Am I still rewarded if I make mistakes reading the Quran?
Yes, and you may even get a double reward. The Prophet ﷺ said that someone who struggles and stumbles while reciting gets two rewards. Allah rewards sincere effort, not perfect pronunciation. Keep correcting yourself and learning, but never let fear of mistakes stop you from reading.
The double reward for stumbling
This is one of the most encouraging hadith for new Muslims. The Prophet ﷺ said: "One who is proficient in the Qur'an is associated with the noble, upright, recording angels; and he who falters in it, and finds it difficult for him, will have two rewards" (Sahih Muslim 798).
Two rewards: one for reciting, and one for the effort and difficulty. So the slow, halting reading of a convert sounding out letters is not a lesser act of worship. It is especially loved. The fluent reciter has a high rank too, which is a reason to keep improving, but you're not "behind" in Allah's eyes for being a beginner.
Allah asks only what you can do
The same verse teaches the dua: "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred." Honest mistakes made while learning are not sins. What scholars warn against is carelessness: knowing you're getting something wrong and not bothering to learn, or deliberately changing the words.
What about mistakes in prayer?
Many converts worry their salah isn't valid because their al-Fatiha isn't perfect. Scholars agree that a new Muslim who is still learning should recite as well as they currently can, and their prayer is accepted while they keep improving. When a man told the Prophet ﷺ he couldn't memorize anything from the Quran and asked for something sufficient for him, the Prophet ﷺ taught him simple words of praise to say instead (Sunan Abi Dawud 832). That shows how gently the religion treats beginners.
- Small pronunciation slips: don't invalidate the prayer, according to scholars.
- Mistakes that change the meaning in al-Fatiha: scholars say to work on fixing these, so ask a teacher to check your Fatiha early.
- Losing your place: just continue from where you remember.
For more on starting out, see Do I have to pray five times a day right after becoming Muslim?
How to make fewer mistakes over time
- Listen while you read: follow a slow reciter in an app, verse by verse.
- Recite to someone: a teacher, an online tutor or a friend who reads well. Correction is part of how the Quran has always been learned.
- Fix one thing at a time: one letter or one rule per week.
- Learn the basics of tajweed: see What is tajweed and do I need to learn it?
- Struggling reciters get two rewards.
- Honest mistakes while learning are not sins.
- A beginner's prayer is valid while they keep learning.
- Ask someone to check your al-Fatiha.
People also ask
Which surahs should I memorize first as a new Muslim?
It depends a little, but start with al-Fatiha, then al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas. Then add short surahs and Ayat al-Kursi.
Read the full answer →What is Ayat al-Kursi and when do I recite it?
Yes, it's a daily verse: Ayat al-Kursi is Quran 2:255, the greatest verse. Recite it before sleep and after each obligatory prayer.
Read the full answer →What is tajweed and do I need to learn it?
Yes, to a basic level. Tajweed is the rules for pronouncing the Quran correctly; avoid clear mistakes first, then refine.
Read the full answer →Can I recite the Quran from memory on my period?
It depends on your school: Malikis allow reciting from memory on your period; most others don't, except as dua or dhikr. Both are respected.
Read the full answer →Which English translation of the Quran should I read?
It depends, but popular choices include Sahih International, The Clear Quran by Mustafa Khattab and Abdel Haleem's translation.
Read the full answer →