Short answer
Have wudu, sit in a clean place facing the qibla if you can, begin with a'udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajim and Bismillah, recite slowly with tajweed, reflect on the meaning, and do not interrupt the recitation with idle talk. Only wudu for touching the mushaf is a requirement; the rest are sunnah or good manners.
Wudu is fard for touching the mushaf. Seeking refuge (ta'awwudh) before recitation is sunnah, as is saying Bismillah at the start of each surah except al-Tawbah. Reciting aloud where people are busy and cannot listen is makruh, and the blame falls on the reciter.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The scholars of all four schools list the adab (manners) of recitation. The most important:
- Purity: wudu to touch the mushaf (required), clean clothes and place, and ideally a fresh mouth. Take out chewing gum or food first.
- Posture: sit calmly facing the qibla when you can. Other postures are allowed: see reading lying down.
- Begin properly: say a'udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajim (16:98), then Bismillah.
- Slow, measured recitation (tartil) with the rules of tajweed (73:4). The Prophet ﷺ liked a beautiful voice in recitation and said to beautify the Quran with your voices.
- Reflect: pause on ayat of mercy to ask, ayat of punishment to seek refuge, and ayat of praise to glorify. He did this in his night prayer.
- Respect the mushaf: keep it on a stand or lap, not on the floor: see the Quran on the floor.
- Do sajdah tilawat at the ayat of prostration: see how to do it.
- Volume: recite so you can hear yourself, but not so loud that you disturb people praying, sleeping or working.
When the Quran is recited near you, listen (7:204). It is fine to stop when you yawn and resume after. Many people say sadaqallahul azim at the end; it is a good phrase, but it is not a sunnah to fix it as a closing.
The rulings on wudu are in touching the Quran without wudu and reciting without wudu.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nahl 16:98
فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ فَٱسْتَعِذْ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ﴿٩٨﴾
So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].
Seeking refuge before recitation.
Quran, Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4
أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ تَرْتِيلًا ﴿٤﴾
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.
Recite slowly and carefully.
Quran, Surah Al-A'raaf 7:204
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ فَٱسْتَمِعُوا۟ لَهُۥ وَأَنصِتُوا۟ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿٢٠٤﴾
So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.
Those present should listen.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1468
Grading to be checked... زينوا القرآن بأصواتكم ...
"Beautify the Quran with your voices."
Reciting in a pleasant voice is part of the manners of recitation.
Sahih Muslim 772
Sahih... إذا مر بآية فيها تسبيح سبح وإذا مر بسؤال سأل وإذا مر بتعوذ تعوذ ...
"When he passed an ayah of glorification he glorified Allah, when he passed an ayah of asking he asked, and when he passed an ayah of seeking refuge he sought refuge."
Reflecting and responding to the meaning while reciting.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on salah, tasbih and reciting the Quran. Manners of recitation and the dislike of reciting aloud where people are busy.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the description of prayer, on the ta'awwudh. Seeking refuge is sunnah before recitation.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.