5 min read
Uthmani vs IndoPak Script: What's the Difference?
Key takeaways
- Uthmani and IndoPak write the same Quran with the same words and the same sound. Only the letter shapes and marks differ.
- Uthmani is the style of the Madinah Mushaf (604 pages, 15 lines). IndoPak is the style taught across Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, often printed with 13 lines.
- Script and page layout are separate choices. A 13-line and a 15-line copy put different verses at the start and end of each page.
- If you are memorizing, pick one script and one layout and stay with them.
Uthmani and IndoPak are two ways of writing the same Quran. The words, the order of the verses, and the pronunciation are identical. Only the letter shapes and some marks change (GTAF).
If you are choosing a Quran copy or an app setting, the page layout may matter more than the script. This guide shows both scripts side by side, then explains lines, pages, and which to pick.
What is the difference between Uthmani and IndoPak script?
Uthmani is the style of the Madinah Mushaf, and IndoPak is the style taught across Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Here is Surah Al-Fatihah, verse 2, in Uthmani:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -
Here are verses 1:1 and 1:2 in both scripts. The text comes from the Uthmani and IndoPak editions on Quran.com.
| Verse | Uthmani | IndoPak |
|---|---|---|
| 1:1 | بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ | بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ |
| 1:2 | ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ | اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ |
Read the two rows against each other and you can spot the main differences:
- Sukun. The silent-letter mark is a small circle in Uthmani (ْ) and a rounder, head-shaped mark in IndoPak (ۡ).
- The opening alif. Uthmani marks the connecting alif in “al-” with a small sign (ٱ). IndoPak writes a plain alif (ا).
- The small alif. Both write the long “aa” in “Rahman” and “‘Alamin” with a small alif above the letter. Uthmani adds a stretch line before it (ـٰ), and IndoPak does not (ٰ).
- Pause signs. IndoPak verse 1:2 ends with a pause sign (ۙ) that the Uthmani text does not carry.
The words and the sounds do not change.
What is the difference between a 13-line and a 15-line Quran?
It is the number of lines on each page, and it is separate from the script. The Madinah Mushaf is built from 604 pages, each with its own font in the Quranic Universal Library, based on the calligraphy of Usman Taha. Quran.com’s Madani layout follows the same 604 pages, with up to 15 lines on a page.
IndoPak copies often use 13 lines. One publisher’s 13-line edition runs to 867 pages, and the same page lists 11, 15, 16, and 17-line editions as well (Dar-us-Salam). To see the IndoPak and Madani 15-line pages side by side, with audio, open the 15-line Quran online.
The 13-line Quran online shows the Taj Company 13-line print the same way.
| Madinah Mushaf | Common IndoPak copy | |
|---|---|---|
| Script | Uthmani | IndoPak |
| Lines per page | 15 | 13 (other counts exist) |
| Pages | 604 | Varies by edition (867 in one 13-line edition) |
| Common in | Medina, and the Arab world | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia |
Regions follow GTAF’s description: IndoPak is popular in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan, and Uthmanic is the one used in Medina. Because the pages break differently, verse 1 of a page in one copy is not verse 1 of the same page in another.
Which script should you choose?
Choose the script you or your teacher already use. If you have no teacher yet, pick the one you can read most easily and stay with it.
If you are memorizing, this matters. The same publisher’s page advises that anyone who has begun memorizing should stay with the line count they learned from. Our reflection: the position of a verse on the page often becomes part of how you remember it, and a new layout moves it.
Two cautions:
- Don’t switch mid-way without asking. A change of script or layout slows you down for a while. Ask your teacher first.
- We are app builders, not scholars. For anything about which copy is correct for your recitation, ask a qualified teacher.
Our guide to memorizing the Quran covers where the page picture fits into a routine.
Can you switch scripts in Quran Loop?
Yes. Quran Loop offers five Arabic scripts: Uthmani, King Fahad Complex, Indo-Pak, Indo-Pak Nastaleeq, and a color-coded Uthmani Tajweed. Recitation loops the same way in each one.
Your next step
Open the Quran you already use, find a verse you know, and compare it with the other script above. Then pick one script and one layout for your memorization. If you read daily, see how to read the Quran, and if you are revising, see how to revise the Quran.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Uthmani and IndoPak script?
Both scripts write the same Quran, with the same words and the same pronunciation. They differ in letter shapes and in how marks are written, such as the sukun and the small alif. Uthmani is the style of the Madinah Mushaf, and IndoPak is the style taught in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
Which script is better for memorizing the Quran?
Neither is better. The best choice is the one you or your teacher already use, because your eyes learn the shape of each page. Pick one script and one page layout, and keep them for the whole of your memorization.
Do the two scripts change how the Quran is recited?
No. The wording and pronunciation are identical. Only the way the text is written on the page changes.
What is the difference between a 13-line and a 15-line Quran?
It is the number of lines on each page. The Madinah Mushaf has 15 lines and 604 pages, while many IndoPak editions have 13 lines and more pages. Because the pages break differently, the same verse sits at a different place on the page.
Can I switch scripts after I start memorizing?
You can, but expect to slow down for a while. Your memory of where a verse sits on the page does not carry over to a new script or layout. Ask your teacher before switching mid-way.