Holy Quran - KSU Electronic Mushaf Project
The KSU Electronic Muṣḥaf project (http://quran.ksu.edu.sa/) is a multi-faceted virtual muṣḥaf (Qur’ân in written form) developed by the Kind Saud University. This website provides a virtual representation of the standard Uthmâni muṣḥaf. It is a great resource for reciting, memorizing, reviewing or studying the Qur’ân.
Features
Comparison with other electronic Qur’ân tools
There are many excellent electronic resources for viewing and listening to the Qur’ân. We have only compared with a couple of popular and good websites.
For those interested in simply reading a virtual muṣḥaf, Quran Flash (http://www.quranflash.com) is a better option. The appearance is significantly closer to the hard copy muṣḥaf. There are also many more options of muṣḥaf types including the lined muṣḥaf commonly used in India and Pakistan, as well as those with the qira’aat of Warsh and Qaloon.
Tanzil navigator (http://tanzil.net) and Quran Explorer (http://www.quranexplorer.com/) provide much of the functionality of the KSU Electronic muṣḥaf. However, KSU is better due to the fact that it provides a comparatively better visual representation of the hard copy muṣḥaf.
Suggestions for Improvement
While KSU is an excellent resource, it would be even better if there were more options for the muṣḥaf types. For those memorizing the Qur’ân, it is quite important that they view the same muṣḥaf, as this facilitates their recognition of words and ayât on the page. Sometimes even a change in colour and design can prove distracting. By providing more muṣḥaf types, the user can opt for a muṣḥaf very similar to the hard copy muṣḥaf they use for hifdh (memorization).
Another great addition would be an Apple or Android app. Although the website can be viewed on a mobile device, an app would enable the user to download the audios and muṣḥafs on their iPads and tablets, thus facilitating listening or study on-the-go, with or without internet access.
While the suggestions provided would be good enhancements to this resource, this is an excellent and highly recommended tool, even in its current form.
Website
http://quran.ksu.edu.sa/
Features
- The website can be navigated using menus in either Arabic or English.
- There is a choice of two muṣḥafs - the standard Uthmâni muṣḥaf can be viewed with or without colour-coded tajweed rules.
- The navigation menu allows you to easily navigate to any part of the muṣḥaf using the page, surah (chapter), ayah or juz (part) numbers.
- It can also be viewed on mobile phones or other electronic devices including tablets.
- The website includes audios from famous Qurra (recitors) including ‘teacher’ recitation (slow and clear recitation for the purpose of perfecting tajweed). Those who are learning tajweed can use the repetition settings for the audios to listen to the ayah (verse) several times. The ayah is highlighted as it is being recited - a great visual tool for those learning to read/ recite. You can leave a gap between the ayahs being repeated so as to enable you to repeat after the recitor.
- You can view the translation and tafseer (exegesis) of the page to enhance your study. Translations are provided in several languages besides English.
- The repetition and highlighting features facilitate memorization. You can use the test feature to select a range of verses to be tested on. Random pages are then displayed, with only one ayah visible and the rest of the pages blanked out. The student recites the page after recognizing the visible ayah and then views the page to check for mistakes.
- There is an added option of audios in the Qira'aat of Warsh.
Comparison with other electronic Qur’ân tools
There are many excellent electronic resources for viewing and listening to the Qur’ân. We have only compared with a couple of popular and good websites.
For those interested in simply reading a virtual muṣḥaf, Quran Flash (http://www.quranflash.com) is a better option. The appearance is significantly closer to the hard copy muṣḥaf. There are also many more options of muṣḥaf types including the lined muṣḥaf commonly used in India and Pakistan, as well as those with the qira’aat of Warsh and Qaloon.
Tanzil navigator (http://tanzil.net) and Quran Explorer (http://www.quranexplorer.com/) provide much of the functionality of the KSU Electronic muṣḥaf. However, KSU is better due to the fact that it provides a comparatively better visual representation of the hard copy muṣḥaf.
Suggestions for Improvement
While KSU is an excellent resource, it would be even better if there were more options for the muṣḥaf types. For those memorizing the Qur’ân, it is quite important that they view the same muṣḥaf, as this facilitates their recognition of words and ayât on the page. Sometimes even a change in colour and design can prove distracting. By providing more muṣḥaf types, the user can opt for a muṣḥaf very similar to the hard copy muṣḥaf they use for hifdh (memorization).
Another great addition would be an Apple or Android app. Although the website can be viewed on a mobile device, an app would enable the user to download the audios and muṣḥafs on their iPads and tablets, thus facilitating listening or study on-the-go, with or without internet access.
While the suggestions provided would be good enhancements to this resource, this is an excellent and highly recommended tool, even in its current form.
Website
http://quran.ksu.edu.sa/