The first 10 short surahs to teach your child
By Zubair Sattar, founder of Online Quran Learnings · Updated · 3 min read
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The short answer
Most children start with Al-Fatihah, then the short surahs at the end of the Quran: An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Masad, An-Nasr, Al-Kafirun, Al-Kawthar, Al-Ma’un and Quraysh. They are short, easy to repeat and can be used in salah straight away.
The ten surahs
| Surah | Ayat | What it is about, simply |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Fatihah (1) | 7 | Praising Allah and asking Him to guide us |
| An-Nas (114) | 6 | Asking Allah to protect us from bad whispers |
| Al-Falaq (113) | 5 | Asking Allah to protect us from harm |
| Al-Ikhlas (112) | 4 | Allah is One, and nothing is like Him |
| Al-Masad (111) | 5 | What happens to those who fight the truth |
| An-Nasr (110) | 3 | Thanking Allah when help comes |
| Al-Kafirun (109) | 6 | Staying true to our faith |
| Al-Kawthar (108) | 3 | Allah’s gift to the Prophet ﷺ, and thanking Him |
| Al-Ma’un (107) | 7 | Being kind and not careless in salah |
| Quraysh (106) | 4 | Thanking Allah for food and safety |
How to help them memorise
- One surah at a time, until it is solid.
- Say it together at bedtime.
- Use it in salah as soon as they know it.
- Tell them what it means in one sentence.
Next, read how to stop children forgetting surahs.
Quick questions
At what age can a child memorise surahs?
Even 3 and 4 year olds can learn short surahs by listening. Formal memorising with a teacher often starts from age 4 or 5.
