Part of: Quran care and adab
GlossaryWhat is a mushaf?
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.
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Mushaf meaning in English
Mushaf (مصحف) is the Arabic word for a bound copy of the Quran. It comes from the root for pages or sheets, so the word carries the sense of "pages gathered between two covers". You will also see it spelled mus'haf or mashaf, and the plural is masahif.
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.
What does mushaf mean in English?
A bound, written copy of the Quran. The word comes from the Arabic for pages or sheets gathered between two covers.
Is a translation a mushaf?
Usually not. The word refers to the Arabic text of the Quran, so a translation or a tafsir is normally described as a translation or commentary, not a mushaf.
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.
More on quran care and adab
← How to carry the Quran respectfully: the full topic guide
- Teaching children to look after the Quran
- What is a ghilaf?
- Wudu and touching the Quran
- What is a rehal?
- Quran pages getting bent or crumpled in the bag
- Quran got wet in the bag: what to do
- Quran binding coming loose or pages falling out
- The Quran fell on the floor: what should I do?
- How to store Qurans at home
- Too many Qurans at home: what to do with extra copies
- Is leather halal, and can you carry the Quran in a leather bag?
- How to make a simple Quran cover
- Travelling with a Quran: flights, Umrah and holidays
- Where do bags go in a quran circle?