To get an ijazah in Quran recitation, you master tajweed, then recite the entire Quran, from Al-Fatihah to An-Nas, to a teacher who holds an ijazah with a sanad. The teacher corrects every mistake, and once your recitation meets their standard, grants you a written ijazah naming the riwayah and the chain of teachers back to the Prophet ﷺ.
This guide walks through each step, what you need before you start, how long it usually takes, how to check that a teacher is genuine, and how the process works online.
What is an ijazah in Quran recitation?
An ijazah in Quran recitation (also called an ijazah in tajweed or tilawah) is a license confirming that you recite the whole Quran correctly in a specific riwayah, such as Hafs ʿan ʿAsim, and that you may teach that recitation to others. It is earned by reading from the mushaf, so you do not need to have memorized the Quran.
It is one of several kinds of ijazah. For the meaning of the word and the other types, including ijazah in memorization and in hadith, see ijazah meaning and types of ijazah.
What are the steps to get an ijazah in Quran recitation?
Most students follow the same path: fluent reading, tajweed, a qualified teacher, a full recitation of the Quran, and finally the written ijazah.
- Read Arabic letters fluently. You need to recognize every letter and vowel mark and read without hesitation. If you are not there yet, start with Arabic alphabet pronunciation.
- Learn tajweed in theory and practice. This covers the articulation points (makharij) and qualities (sifat) of the letters, the rules of noon sakinah and tanween, meem sakinah, madd (elongation), qalqalah, and the rules of stopping in the Quran.
- Choose your riwayah. Most students begin with Hafs ʿan ʿAsim, the recitation printed in most mushafs worldwide. Others learn the riwayah common in their region, such as Warsh ʿan Nafiʿ.
- Find a teacher who holds an ijazah. Only a teacher who has an ijazah with a sanad (a mujiz) can grant you one. Ask to see it.
- Have your level assessed. The teacher listens to you recite and identifies the rules and letters you need to fix before the final recitation begins.
- Recite the whole Quran to the teacher. Over many sessions you read from the beginning of the Quran to the end. The teacher stops you at every mistake, and you repeat until it is right.
- Study a tajweed text, if your teacher requires it. Some teachers also ask students to learn a classical tajweed poem, such as Tuhfat al-Atfal or al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah.
- Receive the written ijazah. The certificate names you, the riwayah, and the full sanad from your teacher back to the Prophet ﷺ, and is signed by your teacher.
What do you need before you start?
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Fluent reading of the mushaf | The ijazah tests recitation, not basic reading; slow decoding makes the final recitation very long |
| Correct makharij (articulation points) | Letters such as ع, ح, ق, ض and ظ must be distinct, or the meaning can change |
| Knowledge of the tajweed rules | Teachers expect you to apply and, often, explain the rules |
| A teacher with an ijazah and sanad | Only an authorized teacher can pass the ijazah on |
| A regular schedule | Steady sessions over months are what get students to the end of the Quran |
| A quiet place and a good microphone (online) | The teacher must hear every sound clearly to correct it |
How long does it take to get an ijazah in Quran recitation?
For a student who already recites with good tajweed, the final recitation usually takes a few months to a year, depending on how many pages they read in each session and how often they meet their teacher. Students who still need to learn tajweed should add that time first.
The standard Madinah mushaf has 604 pages. This table shows simple arithmetic for reading through it once, before any extra time spent repeating corrected passages:
| Pages read in each session | Sessions each week | Pages each week | Approximate time to finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 6 | About 2 years |
| 5 | 3 | 15 | About 9 to 10 months |
| 5 | 5 | 25 | About 6 months |
| 10 | 5 | 50 | About 3 months |
An ijazah in memorization takes far longer, because the student must first memorize the whole Quran. If that is your goal, our guide on how to memorize the Quran is the place to start.
What happens during the final recitation?
The final recitation (sometimes called the khatm) is a complete reading of the Quran to your teacher in one riwayah, from beginning to end. Each session continues where the last one stopped. The teacher listens to every letter and corrects pronunciation, the length of each madd, nasalization (ghunnah), and where you stop and start again.
Mistakes are normal, and fixing them is the point of the process. Many students find that their recitation improves more in these months than in all their previous study, because a qualified teacher is listening closely to every verse.
How do you know an ijazah teacher is genuine?
A genuine ijazah teacher can show you their own ijazah, name the teacher they recited to, and explain their sanad. They will only grant an ijazah after hearing the whole recitation.
- Ask to see the ijazah certificate and the sanad written on it.
- Ask who they recited to and in which riwayah.
- Expect a full recitation. An ijazah granted after a few lessons, or offered for a fee without hearing you recite, is not a real ijazah.
- Look for careful correction. A good teacher stops you on small errors, not just obvious ones.
Can you get an ijazah in Quran recitation online?
Yes. An ijazah is earned by reciting aloud to a teacher, so it can be done over a live video lesson to the same standard as in person, as long as the teacher holds an ijazah and hears the entire recitation. Online study also means you can learn from a qualified teacher wherever you live.
At Murouj Academy, every teacher is a native Arab, some hold an ijazah, and many of our teachers studied at or are certified by Al-Azhar. Classes are one-to-one, with a plan built around your current tajweed level to strengthen weak rules and improve recitation. Each teacher profile describes the teacher's own studies.
Women and girls learn with female teachers, adult men with male teachers, and you choose your teacher through free trial classes before you commit. If you are not sure you are ready, book a free trial class and a teacher will assess your recitation. Students who need to build their tajweed first can begin with the online Tajweed course.
Keep reading
- Ijazah: Meaning and Types (Quran and Hadith)
- Rules of Stopping in the Quran: Waqf Signs Chart
- How to Memorize the Quran: 12 Hifz Tips That Work
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an ijazah without memorizing the Quran?
Yes. An ijazah in recitation is earned by reading the whole Quran from the mushaf to your teacher with correct tajweed. Memorization is only required for an ijazah in hifz.
Can children get an ijazah in Quran recitation?
Yes, if they can recite the whole Quran to the teacher’s standard. In practice, most children first spend time building fluent reading and tajweed, and some earn an ijazah as teenagers.
Which riwayah should I choose for my ijazah?
Most students choose Hafs ʿan ʿAsim, the riwayah printed in most mushafs. If you mainly read a mushaf in another riwayah, such as Warsh, choose a teacher who holds an ijazah in that riwayah.
Is an ijazah in tajweed the same as an ijazah in recitation?
In everyday use, yes: both refer to the license for reciting the whole Quran correctly with tajweed. An ijazah in a tajweed text, such as al-Jazariyyah, is a separate ijazah for that poem.
What does an ijazah certificate include?
It names the student and the teacher, the riwayah or text being certified, and the full sanad from the teacher back to the Prophet ﷺ, and it is signed by the teacher.
