First Surahs to Learn for Prayer as a New Muslim

Begin with Surah Al-Fatiha, since it is recited in every unit of the prayer, and take the time to pronounce it correctly. After that, learn the short surahs at the end of the Quran, starting with Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, then Al-Kawthar, Al-‘Asr and An-Nasr. Learn them by listening and repeating with a teacher, a verse at a time, and use the meaning to help the words stay in your memory.

Why Al-Fatiha comes first

Al-Fatiha, “The Opening”, is the first surah of the Quran and has seven verses. It is recited in each rak’ah (unit) of the prayer, so a Muslim who prays the five daily prayers recites it many times every day. A short surah or passage is then normally added after it in the first two units. That is why the practical order is Al-Fatiha first, then a small collection of short surahs to choose from.

If you have only just embraced Islam and cannot yet recite Al-Fatiha, do not let that keep you from praying. Ask a knowledgeable teacher or your local imam what to do in the meantime; this article deals with how to learn, not with rulings. And be at ease: everyone who recites the Quran began exactly where you are.

A suggested order of surahs

There is no obligatory sequence after Al-Fatiha. The order below starts with the surahs most often recited and keeps the first steps short. The numbers are each surah’s place in the Quran.

Step	Surah	No.	Verses	Central theme
1	Al-Fatiha	1	7	Praise of Allah and a prayer for guidance
2	Al-Ikhlas	112	4	The oneness of Allah
3	Al-Falaq	113	5	Seeking refuge in Allah from outward harm
4	An-Nas	114	6	Seeking refuge from the whisperer
5	Al-Kawthar	108	3	Gratitude, prayer and sacrifice
6	Al-‘Asr	103	3	Time, faith, good deeds, truth and patience
7	An-Nasr	110	3	Allah’s help, glorifying Him and seeking forgiveness
8	Al-Kafirun	109	6	Clarity of worship
9	Al-Masad, Quraysh, Al-Ma’un, Al-Fil	111, 106, 107, 105	5, 4, 7, 5	Short surahs to add as you grow in confidence

With the first four steps you already have enough to vary what you recite in every prayer. There is no need to hurry beyond that; one surah learnt accurately is worth more than five learnt approximately.

Make correct pronunciation of Al-Fatiha the priority

Because Al-Fatiha is repeated so often, any mistake in it is repeated just as often and quickly becomes a habit. It is worth spending several lessons on these seven verses alone. English speakers usually need help with a small number of points:

• The letter ح in al-hamdu, ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim: a breathy sound from the middle of the throat, not the English “h”.
• The letter ع in al-‘alamin, na’budu, nasta’in and an’amta: a voiced throat sound that English lacks and learners tend to drop.
• The doubled letter in iyyaka: the “y” must be held firmly, not passed over lightly.
• The heavy letters ص and ط in as-sirat, and ض in al-maghdub and ad-dallin.
• Long vowels, such as those in Malik, al-‘alamin and ad-dallin, which must be given their full length.
• The Arabic ر, a light tap of the tongue and not an English “r”.

You do not need to master these on the first day, and transliteration alone will not teach them: Latin letters cannot show the difference between ح and هـ, or between ص and س. A teacher who hears you can. Over time, a structured Tajweed track covers each of these sounds in order.

Learning by listening and repeating

You can memorise these surahs before you are able to read Arabic. This is the oldest method there is: the teacher recites, the student repeats, the teacher corrects.

1. Listen first. Hear the whole surah several times from your teacher or a clear, slow recitation, following a translation.
2. Take one verse. Your teacher recites it; you repeat it straight away. For a longer verse, take it a phrase at a time.
3. Be corrected. Repeat until the teacher is satisfied with each sound.
4. Repeat alone. Say the verse ten or more times, then from memory.
5. Join verses. Add the next verse the same way, then recite the two together.
6. Use it immediately. Recite what you have learnt in your prayers that same day.
7. Review daily. Begin each session with everything you already know.

Record your teacher’s recitation of each verse, with permission, and replay it between lessons, so that the model in your ear is the corrected one. Alongside memorising, start learning to read the script; the Noor Al-Bayan reading track takes adults from the alphabet to reading the mushaf, and frees you from depending on transliteration.

Let the meaning help your memory

Strings of unfamiliar sounds are hard to hold. Sounds attached to meaning are much easier. Before memorising a surah, read a reliable translation and note the key words.

• In Al-Fatiha, notice the movement: praise of Allah, then “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help”, then the request for guidance to the straight path.
• In Al-Ikhlas, the word ahad means “One”.
• Al-Falaq and An-Nas both open with Qul a’udhu bi-rabb, “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of…”, which makes them natural to learn as a pair.
• Al-‘Asr begins with an oath by time and names four qualities; counting them on your fingers helps.

Knowing what you are saying also changes the prayer itself, which is the deeper purpose of learning these surahs.

A gentle four-week plan

Week	Focus	Daily practice
1	Al-Fatiha, verses 1–4	10 minutes of listening and repeating
2	Al-Fatiha, verses 5–7; whole surah together	10 minutes; recite it in every prayer
3	Al-Ikhlas, then Al-Kawthar	10 minutes, starting with Al-Fatiha as review
4	Al-Falaq and An-Nas	10–15 minutes, reviewing all five

This is only a guide. Some people need longer on Al-Fatiha, and that time is well spent. With two or three thirty-minute lessons a week and a few minutes of daily repetition, most adults find the pace comfortable.

At Noor Elbayan Academy lessons are live and one-to-one, and can be explained in English or French, so you can ask anything without embarrassment. Women can study with female teachers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to read Arabic before I memorise these surahs?

No. You can learn them by listening and repeating with a teacher, and learn to read alongside.

How long does it take to learn Al-Fatiha?

It varies from person to person. Many adults can recite it from memory within a couple of weeks of daily practice, and go on refining the pronunciation after that.

Is it all right to use transliteration?

It can be a temporary aid, but it cannot show several Arabic sounds accurately. Rely mainly on your ear and your teacher, and move to the Arabic script as soon as you can.

What can I do if I cannot yet recite Al-Fatiha in my prayers?

Keep praying and keep learning, and ask a knowledgeable teacher or imam for guidance on your situation.

Which surah should I learn after these?

Continue with the other short surahs near the end of the Quran, in whatever order your teacher suggests.

Learn Al-Fatiha with someone listening. Book a free trial lesson, or message us on WhatsApp, and a teacher will start with you verse by verse.