The Noorani Qaida is the beginner's book most children in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh use before they start reading the Quran. Its first lessons can be taught at home in a few minutes a day.
Lesson 1: the letters (huroof)
There are 29 letters in the order taught by the Qaida:
ا ب ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل م ن و ه ء ي
Teach 3–4 letters a day. Say the letter's name (Alif, Baa, Taa…), let the child repeat it, then point to letters at random. Arabic is read right to left — show this early.
Lesson 2: the short vowels (harakat)
| Mark | Name (Urdu/Hindi) | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ـَ above | Fatha (zabar) | a | بَ = ba |
| ـِ below | Kasra (zer) | i | بِ = bi |
| ـُ above | Damma (pesh) | u | بُ = bu |
Go letter by letter: بَ بِ بُ, تَ تِ تُ … Children enjoy it when it becomes a chant.
The six kalimas
1. Tayyibah — There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
2. Shahadah — bearing witness to Allah's oneness and the Prophet's ﷺ messengership.
3. Tamjeed — glorifying Allah: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar.
4. Tawheed — Allah alone gives life and death; all good is in His hand.
5. Astaghfar — seeking forgiveness for every sin, known and unknown.
6. Radd-e-Kufr — seeking refuge from shirk and every sin.
Teach one kalima a week, a line at a time, with its meaning.
Tips that work
- Keep sessions to 10–15 minutes, same time daily.
- Praise effort, not just correct answers.
- Use sound and colour — children learn by hearing.
- For correct pronunciation (makharij), a teacher is still best.
Practise with Miftah
Miftah has a free Kids corner: tap any letter or letter-with-harakah to hear it, read the six kalimas with transliteration and meaning, and play a 12-question quiz about Islam. It uses the phone's Arabic voice, so it is a practice aid alongside a teacher.
