Juz Amma, the thirtieth and last part of the Quran, is where most people begin their memorisation journey. It contains the short surahs many Muslims recite in their daily prayers, and its powerful verses about creation, the Day of Judgement and the mercy of Allah stay with you for life.
This plan breaks Juz Amma into four phases and shows how long each one takes at different daily amounts.
What is Juz Amma?
The Quran is divided into thirty parts (ajza', singular juz') of roughly equal length. The thirtieth part is commonly called Juz Amma after its first word, "'Amma" – "About what…" – the opening of Surah An-Naba'.
Key facts:
- 37 surahs, from An-Naba' (78) to An-Nas (114)
- 564 verses in total
- Mostly Meccan surahs: short, rhythmic verses about faith, the hereafter and the signs of Allah
Why start with Juz Amma?
- Short verses – many contain only a few words, which makes them ideal for beginners.
- Daily use – you can recite them in your prayers straight away.
- Quick milestones – finishing a whole surah after a few days is very motivating.
- Foundation for more – the vocabulary and themes appear throughout the Quran.
How long does it take?
The answer depends on how many new verses you learn per day. With 564 verses:
- 1 verse a day: about 19 months
- 2 verses a day: about 9–10 months
- 3 verses a day: about 188 days – roughly six months
- 5 verses a day: about 4 months
These figures count new learning days only. Plan in some rest days and a few days of pure review now and then. Learning speed also varies from person to person. What counts is that you stay with it.
Learn it backwards: from An-Nas to An-Naba'
The traditional and most practical order is to start at the end of the Quran and work backwards. The shortest surahs come first, so you build confidence before the longer ones.
Phase 1: An-Nas (114) to Al-'Adiyat (100) – 90 verses
At three verses a day: about one month.
This phase includes An-Nas, Al-Falaq, Al-Ikhlas, Al-Masad, An-Nasr, Al-Kafirun, Al-Kawthar, Al-Ma'un, Quraysh, Al-Fil, Al-Humazah, Al-'Asr, At-Takathur, Al-Qari'ah and Al-'Adiyat.
Many of these surahs are already familiar from prayer. Use this phase to perfect your pronunciation and get used to the daily routine.
Phase 2: Az-Zalzalah (99) to Al-Balad (90) – 123 verses
At three verses a day: about six weeks.
Az-Zalzalah, Al-Bayyinah, Al-Qadr, Al-'Alaq, At-Tin, Ash-Sharh, Ad-Duha, Al-Layl, Ash-Shams and Al-Balad. Here the surahs get a little longer, and some verses look similar. Pay attention to their endings.
Phase 3: Al-Fajr (89) to Al-Mutaffifin (83) – 175 verses
At three verses a day: about two months.
Al-Fajr, Al-Ghashiyah, Al-A'la, At-Tariq, Al-Buruj, Al-Inshiqaq and Al-Mutaffifin. These surahs have strong scenes of the Day of Judgement. Reading the tafsir helps you keep the order of the verses in mind.
Phase 4: Al-Infitar (82) to An-Naba' (78) – 176 verses
At three verses a day: about two months.
Al-Infitar, At-Takwir, 'Abasa, An-Nazi'at and An-Naba'. These are the longest surahs of Juz Amma. By now your routine is stable, and you can rely on the habits you built in the first phases.
The daily routine
Each day follows the same four parts of the Shams Method:
- Review first (about 5 min). Recite the verses that are due today from memory. Quran Masterclass schedules them after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 90 days and shows them on your Today page.
- New verses (about 4 min each). Take your three new verses through the seven steps: listen, build up backwards, word by word, meaning, tafsir, fading cues, reflect.
- Link the chain (about 3 min). Recite today's verses together with yesterday's without looking.
- Listen before sleep (about 2 min). Play today's verses once more in the evening.
That is about 20–25 minutes a day. Read more in our daily Quran routine.
Completing a surah
When you have learned the last verse of a surah, add one extra step: recite the whole surah from memory in one go, then listen to it once with the reciter. Do this again on the next two days. It helps the verses connect into a flowing whole.
Weekly check
Once a week, recite all surahs of the current phase from memory. Note any verses where you hesitate and bookmark them. Give them a little extra time in the following week.
Common challenges
Similar verses
Several surahs in Juz Amma contain verses that sound alike. When you notice such a pair, compare them side by side and note the difference in a few words. The reflection note in the Shams Method is a good place for this.
Losing motivation in the longer surahs
Phases 3 and 4 take longer. Break them into weekly goals – for example "the first 20 verses of Al-Fajr this week" – and celebrate each completed surah.
Missed days
Life happens. If you miss a day, do not try to catch up with double portions. Start again with your review and continue at your normal pace.
Use what you learn
Recite your new surahs in your prayers, listen to them on the way to work or on the Quran radio, and read their meaning again from time to time. Verses that are part of your daily life stay with you.
Ready to start?
Open An-Nas, listen to the first verse three times and start the Shams Method. In about six months, insha'Allah, you can carry the whole of Juz Amma in your heart. For more on hifz in general, see our guide to memorising the Quran.