# Types of Ijazah: Meaning in Quran and Hadith

> Ijazah (إجازة) is a teacher’s authorisation to teach and transmit knowledge through a sanad. Learn its types in Quran recitation, memorisation and hadith.

- Canonical: https://muroujacademy.com/types-of-ijazah/
- Published: 2022-11-08
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- Author: Murouj Academy
- Publisher: Murouj Academy (https://muroujacademy.com/)

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[Quran](https://muroujacademy.com/category/quran/)

November 8, 2022 Updated October 23, 2026 Murouj Academy 9 min read

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An **ijazah** (إجازة) is a qualified teacher’s formal authorisation confirming mastery of a text or skill and permission to teach and transmit it. Types include Quran recitation, memorisation, a particular riwayah, the qira’at, classical texts and hadith. It comes with a chain of teachers (sanad) reaching back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Literally, ijazah means “permission” or “licence”. This guide explains what each type means, how the sanad works, and how students earn an ijazah today, including online.

## What does ijazah mean in English?

In English, ijazah means **permission, authorisation or licence**. In Islamic learning it is the licence a teacher gives a student to teach and transmit what they learned, after testing them in person. You will also see it spelled ijaza, ijaazah or ijazat (the plural is ijazat).

The word comes from the Arabic root *j-w-z*, which carries the sense of passing through and of something being allowed. A student who has received an ijazah is called *mujaz* (the one authorised), and the teacher who grants it is the *mujiz* (the one who authorises).

## What does ijaza mean in Arabic?

In Arabic, إجازة (ijaza) means permission or authorisation, and in the religious sciences it means a teaching licence linked to a chain of teachers. In everyday modern Arabic the same word is also used for a holiday or leave from work, so context matters: a “Quran ijaza” always means the teaching licence. In Indonesia and Malaysia, the word ijazah is also used for a school or university diploma.

## What is a sanad, and how is it linked to an ijazah?

A sanad is the unbroken chain of teachers through which a recitation or text has been passed down, each person having learned it directly from the one before. The ijazah certificate usually writes this chain out in full, so the student can see every link back to the Prophet ﷺ.

For the most widely read recitation today, Hafs ʿan ʿAsim, a simplified chain looks like this:

1. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who received the Quran from the angel Jibril.
2. Companions who learned it from him, such as Ali ibn Abi Talib and Abdullah ibn Masʿud.
3. Their students in Kufa, through whom it reached Imam ʿAsim.
4. Hafs, ʿAsim’s student, whose transmission (riwayah) bears his name.
5. Generation after generation of teachers, down to your own teacher.
6. You, once your teacher grants you the ijazah.

The scholar Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak said: “The isnad is part of the religion; were it not for the isnad, anyone could say whatever he wished” (reported in the introduction to Sahih Muslim). The sanad is how Muslims have protected the exact wording and pronunciation of the Quran for fourteen centuries.

## What are the types of ijazah in the Quran?

The main types of Quran ijazah are recitation (with tajweed), memorisation (hifz), a specific riwayah, the multiple qira’at, and ijazah in a classical tajweed text. Each one authorises something different.

| Type of ijazah | What the student does | What it authorises |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recitation (tilawah) with tajweed | Reads the whole Quran from the mushaf to the teacher with correct tajweed | Teaching correct recitation in that riwayah |
| Memorisation (hifz) | Recites the whole Quran from memory with tajweed | Teaching and transmitting the Quran from memory |
| A specific riwayah | Recites in one transmission, e.g. Hafs ʿan ʿAsim, Shuʿbah ʿan ʿAsim or Warsh ʿan Nafiʿ | Teaching that riwayah |
| The qira’at (seven or ten readings) | Recites the Quran in several canonical readings, usually after studying the classical poems that codify them | Teaching those readings; this is an advanced specialist level |
| A classical text (matn) | Memorises and explains a text such as Tuhfat al-Atfal or al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah | Teaching that text |
| A partial ijazah | Recites a portion, such as Surat al-Fatihah or Juz’ ʿAmma, to the teacher’s standard | A first step; a full ijazah covers the whole Quran |

### Ijazah in recitation vs ijazah in memorisation

The two most common types are the ijazah in recitation and the ijazah in memorisation. Both require flawless tajweed. The difference is that a recitation ijazah is earned reading from the mushaf, while a hifz ijazah is earned reciting from memory, so it also certifies the student as a hafiz. If you are working towards either, our guide on [how to get an ijazah in Quran recitation](https://muroujacademy.com/ijazah-in-quran-recitation/) sets out the steps.

## What is ijazah in hadith?

In hadith, an ijazah is a scholar’s permission for a student to narrate hadith, often a whole collection such as Sahih al-Bukhari, on the scholar’s authority. It joins the student to the chain of narrators that runs back to the Prophet ﷺ.

Classical hadith scholars listed ijazah as one of the recognised ways of receiving hadith, alongside hearing the text from the shaykh (samaʿ) and reading it aloud to him (qira’ah or ʿard). Today a student usually reads or hears a book with a scholar who holds a chain for it, for example a short collection like Imam al-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith, and then receives a written ijazah. You can read more about the sayings of the Prophet ﷺ in our guide to [Islamic hadith in English](https://muroujacademy.com/islamic-hadith-online-in-english/).

### The classical types of ijazah in hadith

Hadith scholars also classified ijazat by how specific they are:

- **A named person for a named text** (*ijazat muʿayyan li-muʿayyan fi muʿayyan*): for example, “I authorise you to narrate Sahih al-Bukhari from me.” This is the strongest form.
- **A named person for unnamed texts** (*ijazat muʿayyan li-muʿayyan fi ghayri muʿayyan*): “I authorise you to narrate everything I narrate.”
- **A general ijazah** (*ijazah ʿammah*): permission given to everyone, such as “all Muslims of my time”. Scholars differed over its validity, and it is the weakest form.

## Why is an ijazah important?

An ijazah matters because the Quran is learned by listening and reciting, not only by reading. Subtle points of pronunciation, such as the exact length of a madd or the articulation point of a letter, can only be confirmed by a qualified teacher who heard them from their own teacher.

- **It protects the Quran from errors** as it passes from one generation to the next.
- **It shows a teacher has been tested**: an ijazah is granted only after the student recites to the teacher’s standard.
- **It connects the student to the Prophet ﷺ** through the sanad.
- **It carries a great reward**, since teaching the Quran is among the best of deeds: “The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5027).

## Is an ijazah the same as a certificate?

No. An ijazah is a personal authorisation from a teacher who holds a sanad, granted after the student has recited to them in full. A course certificate usually only confirms that a student attended or completed a programme.

|  | Ijazah | Course certificate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who gives it | A teacher who holds an ijazah and sanad | An institution |
| How it is earned | Reciting the whole text (or the stated portion) to the teacher, who corrects every mistake | Attendance, tests or completing lessons |
| What it shows | Mastery, plus permission to teach and pass it on | Participation or a level reached |
| Chain to the Prophet ﷺ | Yes, written out as the sanad | No |

This is also the difference between a certified Quran teacher and an informal helper. A parent or friend who knows the Quran well can be a wonderful support, but a teacher with an ijazah has been formally tested and authorised to teach and correct recitation.

## How do you get an ijazah?

To get an ijazah, you first master tajweed, then recite the whole Quran (or the text being certified) to a teacher who holds an ijazah, who corrects you until your recitation meets their standard and then grants you a written ijazah with the sanad. The time it takes depends on your starting level and on whether you are reading or reciting from memory.

Our step-by-step guide on [getting an ijazah in Quran recitation](https://muroujacademy.com/ijazah-in-quran-recitation/) covers what happens in each stage. If your tajweed still needs work, start with [why we learn tajweed](https://muroujacademy.com/why-do-we-learn-tajweed/) and the [rules of stopping in the Quran](https://muroujacademy.com/what-are-rules-of-stopping-in-the-quran/), which every ijazah teacher checks.

## Can you get an ijazah online?

Yes. Because an ijazah is earned by reciting aloud to a teacher, it can be done over a live video call to the same standard as in person, provided the teacher genuinely holds an ijazah and listens to the whole recitation. Ask any teacher to show their own ijazah and sanad.

At Murouj Academy, ijazah is a teacher credential: some of our teachers hold one, every teacher is a native Arab, and many of our teachers studied at or are certified by Al-Azhar. Classes are one-to-one, and each [teacher profile](https://muroujacademy.com/teachers/) describes the teacher's own studies; the profiles of [Amani M.](https://muroujacademy.com/teachers/#amani-m) and [Noha A.](https://muroujacademy.com/teachers/#noha-a) state an ijazah in Quran recitation. Women and girls learn with female teachers, and you choose your teacher through free trial classes before you commit. You can [book a free trial class](https://muroujacademy.com/register-free-trial/) to have your recitation assessed first.

For help strengthening your tajweed or memorisation, explore our [Tajweed classes](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/tajweed-classes/) or [Quran memorisation course](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/quran-memorization-course/).

## Ijazah glossary: Arabic terms in English

| Term | Arabic | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ijazah | إجازة | Licence or authorisation to teach and transmit |
| Sanad / isnad | سند / إسناد | The chain of teachers or narrators |
| Mujiz | مُجيز | The teacher who grants the ijazah |
| Mujaz | مُجاز | The student who receives it |
| Riwayah | رواية | A transmission of a reading, e.g. Hafs ʿan ʿAsim |
| Qira’ah (plural qira’at) | قراءة / قراءات | A canonical reading of the Quran |
| Tajweed | تجويد | The rules of correct Quran recitation |
| Hafiz | حافظ | Someone who has memorised the whole Quran |
| Matn | متن | A core text studied and memorised, e.g. a tajweed poem |

## Keep reading

- [How to Get an Ijazah in Quran Recitation](https://muroujacademy.com/ijazah-in-quran-recitation/)
- [Why Do We Learn Tajweed?](https://muroujacademy.com/why-do-we-learn-tajweed/)
- [Rules of Stopping in the Quran: Waqf Signs Chart](https://muroujacademy.com/what-are-rules-of-stopping-in-the-quran/)
- [Islamic Hadith Online In English](https://muroujacademy.com/islamic-hadith-online-in-english/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is an ijazah in simple words?

An ijazah is a formal, chain-based authorisation from a qualified teacher. It certifies that the holder has mastered a body of knowledge, such as reciting the Quran, and may teach it and certify others. A relative or friend who knows the Quran can help you practise, but is not a certified teacher.

### What is the difference between ijazah and sanad?

The ijazah is the permission a teacher gives you; the sanad is the chain of teachers behind that permission. A genuine ijazah always comes with a sanad that names each teacher back to the Prophet ﷺ.

### How long does it take to get an ijazah?

It varies with your level. A student who already recites with strong tajweed may complete a full recitation ijazah in months, while an ijazah in memorisation first requires memorising the whole Quran, which usually takes years.

### Can women get an ijazah in the Quran?

Yes. Women have earned and granted ijazat throughout Islamic history, and many women today hold ijazat in recitation, memorisation and the qira’at. Women usually recite to a female teacher.

### Does having an ijazah make someone a scholar?

Not by itself. An ijazah certifies mastery of a specific text or skill, such as recitation in one riwayah. Giving religious rulings requires much wider study of fiqh, usul and the Arabic sciences.

### Do you need to know Arabic to get an ijazah?

You need to read and pronounce Quranic Arabic perfectly, but you do not need to be fluent in conversational Arabic. Many students who are not native speakers earn an ijazah after learning tajweed with a qualified teacher.

Learn this with a teacher

## Tajweed

Murouj Academy teaches this in live one-to-one online lessons with native Arab teachers, including ijazah holders. You choose your teacher (women and girls learn with female teachers) and can start with a free trial class.

[Explore our online Tajweed course](https://muroujacademy.com/courses/tajweed-classes/)

## Keep reading

[Online Quran Tuition for Kids in the UK: A Parent's Guide](https://muroujacademy.com/online-quran-classes-for-kids-uk-guide/)

[Online Quran Classes for Kids in the USA: A Parent's Guide](https://muroujacademy.com/online-quran-classes-for-kids-usa-guide/)

[What Is the Best Age for a Child to Start Learning Quran?](https://muroujacademy.com/best-age-to-start-quran-for-kids/)

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