How long an ijazah takes depends mostly on where you start. A reader who already recites fluently with sound tajweed can often finish a full Quran recitation Ijazah in about 5 to 8 months with three classes a week, while someone still learning to read Arabic letters should expect two to three years, because most of that time goes into building the skills an Ijazah certifies. In our Ijazah program with sanad, the first step is a free level assessment, so your timeline is based on your actual recitation rather than a guess.
This guide breaks down the timelines by type of Ijazah, by starting level and by classes per week, so you can plan with realistic expectations.
Key takeaways
- A full Quran recitation Ijazah means reading the entire Quran (604 pages) to a qualified teacher, so the reading phase alone takes months.
- Your starting level changes the timeline more than any other factor.
- Moving from one to three classes a week can cut your total time roughly in half.
- Short text Ijazahs, such as Tuhfat al-Atfal, can take weeks rather than months.
What You Are Actually Doing During an Ijazah
An Ijazah is a certification from a teacher who holds a connected chain of narration (sanad) back to the Prophet, peace be upon him. For a recitation Ijazah, you recite the entire Quran to your teacher, who listens to every letter and corrects every mistake. Only when the teacher is satisfied with your recitation from beginning to end do they grant the Ijazah and add you to the chain.
That means the timeline has two parts:
- Preparation: reaching the level where your reading is fluent and your tajweed is reliable.
- The Ijazah reading itself: reciting all 604 pages to the teacher, page by page.
Students who are already strong readers skip most of the first part. Students who are not yet fluent spend most of their time there, and that is time well spent. If you want a fuller picture of the process, read our guide on how to complete the Ijazah.
Timelines by Type of Ijazah
Not every Ijazah covers the same amount of material. Here are typical ranges for a committed student taking about three 30-minute classes a week:
| Type of Ijazah | What it covers | Typical time for a prepared student |
|---|---|---|
| Text Ijazah: Tuhfat al-Atfal | Memorizing and explaining a short tajweed poem of about 61 lines | A few weeks to 3 months |
| Text Ijazah: al-Jazariyyah | A longer classical tajweed poem of about 107 lines | 2 to 5 months |
| Recitation Ijazah (reading from the mushaf) | Reading the whole Quran to the teacher with correct tajweed | About 5 to 8 months |
| Hifz Ijazah (reciting from memory) | Reciting the whole Quran from memory to the teacher | About 7 to 10 months |
The Hifz Ijazah assumes you have already memorized the entire Quran. Memorizing it from scratch is a separate journey that usually takes several years. Our article on the types of Ijazah in the Quran explains each one in detail.
Timelines by Your Starting Level
This is where the biggest differences come from. These estimates assume three classes a week and about 15 minutes of daily practice, and they cover the full journey to a recitation Ijazah:
| Your starting level | Typical total time | Where the time goes |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot read Arabic letters yet | About 2 to 3 years | Letters, reading, tajweed, then the Ijazah reading |
| Reads slowly with mistakes | About 1.5 to 2 years | Fluency and tajweed before the Ijazah reading |
| Reads fluently, weak tajweed | About 10 to 14 months | Tajweed correction, then the Ijazah reading |
| Reads with good tajweed | About 5 to 7 months | Mostly the Ijazah reading itself |
| Hafiz seeking certification | About 7 to 10 months | Reciting the whole Quran from memory |
Try your own numbers below. Change the classes per week and practice time to see how much each one affects your finish date.
Ijazah Timeline Estimator
Choose your level, classes per week and practice time
How Classes Per Week Change Your Timeline
The number of lessons each week has a big effect, and not only because you read more pages. Frequent lessons mean less forgetting between sessions and faster correction of habits. Compared with three classes a week, roughly:
- 1 class a week takes about twice as long.
- 2 classes a week takes about 1.5 times as long.
- 4 classes a week saves about 15% of the time.
- 5 classes a week saves about 25% of the time.
Here is a simple way to picture the reading phase. In a 30-minute class, a strong reader might recite around 4 to 8 pages to the teacher, depending on pace and how many corrections are needed. At 6 pages per class and three classes a week, the 604 pages take about 34 weeks, or roughly eight months. At five classes a week, the same reading takes under five months.
In our one-to-one Ijazah classes, you can move up or down a plan as your schedule changes, and you can see how many lessons each plan includes on the pricing page.
Other Factors That Speed Up or Slow Down an Ijazah
Practice between classes
Students who prepare the next pages before each lesson waste less class time on corrections. Even 15 to 30 minutes a day makes a visible difference.
Accuracy, not speed
Teachers do not grant an Ijazah for speed. If your teacher has to stop you often on the same rule, they will slow down and fix it first. Solid tajweed before you begin is the best shortcut there is.
Consistency
Long breaks cost more than they seem. After a month away, many students need several lessons just to return to their previous standard.
The pace of recitation
Some teachers ask for a slower, measured recitation for the Ijazah reading. That is normal and part of the standard being certified.
Prepare for the final review. Toward the end, many teachers revisit common weak points and may test your knowledge of tajweed rules. Our guide to common Ijazah exam questions helps you get ready.
A Sensible Path If You Are Starting From the Beginning
If your reading is not yet fluent, a long timeline is no reason to hold back. A practical sequence many students follow:
- Build fluent reading through Noorani Qaida or a recitation course.
- Learn the core tajweed rules and apply them consistently.
- Take a short text Ijazah like Tuhfat al-Atfal to strengthen your theory.
- Begin the full Quran recitation Ijazah in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim.
Each stage gives you a real skill, so you benefit long before the certificate arrives. When you are ready to start, you can book a free trial class and a free level assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get an Ijazah in 3 months?
A short text Ijazah, such as Tuhfat al-Atfal, can be completed in around three months or less. A full Quran recitation Ijazah in three months would require very strong recitation and daily lessons, so for most students five months or more is more realistic.
Do I need to memorize the Quran to get an Ijazah?
No. A recitation Ijazah is earned by reading the whole Quran from the mushaf with correct tajweed. Only the Hifz Ijazah requires reciting the entire Quran from memory.
How long is each Ijazah class?
Our classes are 30-minute one-to-one lessons. You choose between one and five classes a week, and your teacher adjusts the number of pages per lesson to keep the recitation accurate.
Which riwayah is the Ijazah in?
Our Ijazah track is in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the most widely recited narration, with a connected sanad. Students interested in other riwayat usually complete Hafs first and can ask about advanced options during their free assessment.
How do I know my exact timeline?
The most reliable way is a teacher hearing you recite. In the free level assessment, a teacher listens to your reading and tajweed and gives you a realistic plan, which you can then follow in our online Ijazah course.
Ready to Start Your Ijazah?
Study one-to-one with certified teachers who hold a connected sanad. Your first class is free.
Ijazah program with sanadBook a free trial class
