Choose a reciter and listen to any of the 114 Surahs. Audio is streamed from open sources.
Listening to the Quran (qira'at) is a beloved act of worship in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Beautify the Quran with your voices" (Sunan Abu Dawud). QuranCentral brings together some of the most renowned Quran reciters of our time — from the Imams of the Two Holy Mosques to the legendary Egyptian Qaris whose recitations have moved hearts for generations.
Sheikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy (Arabic: مشاري راشد العفاسي) is a Kuwaiti reciter and Imam of the Grand Mosque in Kuwait City. He is celebrated worldwide for his clear pronunciation, emotional depth, and accessible recitation style — often the first reciter recommended to new students of the Quran. He has also recorded extensive collections of nasheeds and adhan.
Sheikh Abdurrahman As-Sudais (عبد الرحمن السديس) has served as the chief Imam of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca for over three decades. His recitation leads the Taraweeh prayers each Ramadan in front of millions, and he is the President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. His distinctive, powerful voice is among the most recognized in the Muslim world.
Sheikh Abdul Basit Abdul Samad (عبد الباسط عبد الصمد, 1927–1988) was an Egyptian reciter widely regarded as one of the greatest Qaris in modern history. His Mujawwad (artistically melodious) recitation style is considered a high point of the classical tradition. He was the first elected president of the Reciters' Union in Egypt and held three world records in Quran recitation. His recordings remain the gold standard for many Quran teachers.
Sheikh Saud Ash-Shuraim (سعود الشريم) is, alongside As-Sudais, an Imam and Khatib of Masjid al-Haram. Known for the depth of khushū' (humility) in his recitation, he is loved by Muslims worldwide who attend Hajj and Umrah and watch the live broadcast from the Holy Mosque.
These contemporary Saudi reciters are each celebrated for their melodious voices and faithful recitation. Abu Bakr Al-Shatri is known for his soft, contemplative style. Yasser Al-Dossari and Nasser Al Qatami bring fresh, beautiful voices to a global audience. Hani Ar-Rifai is beloved especially for his Surah Yaseen and Ar-Rahman recitations.
For a much wider selection — over 200 reciters in 5 languages including the Imams of Madinah's Prophet's Mosque, Hafiz al-Ghamdi, Maher al-Mu'aiqly, Salah Bukhatir, Ahmed Al-Ajmi and many more — visit our Reciter Library. You can filter by name and language, and stream or download complete Surah audio in MP3 format.
Beauty in recitation is subjective, but most students of Quran consider Abdul Basit Abdul Samad the master of the Mujawwad style. For modern recitation, Mishary Alafasy is often most recommended for beginners due to his clarity. As-Sudais and Ash-Shuraim are the voices of Masjid al-Haram.
Yes. Use the ⬇ download icon in the audio player when listening to any Surah.
These 8 are our featured reciters. For the full library of 200+ reciters across multiple languages, visit our Reciter Library.
The Quran was revealed to be recited aloud and listened to. Listening to a beautiful recitation is a spiritual exercise — it softens the heart, helps with memorization (hifz), and is itself a form of worship.