The Indo-Pak and Uthmani (Madinah) scripts contain exactly the same Quran — only the style of writing differs. The Indo-Pak script, common in South Asian homes and many UK mosques, adds extra vowel and pronunciation marks for non-Arabic speakers; the Uthmani script, printed in Madinah, is used across the Arab world. Children should learn in the script their family, mosque or madrasah uses, and Hifz students should stick to one Mushaf.
- The Indo-Pak and Uthmani scripts contain exactly the same Quran — only the style of writing differs.
- Both are normally in the same recitation, Hafs from 'Asim.
- The Indo-Pak script adds more vowel and reading marks for non-Arabic speakers; the Uthmani (Madinah) script is used across the Arab world.
- The standard Madinah Mushaf has 15 lines and 604 pages; Indo-Pak Mushafs are commonly printed in 13, 15 or 16 lines.
- Learn the script your family and mosque use, and keep one printed Mushaf for Hifz.
The same Quran, written differently
Both scripts contain the same words, in the same order, normally in the same recitation (Hafs from 'Asim). The difference is the style of the letters and the marks that help the reader pronounce them — similar to how one English text can be printed in different fonts.
Main differences
| Indo-Pak | Uthmani (Madinah) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it's common | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and many UK mosques | Arab world and many international schools |
| Letter style | Heavier, with shapes influenced by South Asian calligraphy | Classic Naskh style |
| Vowel marks | More marks written in, to help non-Arabic speakers | Fewer marks; some vowels are implied |
| Stop signs (waqf) | Its own set of stop signs | Madinah set of stop signs |
| Popular prints | 13-, 15- and 16-line Mushafs | 15-line Madinah Mushaf (604 pages) |
See the difference
Surah Al-Fatiha, verse 2, in the Indo-Pak script used across this website:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ ۙ ۲
Stop signs and marks children notice
Both scripts use small signs above the text to show where to stop or continue. Both use م for a necessary stop and لا for “do not stop here”. The Indo-Pak script also commonly uses signs such as ط, ج and ز to show different kinds of pause. Vowel marks also look slightly different — for example, long vowels and some small letters are written more clearly in the Indo-Pak script. A teacher explains these in a few lessons when a child changes script.
Mushaf layouts and Hifz
A printed Mushaf's layout — how many lines per page and where each page ends — matters a lot for Hifz, because huffaz remember the position of verses on the page.
- 15-line Madinah Mushaf (604 pages) — each page usually ends at the end of a verse.
- Indo-Pak 13-, 15- and 16-line Mushafs — often used in South Asian homes and many UK madrasahs.
Choose one before Hifz begins and use it every day — at home, in lessons and for revision.
Tips for switching scripts
- Read short, familiar surahs in the new script first.
- Compare one page side by side in both scripts.
- Learn the new stop signs before reading longer passages.
- Expect a few weeks of slower reading — it passes quickly.
Which should my child learn?
- Use the one at home and at your mosque, so your child can read the Mushaf they see every day.
- For Hifz, choose one print and keep it — huffaz remember where each verse sits on the page.
- Switching later is easy once a child reads fluently; a few lessons of practice is usually enough.
At Assafwa, teachers can teach from either script — just tell us which one you use.
References & sources
- King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex
- Quran.com — read in Uthmani or Indo-Pak script
- IndoPak Nastaleeq text and font (Tarteel QUL)
- Quran, Surah Al-Fatiha 1:2
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.