How to learn the Quran and teach it effectively to the kids and others

Learning the Qur’an and teaching it to others (the kids inclusive) is highly encouraged by the Prophet as stated in this hadith:

‏ “‏ خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏
Narrated ‘Uthman:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027
In-book reference: Book 66, Hadith 49

Based on my experience with my kids, I can proffer the following tips for learning the Qur’an and teaching others:

Take It Is An Act of Worship

Whether you learn the Qur’an online yourself or offline, it’s an act of worship. There are several ahadith on the benefits of learning the Quran. One of them is this:

Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “Read the Qur’an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.”[Muslim].

As regards teaching the kids too, it’s an emulation of the prophet and thus an act of worship as it was narrated Said bin Jubair: Those Suras which you people call the Mufassal, are the Muhkam. And Ibn ‘Abbas said, “Allah’s Apostle died when I was a boy of ten years, and I had learnt the Muhkam (of the Qur’an).” ( Sahih Bukhari bk 66, hadith 58

Al-Mufassal are defined as the short soorahs of the Qur’aan which have many breaks between them, in which the Basmalah (“Bismillah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem”) appears. They are called mufassal (divided) because a lot of breaks appear in them.

Scholars differed concerning the definition of al-Mufassal and whether it begin from Soorat Qaaf or from al-Hujuraat. But in summary, al-Mufassal could be referred to as those soorahs from al-Hujuraat to an-Naas. (Source: Islamqa)

Having known this, parents, guardians and teachers may adopt the system of first teaching the kids the last ten chapters of the Quran [ i.e suurah al-feel (Q105) to Naas), followed by the last hizb which is from suuratul ‘Aala to al-Humazah, the whole Juz ‘Amma and then Juz Mulk and on and on.

2. Sincerity

Being an act of worship, it should be done with sincerity as no act of worship is accepted without sincerity. The Prophet (saw) says in the popular as well as the first hadith of the forty hadith of Imam An-Nawawi

“Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended………….”[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Sahih Bukhari Vol.6 number 554)

3. Gratitude to Allah

Whatever format in which the learning and the teaching of the Quran is taking place, one must be grateful for the ni’mah (favor) surrounding it; which may be in the form of sound health, availability of time or availability of the internet or other oblivious favor. Allah says:

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِي لَشَدِيدٌ

سورة إبراهيم7))

“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks، I will give you more; but if you are thankless، verily، My punishment is indeed severe. ‘‘[Suuratu Ibrahim]

4. Teaching the Manners With the Quran

These may range from having to calm down the younger ones so that they are more attentive to teaching the older ones others like using the siwak, facing the qibla and observing ablution among others. These are extensively covered in books of etiquettes of the Quran such as Etiquettes with the Quran by Imam Al-Nawawi or (المؤلف:محمد بن علي العرفج) كيف تحفظ القرآن الكريم

e.t c.

5. Acknowledgment of Individual Differences

Children as well as adults do not learn at the same rate; what a child could memorize in a month could take another child two months to do. In addition, while some children are internally motivated, some need external motivation such as seeing others of their age or their siblings recite.While some kids learn with little effort at a particular period of time, they require more effort at another time; some may even need to be secluded in order to listen to a short verse repeatedly for a few minutes after a face-to-face teaching before they could pick the verse.

External motivation could also include a promise to watch a favorite YouTube cartoon ( the Arabic ones are more encouraged) after the perfection of a verse or the gift of a chocolate bar( for example) though these should be done with limitations.

6. The Use of Reinforcement and Punishment

This is connected to the last statement in that granting their wishes serve as reinforcement while the denial serves as punishment. The benefit of using praise-words and actions too cannot be over emphasized.

As for older learners, age-appropriate reinforcement and punishment should be applied too.

7. Methods of Teaching

This could involve syllabic pronunciation of words and verses or verse by verse or even an advanced page by page method depending on the individual.

For example, a kid who is totally new to Qur’an memorization may likely learn the second word of the first verse of Q108 (Suuratul Kawthar) {a’n toi naaka} in 3 syllables while another of the same age with older ones memorizing the Qur’an already may recite with more ease.

8. Voice Recording and Playback

Some kids memorize better when they listen to a particular verse repeated several times while others memorize through listening to their own recorded voice repeated several times after perfecting its pronunciation. A combination of the two could be of excellent result insha Allah.

9. Teaching the Writing of Arabic Alphabets and the Reading of Arabic Scripts

This should be done at an early age (say before the age of five) in order to facilitate the reading of the Quran and hence speeds up its memorization.

10. Teaching the Salaah, other Pillars of Islam and Various Supplications

Salawaat and other pillars of Islam are part of the integral teachings of the Qur’an. These should be taught with adequately illustrated books for kids

Supplications including those for entering the toilet, before and after a meal, before sleeping and waking up, supplications for dressing and undressing, those for leaving and entering the home, dua during rainfall and when looking at the mirror among others. They serve as a means of protection and act of worship.

Hisnul Muslim and other essential books for teaching the pillars for all age groups could be gotten here.

11. Teaching the Language of the Quran

If you are a native Arabic speaker, then you bring up your children speaking your language though they must learn the classical Arabic.

As for a non-native speaker, you have to start teaching the kids some Arabic words even before they can spell and read them. And immediately they are able to do, you introduce the Arabic grammars in stages. This is to enhance their memorization as well as understanding of the Qur’an.

12. Constant Revision (Murooja’an)

This is the heart of the matter as the more often the revision, the easier it is to manage it with the memorization of new verses. The following ahadith already depicted this. It was narrated by Ibn Umar that

Allah’s Apostle said, “The example of the person who knows the Qur’an by heart is like the owner of tied camels. If he keeps them tied, he will control them, but if he releases them, they will run away.”(Sahih Bukhari vol.6 number 549)

Narrated Abu Musa

The Prophet said, “Keep on reciting the Qur’an, for, by Him in Whose Hand my life is, Quran runs away (is forgotten) faster than camels that are released from their tying ropes.”( Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith – 6.552)

In conclusion, one should continue to pray for guidance and success (with the learning of the quran and other affairs) from Allah as only with Him does success lies.