How Long Is the Qur’an? Structure, Length, and Reading Time

Is the Qur’an a book you can read through in one sitting, or does it need a lifetime of effort to fully understand? The Qur’an is the everlasting message from Allah, given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over a period of 23 years. It has served as a constant guide and source of spiritual comfort for many Muslims throughout history. A frequent question people ask is  how long is the Qur’an?. Of course, there is divine wisdom from Allah in making the Qur’an this specific length, but what we should focus on now is that it isn’t just about length—it reflects the deep respect and personal devotion needed to truly connect with a divine message.

In this article, we will explore the Qur’an’s structure, the number of its verses and words, the distinction between reading and memorization, and provide insights from the esteemed scholars of Ulum Al-Azhar Academy.

Structure of the Qur’an: Surahs and Ayahs

To understand how long is the Qur’an, we must first look at its structure. The Qur’an consists of surahs (chapters) and ayahs (verses), some short and some long. For example, Surah Al-Kawthar, the shortest surah, has only three verses, while Surah Al-Baqarah, the longest surah, has 286 verses. 

An ayah is a sentence from the words of Allah that is included within a surah of the Qur’an, while a surah is a collection of Qur’anic ayahs with a beginning and an ending. The Qur’an is divided into 114 chapters, known as surahs, and each surah is composed of ayahs (verses).

The Qur’an is further divided into 30 equal sections, called ajza’ (plural of juz’), making it easier for Muslims to read the Qur’an over the course of a month. One juz’ is almost 20 pages. Each juz’ is then subdivided into hizb (half-sections), creating 60 hizbs in total. 

Each hizb is divided into four smaller parts, each of which is called a rub‘ (quarter), and it consists of about two to three pages. This systematic arrangement reflects divine wisdom and facilitates daily recitation.

These divisions are not accidental. They were preserved by consensus, and they serve to help Muslims maintain a strong connection with the Qur’an regardless of their reading ability or time.

In the context of discussing the structure of the Qur’an, we also touch upon the arrangement of the verses and surahs. When the Companions compiled the entire Qur’an into one mushaf, they did not arrange it according to the chronological order of revelation. This is because the Qur’an was sent down all at once to the lowest heaven, and then it was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ gradually according to circumstances and events, as mentioned by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Hajar, Ibn al-Qayyim, and others.

Regarding the verse: 

‘And those who disbelieve say: Why was the Qur’an not revealed to him all at once? Thus [it is] that We may strengthen your heart thereby; and We have spaced it distinctly’ [Al-Furqan: 32], 

Ibn ‘Abbas explained: ‘The Qur’an was sent down all at once on the Night of Qadr to the lowest heaven, and it was placed according to the positions of the stars. Then Allah revealed it to His Messenger gradually, part after part.’

Thus, its revelation was connected to real-life events, and the Prophet ﷺ would indicate to the Companions the placement of each newly revealed passage. Moreover, Jibreel (Gabriel) would review with the Prophet ﷺ in every Ramadan what had been revealed of the Qur’an, clarifying for him its arrangement

Experience personalized Islamic learning: Free consultation available with Al-Azhar-certified Sheikhs from Egypt.

How long is the Qur’an in verses and words

When people ask how long is the Qur’an, they often expect a numerical answer. Scholars have classified the surahs of the Qur’an into four categories:

1- The Long Surahs (al-Tiwal): They are seven in number—Al-Baqarah, Aal ‘Imran, Al-Nisa’, Al-Ma’idah, Al-An‘am, Al-A‘raf, and the seventh, which some scholars say is Al-Anfal together with Al-Tawbah (since there is no basmalah separating them), while others say it is Yunus.

2- The Hundreds (al-Mi’un): These are the surahs whose verses exceed one hundred or are close to one hundred like Surah Al Kahf.

3- The Oft-Repeated (al-Mathani): These are the surahs that follow in verse count after the Mi’un. They are called Mathani because they are frequently repeated in recitation, more than the Tiwal and Mi’un.

4- The Short Surahs (al-Mufassal): Some scholars say it begins from Surah Qaf, while others say it begins from Surah Al-Hujurat.

According to number of ayahs Classical Islamic scholars and modern researchers agree that the Qur’an contains 6,236 verses (ayahs), though some count 6,666 by including Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim as separate verses at the start of each surah.

In terms of words and letters, Ibn Kathir mentioned in his Tafsir, reporting from Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him), that he said: “This is what we have counted from the Qur’an — three hundred and 320,015 letters. As for the words of the Qur’an, they are 77,439 words. Each letter carries spiritual reward when recited with sincerity. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Whoever recites a letter of the Book of Allah will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed is multiplied by ten” (Tirmidhi).

So, when Muslims ask how long is the Qur’an, the answer can be measured not just in numbers but also in reward. Every word and every letter is a source of barakah (blessing).

Differences between reading and memorization length

Another key point to consider when thinking about how long is the Qur’an involves the difference between reading it and memorizing it.

Reading the Qur’an: For someone who speaks Arabic fluently, reading through the whole book without stopping for reflection might take around 20 to 30 hours.

Memorizing the Qur’an: Learning it by heart, or hifz, is a longer process. Usually, it takes a student 3 to 5 years to memorize the entire Qur’an correctly with proper tajweed. Some people can do it in just one year, while others might take up to ten years, depending on how much they practice, their age, and the support they receive.

Average reading times for beginners vs advanced readers

– Beginners who read slowly and carefully might need 60 to 90 minutes to finish one juz’. If they read one juz’ each day, they can complete the whole Qur’an in about a month. But some people might take up to three months because they read more slowly.

– For advanced readers who are good at Arabic and know tajweed, they can finish a juz’ in 30 to 40 minutes.

– Some hafiz, who have memorized the Qur’an, can recite the whole book in 10 to 15 hours during special times like Ramadan, when they do khatm al-Qur’an during taraweeh prayers.

So, how long is the Qur’an in terms of daily reading time? For most Muslims, setting aside 30–60 minutes daily allows them to finish in one month—a rhythm deeply tied to Ramadan traditions.

Insights from Ulum Al-Azhar Academy teachers

Teachers at Ulum Al-Azhar Academy say that when someone asks how long is the Qur’an, the answer shouldn’t just be about numbers. The Qur’an isn’t like a regular book that you measure by pages. It’s more than that — it’s a guide that Muslims go back to again and again in their lives. So the teachers focus on three main ideas:

Quality over speed: Reading slowly and thinking deeply about what you read gives more satisfaction than just moving quickly through the text. Scholars often say that one verse understood well can change your heart more than reading many pages without really paying attention.

Consistency matters: Whether you read one page a day or one juz’ a day, the most important thing is to keep connecting with the Qur’an regularly. That’s why Azhari teachers suggest simple, doable routines instead of trying to do too much at once.

The Qur’an is endless: Even if you finish reading it in 30 hours or memorize it in three years, the Qur’an keeps offering new lessons and insights throughout your whole life. So, the real answer to how long the Qur’an is, is that it stays with you as long as you continue to learn from it.

Save time & effort by Ulum Al-Azhar Classes | Tajweed & Talaqqi Mastery Track with Ijazah Sanad where you study Tajweed and Quran, which are aligned with each other by qualified lecturers from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif.

Conclusion

So, how long is the Qur’an? It can be described in numbers—114 surahs, more than 6,200 verses, 77,000 words, and 30 Juz’. It can also be measured in hours—20 to 30 hours of reading straight, or several years to memorize it all. But beyond the numbers, the Qur’an is eternal guidance.

Whether one is a beginner who needs weeks to finish or a hafiz who can complete a khatm in a few days, the length of the Qur’an is ultimately not about time. It is about how deeply the words of Allah enter the heart and transform one’s life.

Begin your unique Islamic learning path with a free consultation led by Al-Azhar-certified Sheikhs from Egypt.

FAQs

How many pages are in the Qur’an?
Most printed mushafs, especially the Madani mushaf, have 604 pages.

How long is the Qur’an if I read 2 pages a day?
At 2 pages daily, you would complete the Qur’an in about 10 months.

How long does it take to memorize the Qur’an?
With consistent effort, it usually takes 3–5 years, though some students finish in less time.

How long is the Qur’an in hours of recitation?
Average recitation with tajweed may take 20–30 hours, depending on speed and fluency.