The short answer
A hafiz, or hafizah for a woman, is a person who has memorised the whole Qur’an, all 114 chapters, word for word in Arabic. Many begin in childhood and complete it in two or three years of daily study; many do not speak Arabic as a first language. Reciting correctly follows rules of pronunciation called tajwid.
A little more context
Memorisation is how the Qur’an was first transmitted and how Muslims understand it to have been preserved. A hafiz leads night prayers in Ramadan, in which the whole book is recited over the month. Our guide to how the Qur’an was preserved explains the role of memory alongside manuscripts.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 54:17 The Qur’an made easy to remember.
- Qur’an 75:16-18 God undertakes its collection and recitation.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5027 The best of you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.