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A Quran ijazah from Al-Azhar is one of the things huffaz search for most, but the phrase has two different meanings that many people mix up: the Azhar certificates awarded by Al-Azhar’s qira’at institutes after years of study, and the ijazah with a connected sanad that a qualified sheikh gives a student after the student has recited the whole Quran to him. This article explains the difference and the path to each.
Note: Al-Azhar Message Academy is a private online academy, not affiliated with the Al-Azhar institution, and it does not award Azhar certificates.
Azhar certificate vs ijazah with sanad
| Azhar certificate in qira’at | Ijazah with a connected sanad | |
|---|---|---|
| Who awards it | Al-Azhar, through its qira’at institutes | The authorising sheikh himself |
| How you get it | Formal study in stages, with exams | Reciting the whole Quran to a qualified sheikh and passing his test |
| Duration | Stages: tajweed 2 years, ‘āliyah 3 years, specialisation 3 years | Depends on your memorization, level and number of lessons |
| What it proves | Academic study of tajweed and qira’at with an official certificate | That your recitation is linked by a connected chain to the Prophet ﷺ |
| Attendance | Usually in person at institutes in Egypt | In person or online, depending on the sheikh |
Path 1: Azhar certificates from the qira’at institutes
The qira’at institutes belong to Al-Azhar’s institutes sector. To join, you must have memorized the whole Quran and pass an admission test. They award three certificates:
- Tajweed certificate after 2 years: the narration of Hafs, and memorizing Tuḥfat al-Aṭfāl and al-Jazariyyah.
- ‘Āliyah (higher) qira’at certificate after 3 years: the ten minor qira’at, and memorizing ash-Shāṭibiyyah and ad-Durrah.
- Specialisation certificate in qira’at after 3 years: the ten major qira’at from Ṭayyibat an-Nashr.
For details of these institutes and other Azhar bodies, see Al-Azhar Quran institutes and the Riwaq. Al-Azhar also runs the Azhar Riwaq, which offers tajweed and qira’at study for those who have completed memorization; check its official announcements for what it awards.
Path 2: the ijazah with a connected sanad
An ijazah with sanad is a certificate from a qualified sheikh that his student has recited the Quran to him correctly, authorising the student to recite and teach, with the student’s chain joined to the sheikh’s chain back to the Prophet ﷺ. It is given by the sheikh himself, and many authorising sheikhs are Al-Azhar graduates and scholars.
Steps to obtain an ijazah
- Master your memorization and consolidate it with revision.
- Master tajweed and the performance of the narration you want the ijazah in.
- Recite the whole Quran, from beginning to end, to a qualified sheikh.
- Pass the sheikh’s test, then receive the written ijazah stating the sanad.
How to check that an ijazah is genuine
- Ask for the name of the authorising sheikh and his sanad – from whom he took the Quran.
- Make sure the ijazah states the narration and route, e.g. Hafs ‘an ‘Asim by the Shatibiyyah route.
- Be wary of an ijazah given without reciting a complete khatmah to the sheikh.
- Do not confuse an ijazah from a sheikh who graduated from Al-Azhar with a certificate issued by the Al-Azhar institution: the first is a personal ijazah with sanad, the second an official academic certificate.
Ijazah online with Al-Azhar Message
At Al-Azhar Message Academy you recite in one-to-one lessons on Zoom or Google Meet to male and female Al-Azhar graduates who hold an ijazah with a connected sanad; women recite to female teachers only. The ijazah with sanad is granted after completing the recitation and passing the sanad exam. It is an ijazah with sanad, not a certificate issued by the Al-Azhar institution, because the academy is private and not affiliated with it.
Cost: a monthly subscription from $40 for 8 lessons until the recitation is complete, then a $100 ijazah fee once you qualify and before you receive it. See ijazah with a connected sanad and the narration courses: Hafs, Warsh and Qalun. Before the ijazah, review the special words of Hafs.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Does Al-Azhar give an ijazah in the Quran?
Through its qira’at institutes, Al-Azhar awards academic certificates: tajweed, ‘āliyah and specialisation. The ijazah with sanad is given by the authorising sheikh, and many such sheikhs are Al-Azhar graduates and scholars.
Ready to start? Book your free 30-minute trial lesson now.
Can I get an Azhar certificate in qira’at online?
Study at the qira’at institutes is usually in person in Egypt; conditions and dates are published by the institute or the Al-Azhar portal.
Is the Al-Azhar Message ijazah an Azhar certificate?
No. It is an ijazah with a connected sanad from a qualified sheikh who graduated from Al-Azhar, not a certificate issued by the Al-Azhar institution, because the academy is private and not affiliated with it.
How long does an ijazah with sanad take?
It depends on your memorization, your level of recitation and the number of lessons per week, because it requires reciting a complete khatmah to the sheikh.
Sources (in Arabic)
- Sada El Balad: Al-Azhar qira’at institutes – how study works and how to apply
- Sada El Balad: number of qira’at institutes in Egypt and their students (2021)
- El Watan: applications open for qira’at institutes, 2026–2027
- Al-Ahram Gate: application links and conditions for the Riwaq of Quran, tajweed and qira’at (2024)
Dates and conditions can change from year to year, so always check the official announcement on the Al-Azhar portal or with the institute before applying.
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