Glossary

What is a mushaf?

By the Madrasah Bag team · Updated 2026-09-24

Definition

A mushaf is a physical, written or printed copy of the Quran. Muslims often use the word to distinguish the book itself from the Quran as recited revelation. Common layouts in the UK include the 15-line Madinah mushaf (604 pages) and 13-line or 15-line South Asian script editions used in many madrasahs.

Mushaf vs Quran

"Quran" refers to the revelation itself: the words, whether recited, memorised or written. "Mushaf" (plural: masahif) refers specifically to a bound, written copy. So you might say a hafiz knows the Quran by heart, but reads from a mushaf when revising.

Common mushaf layouts

Layout	Script	Where you'll see it
Madinah mushaf, 15 lines, 604 pages	Uthmani (Arabic Naskh style)	Arab-heritage mosques, many hifz schools, most apps
13-line South Asian	Indo-Pak script	Many UK madrasahs, especially for children starting out
15-line South Asian (hafizi)	Indo-Pak script	Hifz classes, since each page starts and ends at a verse
Colour-coded tajweed	Either	Learners, with tajweed rules shown in colour

Teachers usually ask students to stick to one layout while memorising, because hifz relies partly on remembering where verses sit on the page.

Looking after a mushaf

Many Muslims keep a mushaf covered, off the floor and above other books, and most scholars hold that wudu is needed to touch it. See how to carry the Quran respectfully.

Questions people also ask

What is the plural of mushaf?

Masahif.

Which mushaf should a child use for hifz?

Whichever layout their teacher uses. Hifz depends partly on remembering page layout, so switching layouts midway makes it harder.

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More on quran care and adab

← How to carry the Quran respectfully: the full topic guide