The Quran is treated with special respect in Islam, and part of learning to recite it is learning the simple manners (adab) that go along with it. These are easy for children to learn and, with repetition, become natural habits.
Before starting to recite
- Perform wudu if possible — though the Quran can be read without wudu, many families teach children to try to be in a state of wudu when reciting.
- Say Ta'awwuz and Basmalah — seeking refuge in Allah from Shaytan, then saying "Bismillah" before starting (except at the start of Surah At-Tawbah).
- Find a clean, quiet space — helps a child focus and treats the activity as something special, not something rushed.
How to handle the Mushaf
- Keep it in a clean, respectful place — not on the floor or under other books.
- Use both hands when picking it up or handing it to someone.
- Avoid eating or being distracted with other activities while reciting.
While reciting
- Read at a calm, unhurried pace rather than racing through pages.
- Try to reflect on the meaning, even briefly, rather than treating recitation as only a pronunciation exercise.
- Sit up properly rather than lying down, when possible.
Making it a habit, not a rule to memorize
Etiquette sticks best when it's modeled, not lectured. A parent or teacher who visibly follows these adab themselves — handling the Mushaf carefully, saying Bismillah audibly, sitting properly to read — teaches a child far more effectively than a list of rules alone.