How I Started Reading Quran (And How You Can, Too)

I remember my morning routine when I first decided to revise the Quran.

It looked a little like this:

I’d wake up around 10 am, and the first thing I’d do was check my phone. I’d scroll through messages and social media posts, then get up to make a coffee. After that, I’d sit down and write my to-do list for the day, mentally planning everything that needed to be done. 

Every morning, I had the same intention: “I’ll make time for the Quran today.”

But then, life just got busy.

I’d start with the dishes, then the vacuuming. As I scrubbed the plates and tidied the cushions, I’d think to myself, “Once the house is clean, I’ll have time to sit and focus on the Quran.”

Before I knew it, it was nearly 12 pm, and still, I hadn’t even picked up my Mus’haf. It was like every distraction was demanding my attention: the messages on whatsapp, the notifications on Instagram... and I gave in. By the time the evening came, I was exhausted.

The Quran remained on the shelf, untouched.

I convinced myself with excuses: “Allah knows I’m busy. He understands. There’s always tomorrow.” 

But when tomorrow came, the cycle repeated itself. My heart felt heavy, and my iman (faith) began to weaken.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read the Quran.

It was just that, somehow, no matter how hard I tried, it always got pushed to the back of the line.

I know I’m not alone in this.

Many of us face this struggle. Life is busy, especially because we're juggling multiple roles: mothers, wives, daughters, entrepreneurs - whether we're working full-time or running after toddlers.

We find time for everything else: work, family obligations, errands, and, of course, social media. Yet, the Quran, the Words of Allah, the ultimate source of guidance in this world and the next, keeps getting pushed aside.

Deep down, I knew the truth: it wasn’t that I didn’t have enough time. 

It was that I wasn’t prioritising the Quran. 

I kept trying to squeeze the Quran into my day "if I had time left."

But here's the truth: the Quran isn’t something to fit into spare moments or treat as just another task on the list. It requires commitment, focus, and dedication.

It’s embarrassing when you think about it.

We find hours to scroll through Instagram, respond to messages, and swipe through Tiktoks online, but when it comes to dedicating just 30 minutes to the Quran, it feels like there’s never enough time.

How had I convinced myself that everything else was more important than the Words of Allah?

Allah ﷻ says in Surat Al-Muzzammil, "And He knew there would be among you those who are ill, others traveling through the land seeking Allah’s bounty, and others fighting in Allah’s cause. So recite what is easy from it.” (73:20)

Subhan'Allah. Allah ﷻ knows we are busy. He knows we have responsibilities, challenges, and distractions. And yet, even during jihad and when travelling, Allah ﷻ allows concessions for fasting and prayer, but He still encourages us to recite His words.

If those fighting in battle are advised to connect with the Quran, what’s our excuse? 

Here we are finding time for everything else, but struggling to find 30 minutes to connect with the Quran?

How are we not prioritising time for the One who created time?

So, I made a promise: a commitment to myself to dedicate time to the Quran in the morning, no matter how busy life became.

And you need to do that, too. You need to set a specific non-negotiable time block for the Quran. Every time you feel burdened or distracted, remember those words of Allah ﷻ in Surat Al Muzzamil: "So read what is easy for you." (73:20)

A little connection is better than no connection.

My dear friends, don’t wait for the perfect moment to fit the Quran into your day after everything else is done. Instead, start your day with the Quran, even if it's just for a couple of minutes.

And remember: it’s not about needing more time or fitting some Quran in after everything else. It's about fitting those things into your life after the Quran.

As I mentioned in my last letter, our relationship with the Quran is a life-long journey. What we need on this journey is conviction, sincere persistence and dedication to stay on track.

That's all for this fortnight. May Allah ﷻ grant you all a blessed weekend ahead.

في أمان الله
(I leave you in the protection of Allah)

Maryam El-Kiki

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Fortnightly Challenge: 

15-Minute Quran Connection Challenge: Set aside just 15 minutes each day to connect with the Quran. You can read, reflect, or even listen to a recitation while on your morning walk! Whatever helps you deepen your connection with the words of Allah. If you’d like, feel free to share a photo and tag me with the hashtag #quranchallenge. I’ll be happy to reshare them on my Instagram story! 😊

Tajweed Tip of the Fortnight:

The Qalqalah: Did you know that when reading these 5 letters: ق ط ب ج د in the Quran, you should "bounce" on them if they're in the sukoon state? 

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you: 

1. Learn to Read the Quran in Two Hours: My paid self-paced course guides you step-by-step to reading the Quran confidently from scratch in just two hours. Perfect for reverts, beginners, and non-Arabic speakers. Join the growing community of students who have started their Quran reading journey.

2. Tajweed Course Waitlist: My Tajweed course is launching in the coming few weeks insha'Allah! Be the first to hear about it! Join the waitlist to start your journey towards reciting the Quran with precision and accuracy.

3. Quran Classes and 1-1 Calls Waitlist: Want to be the first to hear of future Quran classes and 1-1 calls? Fill in the form to receive updates on when Quran classes (must already be able to read the Quran) and 1-1 calls will be available in the future, insha'Allah!