Juz 'Amma
- The short surahs of the last part of the Quran, one by one
- The message of each surah
Lessons for daily life
- The main lessons of each surah
- How to apply a lesson in your own life
Milestones along the way
- Explain what Al-Fatihah and your prayer surahs mean
- Tell the setting of a short surah when it is known
- Name the main lesson of each surah you study
- Tell the difference between a translation and tafsir
- Recite the short surahs with their meaning in mind
How fast you progress depends on your starting point, age, weekly classes and practice. Your teacher sets a plan after the free trial class and reviews it with you.
Does every teacher teach tafsir?
No. Murouj matches you with a suitable available teacher for this course, and the free trial class shows whether the fit is right. If it is not, Murouj switches to another teacher. Women learn with female teachers and men with male teachers.
Background reading: what the Quran is and the meaning of the Quran.
How do the classes work?
One-to-one, never in a group
You ask questions and get real answers, and nobody shares your time.
A plan built around you
The surahs and pace follow your level, and your teacher adjusts them as you progress.
Matched for you
Murouj matches a suitable available teacher for your free trial class and switches if the fit is not right. Never random.
Zoom, Google Meet or Halqora
Live in your time zone on Zoom, Google Meet or Halqora, Murouj's classroom software. Never recorded.
Lessons are 30, 45 or 60 minutes, with the number a week agreed when you book (see the class plans page). For times in your time zone, see our pages for the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.
Not sure where to start?
Book a free trial class: your teacher checks your level and suggests a first step.
Meet some of our teachers
Every teacher is a native Arab and teaches live online. Murouj matches you with a suitable teacher for the free trial class: female teachers for women and girls, male teachers for men.
Abrar R.
Female teacher
Al-Azhar University graduate. Teaches Quran, tajweed, Arabic and Islamic studies to children, teens and adults.
Noha A.
Female teacher
Ijazah in Quran recitation from a qualified shaykh. Has memorized the whole Quran and trained to teach the Nour Al-Bayan Qaidah.
Mohammad S.
Male teacher
Bachelor's degree in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University. Has memorized the whole Quran and teaches non-Arabic speakers from the basics up.
Mohab A.
Male teacher
Student at Al-Azhar University who has memorized the whole Quran. Teaches boys and men Quran, tajweed, Arabic and Islamic studies.
Why one-to-one with a native Arab teacher?
- Your whole lesson. The teacher hears every letter you recite, and nobody shares your time.
- Your pace and plan. A personalized curriculum built around your level, goals and time zone.
- A native Arab teacher. Arabic sounds modeled as a first-language speaker says them. Each profile states the teacher's own studies and ijazah, if any.
- Privacy and comfort. Women and girls learn with female teachers, and men with male teachers.
Read what students and parents say on our reviews page.
Keep exploring
Free guides
Classes for your family
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Answers about classes, teachers and the free trial. More on our facts page.
Ask us on WhatsAppWhat is tafsir?
Tafsir (also spelled tafseer) is the explanation of the Quran: what the verses mean, the setting in which they came and the lessons they carry. A translation gives the meaning of the words. Tafsir explains more.
Is this an in-depth tafsir course?
No. It is basic tafsir for beginners. You study the meanings, context and lessons of surahs, starting with the short surahs and Juz 'Amma, in plain English.
Do I need to read Arabic to take tafsir classes online?
No. The meanings are explained in English. If you cannot read the Arabic letters yet, you can learn in our Qaida classes for beginners, alongside or before this course.
What language are the lessons in?
English.
Does every teacher teach tafsir?
No. Murouj matches you with a suitable teacher for this course, and the free trial class shows whether the fit is right. If it is not, Murouj switches to another teacher.
Which surahs do we begin with?
We begin with Al-Fatihah and the short surahs, especially Juz 'Amma. Your teacher sets the order after the free trial class.
How is this different from the Quranic Arabic course?
Here you learn the meaning, context and lessons of surahs in English. In the Quranic Arabic course you learn the language itself: vocabulary, roots and grammar. Many students take both.
Will I have a female teacher?
Yes, if you are a woman. Female teachers teach women, and male teachers teach men, in a fully private one-to-one class.
Is the first class free?
Yes, a free trial with the teacher, before you choose a package.
Ready to begin?
Your free trial class is with a teacher Murouj matches to you, and if the fit is not right, Murouj switches to another teacher. Women and girls always learn with female teachers.