Short Surahs for Kids to Memorise, in the Easiest Order
A tested order for a child's first surahs, from al-Fatihah and al-Ikhlas to longer Juz 'Amma surahs, with meanings and memorising tips.
In this guide
- How to use the order
- Stage 1: the everyday four
- Al-Fatihah (The Opening) · 7 verses
- Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) · 4 verses
- Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) · 5 verses
- An-Nas (Mankind) · 6 verses
- Stage 2: short and strong
- Al-Kawthar (Abundance) · 3 verses
- Al-‘Asr (Time) · 3 verses
- The rest of Stage 2
- Stage 3: and on through Juz ‘Amma
- A one-line meaning for each
- Memorising tips
“Which surah next?” It’s one of the most common questions parents ask. Lists of short surahs are everywhere, but they rarely say why one comes before another, or what each surah means in words a child can hold on to.
This guide gives you a tested order in three stages, from a child’s very first surah to the longer ones at the end of the Qur’an, with a one-line meaning for each and tips that make memorising stick.
How to use the order
Two simple rules shape this list:
- Most-used first. Al-Fatihah is recited in every unit of every prayer, and the three Quls are part of bedtime and the adhkar. Children who know these can take part in worship every day.
- Shortest next. After that, short surahs with few, short verses give quick wins and build confidence.
The surahs near the end of the Qur’an (Juz ‘Amma, the 30th part) are short and rhythmic, which is why children traditionally start there. Use this order as a guide, not a rule. If your child loves a particular surah because they hear it at the masjid, let them learn it next.
Pace matters more than order. One verse at a time, reviewed often, is the method for every surah below. Our guide to teaching Qur’an at home has a ten-minute daily routine you can use.
Stage 1: the everyday four
These come up every single day, in salah and at bedtime.
Al-Fatihah (The Opening) · 7 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have earned anger or of those who are astray.”
In a beautiful hadith, Allah says He has divided this prayer between Himself and His servant, and answers each verse as we recite it: when we say “All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds”, Allah says, “My servant has praised Me” (Sahih Muslim 395). Tell your child: “When you say al-Fatihah, Allah is answering you.”
Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) · 4 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ﴿٤﴾
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent.”
The Prophet ﷺ said this short surah is equal to a third of the Qur’an (Sahih al-Bukhari 5013). Children love knowing that.
Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) · 5 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّٰثَٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of that which He created, and from the evil of darkness when it settles, and from the evil of the blowers in knots, and from the evil of an envier when he envies.”
An-Nas (Mankind) · 6 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers into the hearts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.”
The Prophet ﷺ recited al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas into his cupped hands every night before sleeping (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017), and told a companion to recite the mu’awwidhat, the surahs of seeking refuge, after every prayer (Sunan an-Nasa’i 1336, graded Sahih by al-Albani). See our bedtime duas and routine for how to make this part of your child’s night.
Stage 2: short and strong
Three-verse surahs first, for quick wins, then three slightly longer ones with stories children love.
Al-Kawthar (Abundance) · 3 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ ﴿١﴾ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ ﴿٢﴾ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلْأَبْتَرُ ﴿٣﴾
“Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.”
The shortest surah in the Qur’an, and a great first “new” surah after Stage 1.
Al-‘Asr (Time) · 3 verses
Evidence · Qur’an
وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾
“By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”
The rest of Stage 2
| Surah | Verses | Why here |
|---|---|---|
| An-Nasr (Help), 110 | 3 | Three verses, and it ends with a beautiful instruction to praise and ask forgiveness. |
| Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers), 109 | 6 | Six verses, but very repetitive, so it goes in quickly. |
| Al-Masad (The Palm Fibre), 111 | 5 | Short verses with a strong rhythm. |
| Al-Fil (The Elephant), 105 | 5 | A story surah that children remember easily once they know the story. |
Stage 3: and on through Juz ‘Amma
These are a little longer. Take your time, and keep reviewing Stages 1 and 2 as you go.
| Order | Surah | Verses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quraysh, 106 | 4 |
| 2 | Al-Ma’un (Small Kindnesses), 107 | 7 |
| 3 | At-Takathur (Wanting More), 102 | 8 |
| 4 | Al-Qari’ah (The Striking Day), 101 | 11 |
| 5 | Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree), 97 | 5 |
| 6 | Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake), 99 | 8 |
| 7 | At-Tin (The Fig), 95 | 8 |
| 8 | Ash-Sharh (The Opening Up), 94 | 8 |
| 9 | Al-‘Adiyat (The Runners), 100 | 11 |
| 10 | Ad-Duha (The Morning Light), 93 | 11 |
After these, many families continue backwards through Juz ‘Amma. Some children are also ready around now for Ayat al-Kursi, which is a single verse but a long one.
A one-line meaning for each
Say the meaning before you start a new surah, and again when your child finishes it. Meaning turns sounds into a message.
| Surah | For your child |
|---|---|
| Al-Fatihah | We praise Allah, the Most Kind, and ask Him to show us the right way. |
| Al-Ikhlas | Allah is One, and nothing is like Him. |
| Al-Falaq | We ask Allah, Lord of the morning, to keep us safe from bad things. |
| An-Nas | We ask Allah, King of all people, to protect us from bad whispers. |
| Al-Kawthar | Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ so much good, so we pray and thank Him. |
| Al-‘Asr | Use your time well: believe, do good, and help each other be truthful and patient. |
| An-Nasr | When Allah’s help comes, say “thank You” and “sorry” to Him. |
| Al-Kafirun | We worship Allah alone; other people have their own way. |
| Al-Masad | Money and power can’t help someone who fights against the truth. |
| Al-Fil | Allah protected the Ka’bah from an army with elephants, using little birds. |
| Quraysh | Allah fed and protected the people of Makkah, so they should worship Him. |
| Al-Ma’un | Be kind to orphans, feed the hungry and pray with your heart. |
| At-Takathur | Don’t get so busy wanting more that you forget what really matters. |
| Al-Qari’ah | One day every deed will be weighed, so let’s fill our scales with good. |
| Al-Qadr | The Qur’an came down on a special night, better than a thousand months. |
| Az-Zalzalah | Even a tiny good deed, as small as a speck, is seen and counted. |
| At-Tin | Allah made people in the best way; believing and doing good keeps us at our best. |
| Ash-Sharh | With every hard thing comes ease. |
| Al-‘Adiyat | People can forget to be grateful, but Allah knows what’s in our hearts. |
| Ad-Duha | Allah never leaves you. Be kind to orphans and to people who ask for help. |
Memorising tips
- One reciter, always. The same voice and melody make memorising far easier. Pick a slow, clear reciter.
- One verse at a time. Listen to it five times, say it together three times, then let your child try alone. Then join it to the previous verse.
- Review more than you add. A good rhythm is one new verse, then the whole of the surah so far, then one older surah. The Prophet ﷺ warned that the Qur’an slips from memory faster than a camel from its rope if it isn’t kept up (Sahih al-Bukhari 5033).
- Use them. Let your child recite their newest surah in salah, at bedtime or in the car. Surahs that are used are surahs that stay.
- Move with it. Young children remember better when they move: clap the rhythm, walk a step per verse, point to a picture for each verse.
- Celebrate each surah. A star on the chart, a special breakfast, a call to grandparents. Finishing a surah is a big deal.
- No comparing. Siblings and cousins learn at different speeds. Celebrate each child’s own progress.
If your child is flying through these and you’re wondering about full memorisation, read hifz for kids: should my child memorise the whole Qur’an? before you decide.
Questions parents ask
What surah should a child memorise first?
Al-Fatihah, because it is recited in every unit of every prayer. Many families teach al-Ikhlas alongside it, since it is only four short verses and children hear it often. Then come al-Falaq and an-Nas, which complete the bedtime Quls.
How many surahs should a 6-year-old know?
There is no set number, and children vary a lot. Many six-year-olds know al-Fatihah and the three Quls, and some know a handful of the short surahs from Stage 2. Steady progress with understanding matters more than a count.
How do I help my child remember surahs?
Use one reciter, learn one verse at a time, and review old surahs more than you add new ones. Recite them in salah, at bedtime and in the car so they get used, not just stored. A short meaning for each surah helps it stick.
Sources
- Sahih Muslim 395 (sunnah.com)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5013 (sunnah.com)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5017 (sunnah.com)
- Sunan an-Nasa'i 1336 (sunnah.com)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5033 (sunnah.com)
- Surah Al-Fatihah (quran.com)
- Surah Al-Ikhlas (quran.com)
- Surah Al-Falaq (quran.com)
- Surah An-Nas (quran.com)
- Surah Al-Kawthar (quran.com)
- Surah Al-'Asr (quran.com)
- Surah An-Nasr (quran.com)
Written by the Rahmly team from the sources above. Our Reviewers’ sign-off for this guide is still in progress. For rulings about your own family, ask a scholar you trust.