Quran 13 Line Explained: How to Choose the Right Mushaf
A 13 line Quran is a mushaf printed so that every page carries exactly 13 lines of Arabic text, with the same words falling in the same place on the same page in every copy of that edition. It is the layout most South African madrassahs, huffaz and reciters use, because a fixed page layout means the position of an ayah on the page becomes part of how it is remembered and revised.
What does "13 line" mean on a Quran?
It means the printer has set the Arabic text so exactly 13 lines appear on every page, and every juz' begins and ends on the same page numbers across all copies of that edition. Two people reciting from two separate copies of the same 13 line edition will find the same ayah in the same spot on the same page number.
Why does the line layout matter for hifz and revision?
Many huffaz memorise visually - the shape of the page and where a word sits on it becomes part of the memory of that verse. Switching between editions with different line counts breaks that visual anchor and can slow revision. This is why South African madrassahs standardise on one line layout, most commonly 13 lines, and why students are usually told to buy a mushaf that matches the copy their class uses.
13-line Quran editions compared
Not every 13 line Quran is built for the same purpose. Some are plain Arabic for matching a madrassah copy, others add tajweed colour coding or a translation for those still learning to read Arabic fluently, and one is a gift edition. Here is how the five in-stock editions at Cii Stores differ:
| Edition | Line layout | Text / translation | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quran 13 Line (LMA) | 13-line | Arabic only | Standard | R180 |
| Amaani 13 Line Leather Quran - Gift Boxed | 13-line | Arabic, leather-bound, gift boxed | Standard | R599 |
| Holy Quran Colour Coded Arabic Text and Transliteration | Tajweed colour coded (7 Manzil colours) | Arabic, Roman transliteration, Yusuf Ali English translation | Standard | R399 |
| Holy Quraan with English Translation & Colour Coded Tajweed Rules | 13-line | Arabic with line-by-line English translation (Dr. Muhsin Khan), tajweed colour coded | 32cm x 15cm x 5cm | R430 |
| Holy Quraan Color Coded & Tajweed Rules A5 | 13-line | Arabic, tajweed colour coded | A5, 19cm x 14cm | R270 |
Which Quran mushaf should you choose?
If a madrassah or a hifz class has told you to buy a plain 13-line copy to match theirs, the Quran 13 Line (LMA) is built for that: an Arabic-only, LMA-published edition in the layout used widely in South African madrassahs.
If you are still building your Arabic reading and want to follow the meaning as you recite, look for a colour-coded tajweed edition. The Holy Quran Colour Coded Arabic Text and Transliteration pairs Arabic text with a Roman transliteration and Abdullah Yusuf Ali's English translation, with the tajweed rules colour coded across the 7 Manzils. For a 13-line layout with a line-by-line English translation instead, the Holy Quraan with English Translation & Colour Coded Tajweed Rules by Dr. Muhsin Khan puts the Arabic and its English meaning side by side.
Want something portable for everyday tajweed practice? The Holy Quraan Color Coded & Tajweed Rules A5 keeps the 13-line layout in a compact A5 hardcover, 19cm by 14cm, small enough for a bag or car. And if you are choosing a Quran as a gift - for a Nikah, a graduation or Ramadan - the Amaani 13 Line Leather Quran is a leather-bound 13-line mushaf that comes in its own gift box, part of the wider range at Cii Stores, South Africa's Islamic department store based in Ormonde, Johannesburg, with delivery across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "13 line" mean on a Quran?
It means the mushaf is printed with exactly 13 lines of Arabic text on every page, and the same ayah falls in the same place on the same page number in every copy of that edition.
Are all 13 line Qurans the same?
The line layout is the same, but editions still differ in publisher, whether they include a translation or transliteration, tajweed colour coding, size and binding - see the comparison above.
Which Quran mushaf is best for hifz?
Match the edition your madrassah or hifz class already uses, since a consistent line layout is what makes page-based memorisation and revision work. The Quran 13 Line (LMA) is the plain Arabic edition most South African madrassahs use.
Can I get a 13 line Quran with an English translation?
Yes. The Holy Quraan with English Translation & Colour Coded Tajweed Rules keeps the 13-line Arabic layout and adds a line-by-line English translation by Dr. Muhsin Khan.
What size is a 13 line Quran?
It depends on the edition: the A5 colour-coded copy measures 19cm by 14cm for portability, while the English translation edition measures 32cm by 15cm by 5cm for a larger reading size.
Where to browse next
- Quran - every mushaf edition Cii Stores carries, line counts, translations and sizes.
- Madrassah - hifz and madrassah essentials alongside the mushafs above.
- Madrassah Books - workbooks and learning materials for madrassah students.
- Books - the wider Islamic book range at Cii Stores.
- Gifts - for a gift-boxed Quran and other Islamic gifting ideas.
Shop the full Quran collection at Cii Stores to compare every mushaf in stock.