You have just become Muslim, and you want to start learning the Quran. Which surahs (chapters) come first? Only a few. This guide gives a gentle order: Al-Fatiha first, then six short surahs from the end of the Quran.
For each surah you get the ayah count (an ayah is a verse). You also get a one-line meaning and a reason it is a good early pick. Then you will see how to learn when you cannot read Arabic yet. This guide gives no rulings. For a question about prayer, ask a teacher or imam (prayer leader).
Which Surahs Should a New Muslim Learn First?
Start with Al-Fatiha, because it is recited in every unit of the prayer. Then learn six short surahs from Juz Amma, the final part of the Quran. Take them in this order: Al-Ikhlas, Al-Kawthar, Al-Asr, An-Nasr, Al-Falaq and An-Nas. They are short, and their sounds repeat, so your ear picks them up fast.
This order is a gentle guide, not a rule, and a teacher may change it to fit you. The seven surahs add up to 31 ayahs in all. That is a small number, so you can learn them at a calm pace. Here they are at a glance:
| Order | Surah | Ayahs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Fatiha (1) | 7 |
| 2 | Al-Ikhlas (112) | 4 |
| 3 | Al-Kawthar (108) | 3 |
| 4 | Al-Asr (103) | 3 |
| 5 | An-Nasr (110) | 3 |
| 6 | Al-Falaq (113) | 5 |
| 7 | An-Nas (114) | 6 |
Why Is Al-Fatiha the First Surah to Learn?
Al-Fatiha opens the Quran. It has 7 ayahs, and in the common count, ayah 1 is the Bismillah. In it, we praise Allah, say that we worship Him and ask Him for help. Then we ask Him to guide us on the straight path. Ayah 2 starts: Alhamdu lillahi rabbil-alamin (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ). It means all praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Al-Fatiha is recited in each unit (rak'ah) of the prayer. Abu Qatada described how Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, prayed the Zuhr (midday) prayer. In the first two units, he recited Al-Fatiha with another surah. In the last two units, he recited Al-Fatiha alone (Sahih al-Bukhari 776). So you will say it often, every day.
That is only a description of the Prophet's practice. It is not a guide to the prayer, and we give no rulings. For any question about how to pray, ask a teacher or imam.
Which Short Surahs Come Next, and Why?
After Al-Fatiha, move to Juz Amma. It is the 30th part, the last one in the Quran, and all six surahs below sit in it. Their ayahs are short. In four of the six, every ayah ends with the same letter, which helps your ear. Here is the order, with the opening words of each surah:
- 1. Al-Ikhlas (112), 4 ayahs. It opens: Qul huwa Allahu ahad (قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ). Meaning: it tells who Allah is. He is One, the Eternal Refuge. He has no child and was not born, and nothing is equal to Him. Why early: all four ayahs end with the letter dal, a d sound, so the rhythm is steady.
- 2. Al-Kawthar (108), 3 ayahs. It opens: Inna a'taynaka al-kawthar (إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ). Meaning: Allah says that He has given the Prophet al-Kawthar. So the Prophet is told to pray to his Lord. Why early: it has only 3 ayahs, and all three end with the letter ra, an r sound.
- 3. Al-Asr (103), 3 ayahs. It opens with one word: Wal-asr (وَٱلْعَصْرِ). Meaning: people are at a loss, apart from believers who do good and urge each other to truth and patience. Why early: ayah 1 is a single word. All three ayahs end with the letter ra, as in Al-Kawthar.
- 4. An-Nasr (110), 3 ayahs. It opens: Idha ja'a nasrullahi wal-fath (إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْفَتْحُ). Meaning: it speaks of the time when Allah's help and the victory come. Then the Prophet is told to praise his Lord and ask for His forgiveness. Why early: it also has 3 ayahs. Ayahs 2 and 3 are longer than ayah 1, so learn each in two parts.
- 5. Al-Falaq (113), 5 ayahs. It opens: Qul a'udhu bi-rabbil-falaq (قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ). Meaning: you ask the Lord of daybreak for safety from evil. This includes the evil of darkness and of an envier. Why early: it has only 5 ayahs. Its first three words match the first three words of An-Nas.
- 6. An-Nas (114), 6 ayahs. It opens: Qul a'udhu bi-rabbin-nas (قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ). Meaning: you ask the Lord, King and God of mankind for safety. You seek it from the whisperer who whispers into the chests of people. Why early: learn it right after Al-Falaq, since it starts the same way. All six ayahs end with the letter sin, an s sound.
Your teacher may add more surahs or change this order. That is normal. Go at the pace that feels right for you.
How Can You Learn a Surah Before You Can Read Arabic?
You can start by ear. Listening and repeating works without the letters. Follow these steps for each ayah:
- Listen: play one ayah slowly, three or four times, from a reciter you like.
- Repeat: say it out loud after the reciter. Do this until the sounds feel steady.
- Read the meaning: read the ayah in your own language, so the words are never empty sounds.
- Use English letters only as a short bridge. They miss some Arabic sounds, so a teacher should check yours.
- Learn the letters soon. Once you can say Al-Fatiha, begin the Arabic letters. Then you can read the same words on the page.
Our 90-day guide for new Muslims puts these steps into a calm order.
How Do You Keep Each Surah Firm?
A surah feels firm when you can say it without looking. These habits help you get there:
- Add one ayah at a time, and link it to the ones you already know.
- Choose the same time every day, even if it is only five minutes.
- When a surah feels firm, say it once a day while you learn the next one.
- Wait until one surah is firm before you start another.
- Ask a teacher to listen from time to time. Ask them, too, how to use your surahs in prayer.
Learn the First Surahs With a Live Teacher
A teacher on a live call can hear you as you speak and put right any sound that is off. At Salam Campus, lessons are one-on-one and last 30 minutes each. You choose whether your teacher is male or female. Lessons run day and night, and you choose the hour in your own time zone.
Our page on Quran classes for new Muslims shows the full path, from prayer to the Arabic letters to reading.
Your first lesson is a trial, and it is free. No card is needed. It lasts 30 minutes. To start, book the trial and name the surahs you know already.