LessonsFoundations of Tajweed, Recitation Errors and Opening EtiquetteQuiz

When reciting from the first verse of a surah, the ordinary sequence is istiʿadhah → basmalah → the surah's verses. Starting at the opening differs from beginning somewhere within a surah because the guidance for basmalah is not identical in both cases.

First: أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Second: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Third: the opening verse of the selected surah.

This is the general instructional sequence. The beginning of Surat Bara'ah (al-Tawbah) is an exception and must be remembered separately.

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Beginning at the start of a surah

Foundations of Tajweed, Recitation Errors and Opening Etiquette

When reciting from the first verse of a surah, the ordinary sequence is istiʿadhah → basmalah → the surah's verses. Starting at the opening differs from beginning somewhere within a surah because the guidance for basmalah is not identical in both cases.

First: أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Second: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Third: the opening verse of the selected surah.

This is the general instructional sequence. The beginning of Surat Bara'ah (al-Tawbah) is an exception and must be remembered separately.