Best age for child to start learning Quran?

[GenN]

Assalmu alaykum,

What is the best age for a child to start learning quran? Why?

[ze leetle elper]

Not too sure about age, but children have brilliant minds -- its like an empty sponge waiting to soak up information. Babies in particular like repetative songs/ sentances/ stories (which is why they always choose the same story book every night ) which is why its important for the mother to recite a lot of Qur'an around her child (when feeding, playing etc) so they become familiar with it.

In terms of learning and memorising, I personally would say after the age of 7. Simply because a child can learn English, Math, Science, Qur'an very very easily once they begin -- a child needs to play when they are young, to explore their world, to learn morals and values like sharing and looking after their environment, to learn manners like going to the toilet and eating and not hitting-- since these are the things which will inevitably shape them and influence their decisions as they get older and move on in life.

Learning to read, write, draw, memorise is easy for the mind to do, in a short period of time. Implementing values and good character in your child takes a lifetime of good upbringing.

[GenN]

I see what your saying but 7 is way way way too late in my view. I would expect them to be full hafiz by the age of 7. Learning the quran at age of 3+ will not hinder them from learning to explore the world, in fact it will be better for them as the minds will become sharper and memory improved at an earlier age.

It obviously takes longer for the child to learn at such a young age but think about it, they will have completed the qaida by 4 and then be able to read the quran by 5 and do hifz in the next 2 years by 7.

And er....I can't help but ask (not being cheeky just genuine curiosity) your choice of 7 doesn't have anything to do with er...seven does it?

[ze leetle elper]

I see what your saying but 7 is way way way too late in my view. I would expect them to be full hafiz by the age of 7. Learning the quran at age of 3+ will not hinder them from learning to explore the world, in fact it will be better for them as the minds will become sharper and memory improved at an earlier age.

It obviously takes longer for the child to learn at such a young age but think about it, they will have completed the qaida by 4 and then be able to read the quran by 5 and do hifz in the next 2 years by 7.

And er....I can't help but ask (not being cheeky just genuine curiosity) your choice of 7 doesn't have anything to do with er...seven does it?

Haha no it does not

I too understand your point, but I cannot imagine that a child, whos brain is very immature and simple, can spend days on end reading, and memorising without losing out on a crucial part of their childhood. Of course, in an ideal world, it would be brilliant to have our children do hifz by 7, but we are looking at them through adult's eyes, which have long forgotten how crucial play and experimenting is to children.

A child before the age of 4 years does not even comprehend the word 'no.' You can tell your child 'no you cannot have that cookie' all you want, but he will always come back to ask you again, because their understanding is very limited.

Personally, as much as it would be ideal, I would prefer my child to learn good manners, develop good characteristics, learn right from wrong and revel in his childhood, those days of innocence will not come back again. A child will not be able to comprehend and implement the Qur'an, which is perhaps more important for the soul, than actually being able to recite it from mind. Too much information directed at the child can actually harm their brain in the long term.

I mean take the most simple of things like clothes or food. If you give a child too much choice and information, it is actually overwhelming for them; they may behave naugty, cry, etc. This is not just my view, but research into how children's minds actually work.

[GenN]

Haha no it does not

I too understand your point, but I cannot imagine that a child, whos brain is very immature and simple, can spend days on end reading, and memorising without losing out on a crucial part of their childhood. Of course, in an ideal world, it would be brilliant to have our children do hifz by 7, but we are looking at them through adult's eyes, which have long forgotten how crucial play and experimenting is to children.

A child before the age of 4 years does not even comprehend the word 'no.' You can tell your child 'no you cannot have that cookie' all you want, but he will always come back to ask you again, because their understanding is very limited.

Personally, as much as it would be ideal, I would prefer my child to learn good manners, develop good characteristics, learn right from wrong and revel in his childhood, those days of innocence will not come back again. A child will not be able to comprehend and implement the Qur'an, which is perhaps more important for the soul, than actually being able to recite it from mind. Too much information directed at the child can actually harm their brain in the long term.

I mean take the most simple of things like clothes or food. If you give a child too much choice and information, it is actually overwhelming for them; they may behave naugty, cry, etc. This is not just my view, but research into how children's minds actually work.

Actually when i say start learning at 3 i don't mean for the child to spend ages sitting down learning. I mean you can easily teach a child the alphabet in the form of a game even, or just a letter a day whilst he/she is playing arounf the house.

Then the way most qaida's are laid out you can spend 10-15 mins a day with the child and within a year by the age of 4 the child should easily have completed the qaida (i know this from experience). And I really don't think 15 mins a day (not even everyday) will cause the child to miss out on much else.

One other important thing that i should mention is that by the child learning in such a manner from the age of 3 they actually look forward to reading the quran and bug you to read and and strat loving to read the quran (again i know this from experience) and there is yet another benefit. If you do this with the eldest child, then the younger siblings see the eldest doing something she/he is enjoying they too want learn, and they love it when you teach them alif ba (and I'm talking about a one year old here).

All this is from experience.

Actually i raised this question thinking that most people would probably say 4 or 5 years of age whereas i think even 3 is too late, i thiink at 2 you can quite happily start teaching a child the alif baa in a fun way which they will enjoy(hence my shock when you said 7 and becasue i can't see why in the world anyone would want to start teaching as late as 7...the only reason i could think of for you to say 7 was becasue of seven lol).

But yeah from experience i would say 2 or latest 3. After 3 is very very late.

[Brian S.]

Assalamu Alaykum!

In terms of memorizing, be sure also not to make your child learn too late in his/her life. I have converted to Islam and I have been reading the Qur'an and trying to memorize it in the beautiful Arabic language and I'm 20 years old and it does get a little harder when you get older BUT it's NOT impossible to memorize it as you get older. But it's better to start at a young age.

wassalam

[UmmIbrahimIsa]

Assalamu alaikum wr wb

just don't put too much pressure on the child, whatever the age is, whether it be 4, 5,6,7 or older.

The important part is him enjoying to read the Qur'an, understanding it and as well as pronouncing it right.

It's wrong for them to learn it for the sake of showing it off to others, impressing them, and finishing it yet not understanding what it means.

usually that is the within the customs to get the child to finish the qur'an at a very young age because it's seem as this impression thing, showing off thing, but it's not good for the child's heart. Their intention to finish then will be for this party, and to show it off to others when in reality you should do it because they feel it's right, and it's a beautiful thing.

My older son is 8 and has started the hifz program here in Jordan where I am currently living. It will take him a few years though to complete the program which I'll be patient insha'Allah to wait for him to complete. I don't want pressure on him, as I want him to enjoy his childhood as you can never take it back or go back.
My other son that is 5 will also start soon, yet since he is young they usually want to wait till he's at least 6-7 before they can start taking them seriously.

You can start off yourself at home with small short surahs and work from there, and teaching them the qur'an yourself or let them learn with a teacher just the basic leters, and the correct prounciation of it.

Hope it all goes well.

[*noor]

I don't think that there is a clear cut answer to the age when a child should start learning Quran. It depends on when the child understands that learning Quran is important and why. There is a huge advantage to starting very early because the child will then use that as a base for everything that he/she might face. From studying the Quran at a young age correctly, a child can avoid many things that may lead him/her into sin. So I think that its better to start teaching a child when they are younger.

[*noor]

Something I wanted to add is that children should be taught Quran using Ahkaam ittajweed and not without...so if they haven't mastered those, in my opinion, you should wait until they have understood all ahkaam ittajweed.

[Dawood82]

Assalamu Alaykum!

In terms of memorizing, be sure also not to make your child learn too late in his/her life. I have converted to Islam and I have been reading the Qur'an and trying to memorize it in the beautiful Arabic language and I'm 20 years old and it does get a little harder when you get older BUT it's NOT impossible to memorize it as you get older. But it's better to start at a young age.

wassalam

Masha'a Allah, may Allah make it easy for you and me to Learn and implement the Quran.