Student Omar’s Story:
Recently, a student named Omar enrolled in our online Quran academy. He is enrolled in our online Quran translation and Islamic studies course. During his trial, the teacher learned that he was not able to read the Quran correctly. However, the student’s grandfather informed that he has already completed the Quran Tajweed & recitation with his previous Qari.
Then we surfed the internet for articles addressing this common issue. We did not find any comprehensive, honest answers that are actually genuinely guiding parents. So, we thought we would take on this responsibility. In today’s article, we will see ten real reasons why students struggle to read the Quran correctly and fluently, even after spending years reciting it.
Most parents assume that if a mistake is serious, the teacher will correct it. The uncomfortable reality is: many mistakes are noticed — but allowed to pass. Not because teachers don’t care about the Quran, but because of system pressure.
Why “Small Mistakes” Get Ignored (The Honest Reality):
In many Quran classes, a teacher is responsible for: Multiple students, fixed time slots, and pressure to show visible progress (pages, paras/juzz). Correcting one child properly means: Stopping the flow, repeating the letter 5–10 times, explaining mouth position, and letting the child try again. This takes time. So what happens instead? The teacher thinks:
“It’s okay for now. “The child will improve naturally. Let’s not slow them down.” But the Quran doesn’t work like that. A “small” mistake in vowels, shaddah, madd, gunnah rules, etc., is not small linguistically. A mistake repeated daily becomes the child’s normal. And once it becomes normal, correcting it later feels: Frustrating, embarrassing, discouraging for the child.
What Parents/Teachers Should Do (Solution):
Parents and teachers need to redefine progress. Progress is not: Finishing pages, moving fast, reaching the next para/juzz. Progress is:
- Students are enabled to apply rules and pronounce the Quran independently.
- fewer repeated mistakes,
- cleaner pronunciation
- Consistency in the same rules.
This means accepting a slower pace, allowing teachers to stop the child often, understanding that correction ≠ discouragement. We have many kids learning with us who have not yet completed their Quran. But they are fully enabled to read the Quran correctly by applying the tajweed rules independently.
02. The System Rewards “Finishing” — Not “Correct Reading”
One of the biggest reasons many children struggle to read the Quran correctly — even after completing it — is not the child, not even the teacher alone, but the system they are learning in. Most Quran learning systems are built around one visible outcome: Finishing.
Traps Academies and Parents Fall Into:
Prestigious parents often ask academies to complete the Quran before their child turns 8. Usually, just like other educations, this one is turned into comparisons with siblings, cousins, and friends’ kids.
Similarly, academies close the deal with parents and make promises to finish the Quran as quickly as possible, without caring about perfection in recitation.
Always remember that being able to apply the tajweed rules and pronounce a word, phrase, sentence, or ayah is a way bigger achievement than completing the Quran with mistakes. It’s just like sharpening the knife before cutting the whole tree.
Parents are usually told:
- Your child has finished the Qaida
- Your child has completed a para.
- Your child has completed the Quran
But very rarely are parents told:
- Your child’s pronunciation has stabilized
- Your child consistently applies Tajweed rules.
- Your child can read correctly without assistance.
When finishing becomes the primary goal, correctness quietly slips into the background.
Fear of Being Judged “Teachers”
Many teachers work under fixed class durations, pressure to show visible progress, and expectations from parents to “move ahead.” In such environments, teachers are often judged by:
- How quickly students advance
- How early do they finish the Quran?
- How smooth and fast the class appears.
So even sincere teachers may feel compelled to:
- Overlook minor errors
- Avoid slowing lessons
- Push forward to meet milestones.
When outcomes are measured by completion, teaching naturally adapts to completion.
Celebrate Mastery, Not Just Milestones (Solution)
For real improvement, parents and teachers must agree on one crucial shift. Progress should not be defined by speed or pages.
Progress should be defined by:
- Reduction in repeated mistakes
- Stability in letter pronunciation
- Consistent application of Tajweed rules
This may result in:
- Slower visible advancement
-
Fewer pages covered initially.
But it leads to:
- Strong foundations
- Long-term confidence
- Correct reading for life
Slower progress with correctness is faster in the long run.
03. Inconsistent Class Schedules — Why It Hurts Quran Learning
One of the less obvious but very real reasons children struggle to read the Quran correctly — even after completing it — is inconsistent/irregular class schedules. Many parents assume that as long as the child attends classes, progress will happen naturally. The reality is different. Learning the Quran is like training muscles — especially for pronunciation, Tajweed, and fluency. Missing sessions or irregular timing interrupts this learning process.
How Inconsistency Affects the Child’s Muscle Memory Weakens:
Reading Arabic letters correctly requires repeated practice. When classes are inconsistent:
- Letters and sounds learned earlier fade
- Mistakes that were corrected start reappearing
- Fluency and confidence drop
Progress Becomes Unstable
A child may make progress in one week, then regress the next. Inconsistent practice creates false mastery, where parents think the child is improving while the foundation remains shaky.
Difficulty Retaining Tajweed Rules
Tajweed is not memorization; it’s application. Without regular reinforcement:
- Rules are forgotten
- Mispronunciation becomes habitual
- Children struggle to read independently.
Loss of Momentum and Motivation
Children thrive on routine. Skipping sessions or having long gaps makes them:
- Lose interest
- Feel behind compared to peers.
- Associate Quran learning with stress rather than joy
Why This Happens
- School schedules, exams, and holidays interfere with each other.
- Family commitments or travel disrupt regular timing.
- Teachers often have multiple students and flexible hours, making fixed slots hard.
- Health issues from both the student and the teacher ends.
The result? Learning becomes sporadic rather than structured, which undermines all other efforts.
Non-Negotiable, Consistent Schedules (Solution)
Set a fixed time for Quran learning every week, treated as sacred.
- Choose a specific time and days that won’t change, e.g., 5:00–5:30 PM, Monday to Thursday.
- Treat it like school: no skipping unless necessary.
- Short, focused sessions (20–30 minutes) work better than long, irregular ones.
04. Teachers Read For the Student Too Much — Why It Harms Independent Quran Reading Later
One of the hidden reasons many children struggle to read the Quran correctly — even after completing it — is that teachers often read for the student too much. At first, this seems helpful. The teacher wants to guide the child, provide examples, and make learning smooth. But in reality, over-dependence on the teacher limits the child’s ability to self-correct and internalize rules.
How Over-Reading Affects the Child
- Dependence Instead of Skill Development: When the teacher reads first or repeatedly, the child simply repeats without thinking. They don’t learn to: Listen to their own pronunciation, identify mistakes, and apply Tajweed rules independently.
- False Confidence: The child may appear fluent in class because they follow the teacher’s rhythm. But when asked to read alone at home or lead recitation, mistakes surface, fluency drops, and confidence suffers.
- Errors Become Habitual: Even if the teacher pauses occasionally, the child often relies on cues. Over time, errors become ingrained because the child never consistently practices self-correction.
- Lack of Critical Listening: A child must learn to recognize mistakes in their own recitation. Constantly following the teacher prevents the development of critical listening skills, which are essential for mastery.
The goal is not to reduce teacher guidance, but to guide in ways that build independence.
Encourage Independent Recitation With Guided Feedback (Solution)
Parents and teachers can fix this with a simple approach:
- The teacher listens silently while the child reads independently
- Only pause to correct major mistakes, not every slight hesitation.
- Encourage the child to self-correct before giving guidance.
- Praise effort and accuracy to build confidence.
A teacher’s role is to guide, correct, and support — not to read for the child. Reading too much for the child may feel helpful in the short term, but it creates long-term dependency and prevents mastery.
05. No Clear Definition of “Correct Reading” — Why Children Struggle Even After Completing the Quran
One of the biggest hidden reasons children struggle to read the Quran correctly is that most academies never clearly define what “correct reading” actually means. Ask any academy, “What does reading correctly mean?” Most will give vague answers like: “Recite fluently”, “Follow Tajweed as best as possible”, “Avoid mistakes”.
While these sound fine, they don’t give a concrete goal for the child, teacher, or parent. Without a clear definition, progress becomes subjective and inconsistent, and errors go unnoticed or uncorrected.
The Real Definition of Correct Reading
The simplest and most genuine way to define correct Quran reading is: A student should be able to read the Quran independently, applying all rules correctly on their own, without assistance.
This is not about speed, pages, or memorization. This is the ultimate goal of Quran learning — true mastery, where the child can recite correctly anytime, anywhere, without relying on a teacher to guide them. If this goal is not clearly communicated, teaching becomes accidental, and mistakes become habits.
Solution for Parents
To make this real for your child:
- Ask your academy to define what “correct reading” means clearly.
- Ensure they track progress in Makharij, Sifaat, Madd, Waquf, and Consistency.
- Encourage independent reading, with correction only when necessary.
This way, the child knows what to aim for, and learning becomes focused, measurable, and lasting.
06. Fear of Discouraging the Child — Why Mistakes Are Often Overlooked
Another hidden reason many children struggle to read the Quran correctly is that teachers and even parents sometimes avoid correcting mistakes out of fear of discouraging the child.
At first glance, it seems kind and protective. The concern is genuine:
- “What if the child feels frustrated?”
- “What if they lose confidence?”
- “What if they hate reading the Quran?”
While these fears are natural, ignoring mistakes only allows them to become habits, which makes learning more complicated in the long run.
How This Fear Hurts the Child
- Mistakes Become Permanent: A small mispronunciation repeated daily becomes the child’s normal reading. Delaying correction makes it more difficult to fix later.
- False Sense of Mastery: The child may appear fluent and confident, but they are not reading correctly. When asked to recite independently or lead prayer, errors suddenly become apparent.
- Slows Long-Term Progress: Protecting short-term confidence can cost years of proper learning. Children often need gentle correction early to develop fundamental skills.
Avoiding correction may feel safe now, but it creates bigger challenges later.
Frequent Correction Builds Confidence (Solutions)
- Correct Every Mistake Gently – Address errors immediately to prevent them from becoming habits.
- Frequent Correction Is Positive – It trains correct reading and reinforces proper pronunciation.
- Builds Real Confidence – Children gain mastery and independence, not just temporary fluency.
07. Teachers Themselves Were Never Properly Trained — The Hidden Challenge
Here’s a hard truth: many Quran teachers themselves never learned the rules deeply.
Most learned traditionally, by memorizing and repeating, not by understanding the mechanics of proper recitation. They may read correctly out of habit, but often cannot explain:
- Why does a letter sound wrong
- Why does a specific rule apply in a particular place?
- How to correct a persistent mistake
As a result:
- Students ‘ errors go unnoticed
- Problems are not diagnosed correctly.
- Persistent mistakes remain uncorrected.
You can’t teach what you don’t consciously understand.
Choose Teachers With Deep Understanding (Solution)
Parents should ensure their child’s teacher can:
- Explain the rules clearly – not just read fluently.
- Identify and correct mistakes – even subtle ones.
- Guide independently – help the child self-correct and master rules.
A teacher who consciously understands Tajweed can prevent errors from becoming habits, ensuring absolute mastery of the Quran.
08. Large or Group Classes Hide Weak Readers — Silence Is Mistaken for Progress
In many Quran academies and Sunday Islamic Schools, children are taught in large-group classes. On the surface, this looks efficient. But in reality, group settings often hide weak readers rather than help them.
Here’s what usually happens:
- Confident students read aloud
- Struggling students stay quiet and follow silently.
- The teacher assumes understanding because no one is objecting.
But silence is not understanding.
What Really Happens to the Child
- Advances Without Mastery
The child moves forward, page by page, without truly learning to read correctly. There is progress on paper, but not in skill. - Copies Rhythm, Not Pronunciation
Instead of applying makharij and Tajweed, the child memorizes the flow and rhythm of others’ recitation. This creates fake fluency. - Avoids Correction
Weak readers often avoid reading aloud out of fear or shyness. Their mistakes remain hidden and slowly become permanent habits.
In group classes, weak readers can “finish” the Quran without ever learning how to read it correctly.
Prefer One-on-One, Allow Group Classes With Safeguards (Solution)
One-on-one classes should always be the preferred option because they guarantee full attention, immediate correction, and faster mastery.
- Individual Reading Is Mandatory: Every student must read aloud individually in each class — silent following is not acceptable.
- Active Correction of Every Reader: Teachers must correct mistakes in real time, especially for quieter or weaker students.
- Extra Focus for Weak Readers: Students with repeated errors should receive additional one-on-one attention in addition to group classes.
One-on-one ensures mastery; group classes only work when individual accountability is enforced.
09. Tajweed Is Delayed Until “Later” — Which Rarely Comes
One of the most damaging ideas in Quran education is this: “Let the child finish first. Tajweed will be taught later.” On paper, this sounds practical. In reality, it causes long-term damage.
Years of Incorrect Reading
The child reads every single day — at home, in class, sometimes in front of guests — with wrong pronunciation and weak makharij. Nobody seriously stops them, so the child genuinely believes, “I’m reading fine.”
Parents feel relaxed, teachers move ahead, and the mistake quietly grows stronger.
Mistakes Become Muscle Memory
After years of repeating the same wrong sounds, the mouth, tongue, and jaw are trained incorrectly.
So when someone finally says, “This letter is wrong,” the child struggles and replies, “But this is how I’ve always read it.”
That’s not stubbornness — that’s muscle memory.
Tajweed Feels Hard and Frustrating Later
When Tajweed is introduced late, it doesn’t feel like learning something new.
It feels like being told, “Everything you’ve done for years was wrong.”
Naturally, the child gets bored, frustrated, and discouraged — not because Tajweed is difficult, but because they’re being asked to unlearn instead of learn. A beginner with no habits is far easier to teach than a child who has “finished” the Quran with years of bad habits.
Teach Tajweed From Day One — Gradually (Solution)
Tajweed should not be a separate “advanced” subject.
- Start with basic makharij and key rules from the beginning.
- Apply rules during regular reading, not after finishing.
- Build habits slowly so that correct reading becomes natural.
10. No Structured Tajweed Progression Exists — So Learning Becomes Random
Another pervasive yet rarely discussed problem is the lack of a clear Tajweed progression in most Quran classes.
Ask a simple question: “What Tajweed rules will my child learn this month, and what comes next?” Most parents don’t get a clear answer — because there often isn’t a structured plan.
What Parents Usually See
- One day, the teacher talks about makharij
- Another day about Madd
- Sometimes a rule is corrected, sometimes it’s ignored.
- No precise sequence, no milestones
So learning becomes random rather than intentional. When there is no structure, progress depends on luck rather than learning.
What Actually Happens to the Child
- The child learns some rules but skips others.
- Essential basics remain weak.
- Mistakes recur because nothing is built step-by-step.
The child may read more pages, but their foundation stays shaky.
The Simple Truth
Tajweed is a skill — and skills need progression, just like:
- Math moves from addition to multiplication
- Language moves from letters to sentences.
Without a precise sequence, even sincere effort produces weak results.
Tajweed Must Be Taught Step by Step (Solution)
A proper system should:
- Start with makharij first (letters shape, names, joining letters)
- Then basic sifaat (simple fatha, kasra, dummah, standing ones, double ones, leen letters, madd letters, 3 sec rules, tashdeed, sukoon, etc.)
- Then madd, waquf, and advanced rules (gunnah, waqf symbols, madd types, etc.)
- With each level building on the previous one
Structured Tajweed doesn’t slow learning — it prevents confusion and makes correct reading natural.
Conclusion
Many parents ask, “My child has completed the Quran — isn’t that enough?”
Completion is a blessing, but completion is not mastery.
If a child cannot pronounce letters correctly, cannot apply rules independently, or cannot read without help, then the real goal is still unmet. The Quran deserves correctness before speed and strong foundations before finishing.
A child who reads fewer pages correctly is ahead of a child who finishes the Quran with mistakes.
If you found our article helpful in addressing your concerns, and you’re looking for a reliable online Quran tutor with these same features. You can contact us for our 5-day free trial Quran classes.