Ijazah and Qirat
An ijazah is a licence to transmit the Quran, granted after reciting the entire Quran aloud to a sheikh who already holds one and who certifies the accuracy of that recitation. The course typically takes one to two years and ends with a certificate naming the chain of transmission.
This is the most demanding course we teach and the only one with a formal credential at the end. The student recites the whole Quran to the sheikh — either from memory or from the Mushaf, depending on the type of ijazah sought — and every error is corrected until the recitation meets the standard.
It is not a course that is attended so much as an examination that is sat over many months. Students are accepted only when their Tajweed is already secure.
Course at a glance
- Level
- Advanced
- Typical duration
- 1–2 years
- Suitable for
- Adults and advanced students
- Format
- One-to-one live video classes
- Class length
- 30, 45 or 60 minutes
- Teachers
- Male or female, your choice
- Fees
- From $35 per student per month
- Free trial
- 3 classes, no card details
What you will be able to do
- Recitation of the full Quran to a qualified sheikh
- Ijazah certificate with a connected sanad
- Hafs an Asim and other qiraat
- Qualification to teach the Quran
Who this course is for
- Huffaz seeking certification in Hafs an Asim
- Advanced readers with strong Tajweed who want an ijazah in recitation from the Mushaf
- Teachers and imams who need a documented chain to teach with authority
- Students who have completed the Tajweed course and want to specialise in the ten qiraat
What you need before starting
- Secure, consistent Tajweed at reading speed, assessed before acceptance.
- For an ijazah in recitation from memory, completed hifz of the full thirty juz.
What the course covers
Stages run in order, each one assuming the last is secure. Timings assume two to three classes a week and are adjusted to the individual student.
- 1
Entry assessment
1–2 classes
An unseen passage is heard by the sheikh, who identifies the gaps that must be closed before the recitation proper can begin. Some students are asked to take Tajweed first.
- 2
Rules revision to certification standard
2–4 months
Systematic revision of makharij, sifat, the sakinah rules, madd and waqf — this time to the standard of a teacher rather than a student.
- 3
Full recitation to the sheikh
9–18 months
The Quran is recited in portions across many months, with every error corrected and the portion repeated until accepted.
- 4
Certification
on completion
On completion, an ijazah is granted naming the student, the recitation certified, and the chain of transmission through which it is held.
- 5
The ten qiraat (optional)
1–3 years
For students continuing beyond Hafs: the readings via Shatibiyyah and Durrah, studied one at a time.
What a class looks like
- The student recites the agreed portion without prompting.
- The sheikh stops only where there is an error, states the rule involved, and requires the passage again.
- A portion is signed off only when it is recited without error.
How progress is measured
- Continuous: every portion must be accepted before the next is heard.
- The final certificate is issued by the sheikh personally and records the chain through which the ijazah is held — ask to see that chain before enrolling anywhere, including here.
Ijazah and Qirat — common questions
- What exactly is an ijazah?
- A licence to transmit the Quran. The student recites the entire Quran to a sheikh who already holds an ijazah; the sheikh certifies the accuracy of that recitation and grants permission to teach and transmit it. It certifies demonstrated accuracy, not attendance.
- Do I need to be a hafiz to get an ijazah?
- Not for an ijazah in recitation from the Mushaf, which is open to advanced readers with secure Tajweed. An ijazah in recitation from memory does require completed hifz.
- How long does the ijazah course take?
- Usually one to two years for Hafs an Asim, depending on how much is recited per session and how much correction is needed. Students continuing into the ten qiraat should expect considerably longer.
Try Ijazah and Qirat free
3 one-to-one classes with a teacher matched to this course, in your own time zone. No card details, no obligation.
Prefer to chat? WhatsApp +44 7923 122356Free trial registration
Select Ijazah and Qirat in the course list and we will match a specialist teacher.
What usually comes next
Further reading
- Tajweed rules for beginners: where to actually startThere are dozens of rules and you do not need most of them yet. These are the four areas that fix the majority of beginner mistakes.
- How to choose an online Quran teacher: 12 questions to askEvery academy says "certified tutors". These are the questions that reveal what that actually means before you hand over a card.