How Long Does it Take to Memorize One Surah of the Quran?

For anyone beginning the journey of Quran memorization, time is often the first silent concern. The heart is eager, yet the mind keeps counting days and weeks. 

Between spiritual aspiration and modern schedules, learners naturally seek clarity without losing the deeper meaning behind Hifz.

Memorizing a Surah can take anywhere from minutes to several months, depending on its length, complexity, and the learner’s fluency and consistency. Short Surahs may be mastered in one session, while longer chapters demand structured pacing, regular revision, and a focus on per-page progress rather than arbitrary milestones.

How Long Does it Take to Memorize One Surah of the Quran?

The time to memorize one Surah of the Quran generally ranges from 20 minutes for a short Surah (like Al-Kawthar) to several months for a long Surah (like Al-Baqarah). 

This duration depends largely on the student’s Arabic reading fluency, memory capacity, and consistency in daily practice.

In our experience teaching non-Arabic speakers, the definition of “one Surah” changes the answer entirely. For a beginner focusing on Juz Amma (the 30th part), a short Surah like Al-Asr (3 verses) might take a single 30-minute session to memorize perfectly.

However, for a longer, more complex Surah, the timeline shifts. An intermediate student might take 30 to 45 minutes to memorize just one page (approximately 15 lines). Therefore, a Surah that spans 20 pages will obviously take much longer. 

The key takeaway is that your “per-page” speed is a better metric than a “per-Surah” speed.

There is no single standard answer, but Riwaq Al Quran’s Online Quran Memorization Course is designed specifically to assess your current level and provide you with a personalized timeline and structured plan that fits your life.

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Estimated Duration for Memorizing Short vs Long Surahs

To give you a realistic roadmap, we must look beyond simple “start and finish” dates. The time it takes depends heavily on the density of the Surah and your familiarity with its vocabulary. 

A student who memorizes Surah Al-Ikhlas in minutes often feels discouraged when Surah Al-Mulk takes weeks. This is normal.

Here is a detailed breakdown based on the average performance of our students at Riwaq Al Quran who commit to daily practice (approx. 30–45 minutes/day).

1. Estimated Duration for Memorizing Short Surahs (Juz Amma)

For a beginner, short Surahs (e.g. Al-Kawthar, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Masad) are less about memory and more about tongue gymnastics. You are training your mouth to pronounce difficult letters like ‘Ayn (ع) and Ha (ح).

A focused student can memorize one short Surah (3–5 verses) in 20 to 45 minutes.

Do not rush these. These Surahs are recited in almost every prayer. If you memorize them with a mistake now, you will repeat that mistake thousands of times in your Salah.

2. Estimated Duration for Memorizing Medium Surahs

This is where the real work begins. Surah Al-Mulk (30 verses) is the standard benchmark for transitioning from “beginner” to “intermediate.”

Surah Al-Mulk typically takes 10 to 14 days if you memorize 2–3 verses daily.

Surah Yasin is longer (83 verses) but very rhythmic; this usually takes 3 to 5 weeks.

Medium Surahs tell stories. Connect the verses to the narrative. For Al-Mulk, visualize the description of the stars, then the warning to the disbelievers. It sticks faster than memorizing abstract sounds.

3. Estimated Duration for Memorizing Long Surahs

Surah Al-Baqarah covers roughly 48 pages (depending on the Mushaf print). memorizing 1 page/day = 2.5 to 3 months. Memorizing 0.5 page/day + Weekend Revision = 5 to 8 months.

The challenge here is not memorizing new verses, but keeping the old ones. By the time you reach the 10th page, the 1st page starts to fade. You must allocate 30% of your time to new memorization and 70% to reviewing the back-catalog.

Realistic Hifz Timeline Table for Short, Medium, and Long Surahs

The following table assumes you are spending roughly 30–45 minutes daily with a qualified tutor or a structured plan.

Never confuse “memorizing” with “retaining.” You might be able to push a page into your short-term memory in 15 minutes right before your class. But without Muraja’ah (Revision), it will vanish by tomorrow morning.

A realistic timeline must always include “blank days.” These are days where you memorize zero new verses and only polish what you have already learned. 

If you don’t schedule these breaks, your memorization becomes like carrying sand in a pocket with a hole—you keep adding more, but you are losing just as much.

Do you want to know exactly where you fit on this table? Book a Free Evaluation Session with us. We will test your recitation speed and build a custom calendar that predicts exactly when you will finish your target Surah.

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Factors That Influence How Long It Takes to Memorize a Surah

Several variables affect your Hifz timeline, but the most critical one is your Arabic reading fluency. If you struggle to recognize Arabic letters or stumble over connecting words, you are spending your mental energy on “decoding” rather than memorizing. 

A student who reads fluently can focus entirely on retaining the verse. A student who struggles to read will take 3x longer because they are fighting two battles at once: reading the text and trying to remember it.

If you spend more time decoding letters than memorizing, you likely need to correct your foundation first. 

Our Best Online Tajweed Classes at Riwaq can fix your recitation speed, effectively cutting your memorization time in half. 

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How Improving Tajweed Reduces the Time to Memorize a Surah

Many students think Tajweed rules are just about “sounding nice,” but it is actually a powerful memory aid. The brain relies on patterns. 

When you recite with correct Tajweed—elongating the vowels where required (Madd) and pausing where appropriate—the rhythm helps the verse “stick” in your mind.

Conversely, incorrect recitation confuses the brain. If you memorize a word with the wrong vowel today, and your teacher corrects you tomorrow, you have to “unlearn” the mistake before you can relearn the truth. This doubles your work.

Practical Tips to Shorten the Time to Memorize a Surah

If you want to speed up your process without sacrificing quality, follow these methods used by successful Hifz students:

1. Listen Before Reading (Talqin) the Surah

Before you even look at the text, listen to a master reciter like Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary. Your ears pick up the rhythm and pronunciation better than your eyes can alone.

2. Understand the Meaning of the Surah 

The human brain remembers stories and concepts better than abstract sounds. Read the translation. Knowing that a verse is describing Paradise or a specific story of a Prophet creates mental “hooks” for your memory.

3. Consistency in Memorizing the Surah 

Spending 20 minutes every single day is infinitely faster in the long run than spending 5 hours once a week on Sunday. Small, consistent efforts compound; sporadic marathons lead to burnout and forgetfulness.

Why Students Love Learning with Riwaq Al Quran

Hear directly from our students about how Riwaq Al Quran Academy has transformed their connection with the Book of Allah. Their experiences reflect the dedication, care, and quality that guide every step of our teaching.

Start Your Memorizing Surahs with Riwaq Al Quran Today

You can spend hours searching for “tips” online, or you can get a professional to guide you by the hand. At Riwaq Al Quran, we don’t believe in a “one size fits all” speed. We build the schedule around your capacity. Why choose us for your journey?

Customized Hifz Plans

Whether you want to finish in 2 years or 5 years, we adjust the pace to you.

Certified Hafiz Tutors

Learn from Azhari graduates who have mastered the art of teaching non-Arabic speakers.

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Don’t guess how long it will take—let us create a plan for you.

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• Online Quran Memorization Course
• Tajweed Classes
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• Ijazah Program.
• Arabic Language Classes.
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Conclusion:

The duration of memorizing a Surah is shaped primarily by its length and the student’s daily practice habits. Short Surahs from Juz Amma often require less than an hour, while medium and long Surahs unfold over weeks or months through steady, disciplined effort.

Measuring progress by pages rather than Surahs offers a more realistic benchmark, especially for longer chapters. Consistent review plays a greater role than speed, as retention depends on balancing new memorization with structured Muraja’ah.

Arabic reading fluency and Tajweed accuracy significantly shorten the memorization timeline. Correct pronunciation, rhythmic recitation, and understanding meaning transform memorization from mental strain into a sustainable, deeply rooted practice.