The etiquette of reciting the Quran (adab al-tilawah) covers three moments: preparing yourself before you start, reciting with respect and attention while you read, and closing your recitation well. In short: have a sincere intention and purity, seek refuge from Shaytan and recite calmly with tarteel, respond to the meanings, and finish with dua and a respectful close. Many of these manners are easier to build with a teacher’s guidance, which is part of what our online recitation classes focus on alongside correct pronunciation.
Below you will find each adab explained, with the Quran and Sunnah behind it where they apply, and notes on where scholars hold different views.
Key takeaways
- Before: sincere intention, wudu (required by most scholars for touching the mushaf), and a clean, quiet place.
- During: seek refuge, say Bismillah, recite with tarteel and a beautiful voice, and respond to what you read.
- After: close the mushaf respectfully, make dua and carry one meaning into your day.
- Etiquette never replaces correctness: adab and Tajweed go together.
Before You Recite
1. Renew your intention
Recitation is worship, so begin by reminding yourself why you are reading: to please Allah, to learn His words and to act on them. A quick moment of intention turns even a few lines into something meaningful and protects you from reciting to impress others.
2. Purity and wudu
Most scholars from the four major schools hold that a person must have wudu to touch the mushaf directly, based on their understanding of Surah Al-Waqi’ah (56:79) and related narrations. Reciting from memory without wudu is generally permitted, and many scholars allow reading from a phone or screen without wudu, though having wudu is better in every case.
For someone in a state of major impurity (janabah), most scholars say they should not recite the Quran until they take a ghusl. The rulings for women during menstruation differ between schools: some allow recitation from memory and others do not. If this applies to you, ask a qualified scholar you trust for guidance.
3. A clean mouth and a clean place
Scholars recommend cleaning your mouth, for example with a siwak or toothbrush, before reciting, since your mouth is the path of Allah’s words. Choose a clean, quiet place, wear modest clothing, and face the qiblah if it is easy for you. None of these are conditions, but they help your heart settle.
4. Remove distractions
Put your phone on silent and out of reach, or use a separate device for a digital mushaf with notifications off. Even five minutes of undivided attention is better than thirty minutes of reading between messages.
While You Recite
5. Seek refuge from Shaytan
Allah says in Surah An-Nahl (16:98) that when you recite the Quran, you should seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the accursed. The common wording is a’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim. Say it at the start of your recitation, and again if you stop for a long break and then resume.
6. Say Bismillah at the start of each surah
Begin every surah with Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim, except Surah At-Tawbah, which is the only surah that does not open with it. When you start in the middle of a surah, saying Bismillah after seeking refuge is permitted and many reciters do so.
7. Recite with tarteel
Allah commands in Surah Al-Muzzammil (73:4) that the Quran be recited with tarteel: calm, measured recitation with every letter given its right. This is where adab and Tajweed meet. Rushing so fast that letters drop or rules break is a lapse in both. If you are not sure what tarteel involves in practice, our guide on what tarteel means explains the four speeds of recitation.
8. Beautify your voice, without showing off
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged reciting in a pleasant voice. In a hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, he said that whoever does not recite the Quran in a pleasant tone is not one of us. Beautifying does not mean imitating singers or stretching letters beyond the rules. Use the voice you have, as clearly and sweetly as you can.
9. Respond to what you read
Hudhayfah reported in Sahih Muslim that when the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited at night and passed a verse of glorification, he glorified Allah; a verse of asking, he asked; and a verse of seeking refuge, he sought refuge. You can do the same, especially in voluntary prayers and private recitation: pause at a verse about Paradise to ask for it, or at a verse of warning to ask for protection.
10. Perform sajdah at the verses of prostration
The mushaf marks certain verses with a prostration sign. When you recite or hear one, it is a strong sunnah to make a prostration of recitation (sujud al-tilawah). The Hanafi school considers it obligatory, while the majority consider it highly recommended, and scholars also differ slightly on the number of places. Follow the marks in your mushaf and the guidance of your teacher.
11. Pause for yawns and interruptions
Scholars advise stopping your recitation while yawning until the yawn passes, rather than reciting through it. In the same way, if someone speaks to you or you need to answer, stop, then resume with seeking refuge if the break was long.
12. Listen with attention when others recite
Etiquette applies to listeners too. Surah Al-A’raf (7:204) tells believers to listen and stay silent when the Quran is recited, so that they may receive mercy. In a gathering or class, avoid side conversations while someone recites.
Use the checklist below to build these manners into your next recitation session.
Recitation Etiquette Checklist
Tick each adab before, during and after your next recitation
After You Recite
13. Close the mushaf with respect
Close the mushaf and place it on a clean, raised place such as a shelf or stand, not on the floor or under other items. Many families keep the mushaf on the highest shelf in the room as a sign of honor.
14. Make dua
The end of a recitation is a good time to ask Allah for whatever you need, and especially to ask Him to make the Quran a light for you and to help you act on it. When completing the whole Quran, many people gather family for a dua of khatm.
15. About “Sadaqallahul ‘Azim”
Many people end with sadaqallahul ‘azim (“Allah the Almighty has spoken the truth”). The meaning is correct, but scholars differ on making it a fixed habit after every recitation, since it is not reported as a regular practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Many teachers suggest simply ending with your own dua instead.
16. Carry one meaning with you
Before you get up, choose one ayah you read and think about how it applies to your day. This small habit, described more fully in our article on reciting with khushu’, connects your recitation to your life.
Struggling reader? You are still rewarded. In a hadith reported by Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the one who is skilled in the Quran is with the noble, righteous scribes, and the one who recites it with difficulty, stumbling over it, receives a double reward. Etiquette is about respect and effort, not perfection.
Etiquette for Weekly Recitations
Some recitations have their own timing and practices. Reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday is a well-known example, and our guide to reciting Surah Al-Kahf on Friday helps you plan its pace. Many people also read Surah Yaseen regularly; if you do, the notes in how to recite Surah Yaseen correctly help you keep its Tajweed accurate. The same adab applies to both: intention, purity, calm recitation and a respectful close.
The best way to make these manners natural is to practice them with someone who models them. A teacher in a Quran recitation course corrects your reading, reminds you to pause at the right places and helps you build a calm, respectful routine. You can start with a free trial class.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the etiquettes of reciting the Quran?
The main etiquettes are a sincere intention, purity and a clean place, seeking refuge from Shaytan, saying Bismillah at the start of a surah, reciting with tarteel and a beautiful voice, responding to the verses, making sajdah at its marked places, and closing with dua and respect for the mushaf.
Do I need wudu to recite the Quran?
Most scholars require wudu to touch the mushaf, but reciting from memory without wudu is generally allowed. Having wudu is recommended in every case. For specific situations, such as janabah or menstruation, schools differ, so ask a qualified scholar.
Can I recite the Quran from my phone without wudu?
Many contemporary scholars allow reading from a phone or screen without wudu, since you are not touching a physical mushaf. Others prefer wudu out of respect. Either way, having wudu is the better choice when you can.
Is it necessary to say “Sadaqallahul ‘Azim” after reciting?
No. It is not reported as a regular practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Its meaning is correct, but many scholars advise against treating it as a required ending and suggest ending with dua instead.
What should I do when I reach a verse of sajdah?
Make one prostration, saying words of glorification as in the prostration of prayer, then continue your recitation. Most scholars consider it a strong sunnah, while the Hanafi school holds it to be obligatory. Your teacher in our recitation course can show you where each sajdah sign appears in your mushaf.
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