Quick answer: The last 10 surahs of the Quran are Al-Fil (105), Quraysh (106), Al-Ma’un (107), Al-Kawthar (108), Al-Kafirun (109), An-Nasr (110), Al-Masad (111), Al-Ikhlas (112), Al-Falaq (113) and An-Nas (114). Together they have just 48 verses, which makes them the perfect first memorisation goal for children. Most families start with the shortest and work backwards, learning roughly one surah a week with a few minutes of daily practice.
Written by Quran Specialist Online (QSO).
Why start with the last 10 surahs?
- They are short. Each one takes less than a minute to recite, so a child can feel success quickly.
- They are useful straight away. Children can recite them in salah once they start praying.
- They build confidence. Finishing a clear set of ten gives a child something to be proud of.
- They train the habit. The daily routine your child builds here is the same one used later for longer surahs and Hifz.
Learning and teaching the Quran is one of the most honoured things a family can do:
Narrated `Uthman: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."
Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 (Sunnah.com).
The 10 surahs at a glance
| Number | Surah | Verses | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | Al-Fil (The Elephant) | 5 | How Allah protected the Ka‘bah from an army with elephants. |
| 106 | Quraysh | 4 | A reminder to the people of Makkah to thank Allah for safety and food. |
| 107 | Al-Ma’un (Small Kindnesses) | 7 | Caring for orphans, feeding the poor and praying sincerely. |
| 108 | Al-Kawthar (Abundance) | 3 | Allah’s generous gift to the Prophet, and a call to pray and sacrifice. |
| 109 | Al-Kafirun (The Disbelievers) | 6 | Being clear and firm about who we worship. |
| 110 | An-Nasr (Divine Support) | 3 | When help and victory come, praise Allah and seek His forgiveness. |
| 111 | Al-Masad (Palm Fibre) | 5 | The end of those who fought against the Prophet’s message. |
| 112 | Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity) | 4 | Allah is One, and nothing is like Him. |
| 113 | Al-Falaq (Daybreak) | 5 | Seeking Allah’s protection from harm, including envy. |
| 114 | An-Nas (Mankind) | 6 | Seeking Allah’s protection from whispers that lead us astray. |
The one-line summaries above are our own simple descriptions for children, not translations. For the meaning of each verse, read a full translation such as Sahih International on Quran.com with your child.
A taste of one surah: Al-Ikhlas
Many children already know Surah Al-Ikhlas. Here it is with its meaning, so you can talk about it together:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
“Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One,” (Quran 112:1)
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
“Allāh, the Eternal Refuge.” (Quran 112:2)
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
“He neither begets nor is born,” (Quran 112:3)
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
“Nor is there to Him any equivalent."” (Quran 112:4)
Arabic and translation: Quran.com, Sahih International.
Talking about the meaning, even simply, helps children remember. A child who knows that this surah is about Allah being One will find the words easier to hold on to.
The 10-week plan
This plan works backwards from the end of the Quran, which is the traditional order many teachers use, because the shortest and most familiar surahs come first.
| Week | New surah | Keep revising |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | An-Nas | (Al-Fatihah, if not yet secure) |
| 2 | Al-Falaq | An-Nas |
| 3 | Al-Ikhlas | An-Nas, Al-Falaq |
| 4 | Al-Masad | The three Quls |
| 5 | An-Nasr | All learned so far, split over the week |
| 6 | Al-Kafirun | All learned so far |
| 7 | Al-Kawthar | All learned so far |
| 8 | Al-Ma’un | All learned so far |
| 9 | Quraysh | All learned so far |
| 10 | Al-Fil | Full recital of all ten |
If your child needs two weeks for a surah, take two weeks. If they fly through, combine two short ones. The plan serves your child, not the other way round.
A 10-minute daily routine
- Listen (2 minutes): play a slow, clear recitation of the new surah, twice.
- Repeat in pieces (4 minutes): one verse at a time, then join two verses, then three.
- Revise (3 minutes): recite one or two surahs learned earlier.
- Finish with praise (1 minute): tell your child what they did well.
Many families find a fixed time helps: straight after school, after Maghrib or before bed. Children cope better when practice is part of the day rather than a surprise.
Accuracy before speed
It is tempting to celebrate how fast a child can rattle off a surah. But memorising with mistakes means memorising the mistakes. Short surahs contain some of the sounds children find hardest, such as letters from the throat and the heavy letters. A teacher who hears your child recite can catch these early. Our guide to common Tajweed mistakes children make shows what to listen for.
Making it fun
- A progress chart on the fridge with a sticker for each surah learned
- Family recitals at the weekend, where your child “teaches” a surah to a grandparent on a video call
- Story time: share the background of Al-Fil or Quraysh as a bedtime story
- Use it in salah: once your child prays, encourage them to recite their new surah
How revision keeps surahs strong
Children forget quickly if a surah is not revised. Traditional Hifz teaching splits each day into new learning, recent revision and older revision. Our guide to sabaq, sabqi and manzil explains this method, which works just as well for a child learning ten short surahs.
When to get a teacher involved
Parents can do a great deal at home. A teacher adds two things that are hard to do yourself: correcting pronunciation precisely, and keeping a child accountable to someone outside the family. At Quran Specialist Online, lessons are live, one-to-one and 30 minutes on Zoom or MS Teams, taught in English. Parents can sit in, female teachers are available, and you receive a monthly written progress report. Plans are £30–£60 a month in the UK and $35–$70 in the USA. See the fee page.
Frequently asked questions
What age can children start memorising these surahs?
Many children learn An-Nas and Al-Ikhlas by listening from age three or four. Structured memorising usually works well from about five.
Should my child read them before memorising?
Reading helps accuracy, but young children can memorise by listening first, as long as someone checks their pronunciation.
What comes after the last 10?
Many families continue backwards through Juz ‘Amma. See how long it takes to memorise the Quran online.
My child keeps mixing up two surahs. What should I do?
Revise them on different days for a week, and point out how each one begins.
Want help with the plan? Book a 7-day free trial and a teacher will listen to your child and suggest a pace. More: Online Hifz classes UK · Online Hifz for kids USA.
Quran Specialist Online (QSO) is run by QURAN SPECIALIST ONLINE LIMITED, Company No. 13343159. UK +44 7883 185250 · USA +1 786 550 3540.
Try a free Quran class
Live one-to-one lessons on Zoom or MS Teams for children and adults in the UK and USA. Book a 7-day free trial, no payment needed.